Page 3754 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 November 2022
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Education and Community Inclusion—Standing Committee—Report 6—Inquiry into racial vilification, dated 23 November 2022, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings.
I move:
That the report be noted.
In my role as Chair of the Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion, I am pleased to speak to the report of the inquiry into racial vilification. At a private meeting on 16 November 2021, the Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion resolved to conduct an inquiry. This is the sixth report from the committee.
The report comprises an evidence-based response to the surfacing of racism that has been observed since the beginning of COVID-19—racism from a small minority of Canberrans directed towards those of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Even if only instigated by a few, racial vilification has a profound impact on many in our community.
Our inquiry was informed by eight submissions and two public hearings. The committee learned that racism impacts children and young people, international students and those who are incarcerated. Racism impedes access to housing, public transport, school attendance and workforce participation. Opposition to racism needs to be swift and just. The complaint mechanisms need to be clear and well promoted.
To this end, the report makes 16 recommendations to scaffold strong community support of diversity in a Canberra culture that calls out incidents of racism. The recommendations pertain to legislation targeted at anti-racism strategies, public awareness campaigns, research, training and revision of complaints procedures.
On behalf of the committee, I thank everyone who contributed to this inquiry. I thank the other members of the committee, Mr Davis and Ms Lawder. I commend this report to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Women’s rights in Iran
Ministerial statement
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (10.06): I am speaking today to draw the Assembly’s attention to the continued deadly and disproportionate use of force against protestors in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, and share the experiences of Maryam.
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