Condemning Racism at the Beginning of COVID-19

Senator VAN (12:45):

On 15 April of this year, two young women from the University of Melbourne were walking along Elizabeth Street in Melbourne in my home state of Victoria, when they were assaulted because of their race and ethnicity. To these two students, I would like to say – we stand with you.

A week later, a family in Knoxfield – in the electorate of Aston – woke twice in one week to find the words “Leave and die” and “COVID-19 China die” graffiti-ed on their garage. Someone also threw a large rock through their front windows. To Jackson and your family, I would like to say – we stand with you.

Earlier this month in Carnegie, a manager of a bubble tea shop was verbally abused while at her place of work. When she politely stood up for herself, she became the target of anonymous threatening phone calls and text messages. To Jennifer, I would like to say – we stand with you.

To all families and individuals, business owners and international students who have faced racist attacks in Victoria and across Australia because of the Coronavirus, I would like to say – we stand with you.

It troubles me that these unprovoked attacks are just a small sample of increased racism experienced by some Victorians. Unfortunately, more recently these attacks are not so unique.

It troubles me that I could spend this entire time listing instances of racism in my home state that have occurred over the past month.

My heart breaks when I put myself in the shoes of those facing these attacks – to imagine what they would be feeling and what they are going through. It is unfathomable, yet it has become the reality for some.

It troubles me that as we grapple with the challenges of Coronavirus as one nation, many Asian-Australians face on a daily basis the fear of being a target of racist attacks.

They should not have to. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes and their communities.

When we say the words, “We’re all in this together”, the reality is some need to face underlying challenges that they simply shouldn’t need to.

In this short time that I have, I would like to touch on an issue that was brought to my attention by a constituent who is of Australian Chinese heritage.

This is an issue that many may not understand at first glance, but highlights that our choice of words in discussing the Coronavirus crisis is something we should be mindful about.

Calling Covid-19 the ‘China virus’ is trying to blame a people for a virus that could have appeared anywhere.  Pandemics have arisen from many different countries

Australia is right to call for an independent inquiry, all nations affected by this disease should back international calls for an inquiry.  An inquiry should be called in to any event that affected the world to the same extent this virus has regardless of where it arises.

When we seek answers about where the root of these racist attacks in Australia stem from, it seems that a small number of people hold prejudices and cannot separate Australians of Asian heritage, with the origins of where we believe the Coronavirus begin.

As my colleague in the other place, the Member for Chisholm Gladys Liu aptly said:

…the Coronavirus is not for Chinese‑Australians to answer for.

I couldn’t agree with the Member for Chisholm more – and nor is it responsibility for any private citizen living their daily lives - in what is one of the most successful multi‑cultural nations in the world.

In time, when we are not dealing with a pandemic, what is needed is an independent review of the Coronavirus outbreak – an unprecedented global crisis which has caused unprecedented health, economic and social impacts.

In time, we believe an honest assessment of events will be critical to learn important lessons and to improve our response to future events such as another pandemic.

The desire for an inquiry is not a political manoeuvre whatsoever – it is about knowing what went wrong, what we can be better and how can we strengthen our public health policy for the better.

What this inquiry is not, is an attempt to push away nations or divide people. The global recovery will require all countries, including China, to come together.

Recently, I hosted one of my regular roundtable engagements with foreign diplomats in Victoria to discuss the Coronavirus crisis and the challenges their many diaspora communities are facing.

In amongst the issues around international students, tourists, working holiday backpackers and repatriation of a number of their citizens, a number of Counsels-General raised concerns regarding a rise in racist attacks against members of their communities in Australia.  In particular, I must acknowledge Mrs Mazita Marzuki – Counsel-General of Malaysia and Mr Long Zhou – Counsel-General of China for their personal and ongoing engagement with me on this issue.

I recently had a conversation with the ambassador for Singapore, knowing that of his citizens have been attacked as well.

I recently posted letters to editors in newspapers in Singapore and Malaysia, and I thank them for looking at how we are facing this issue.

It saddens me that those who represent our neighbours and partners in the region are seeing this ugliness. 

This is not the values that Australia promotes; it does not represent who we are as a people; it is completely against the modern, accepting and open society that Australia is known for.

Our Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Minister Tudge who is also the Member for Aston, has said on multiple occasions that:

We have one of the greatest multicultural countries in the world, where we welcome people from across the planet to our shores, and in doing so, we've all been enriched. And we encourage tolerance.

As a Government, we have worked quickly to address these racist attacks.

In order for us to get back on track as a nation, we must come together, and we must tackle this virus together.

All people in Australia – whether you arrived here recently or your family have walked these lands since time immemorial – should never have to accept aggressive acts towards them, let alone based on their heritage.

I utterly condemn all racist acts and behaviours against people in Australia.

All Australians are in the challenge together, and only together we will get through this.