Senior Minister Denies Claims of Racism in Australia: Refutes Allegations from ABC Journalist
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has countered a recent statement made by ABC senior journalist Laura Tingle that Australia is a racist country. Tingle, who is also the president of the National Press Club of Australia, made the comment during a panel at the Sydney Writers’ Festival on May 26.
Plibersek rejected the notion that Australia is racist, stating, “I think it’s a fantastic multicultural country, but we have to protect against incidents of racism which occur in our community as they do in every community.” She emphasized the importance of addressing instances of racism while highlighting the positive aspects of Australia as a multicultural nation.
Plibersek shared the story of her own family, who migrated to Australia from Europe after World War II, expressing gratitude for the opportunities and experiences they have had in the country. She acknowledged that there have been cases of racism experienced by some Australians but affirmed her belief in Australia as a magnificent multicultural nation.