A parliamentary committee is pushing for further action to educate people from migrant backgrounds about racism and the threat of foreign interference.
The committee - formed to examine issues facing Australia's diaspora communities - handed down its final report on Thursday evening.
It recommended the federal government back a multilingual information campaign to increase awareness about Australia's National Security Hotline.
The committee heard there was “variable awareness” about how to report foreign interference threats.
“The committee recognises that many diaspora groups come to Australia to seek safety from risks and threats in their home countries, such as war and fear of persecution,” the report said.
“It is vital to protect the free and open society Australians enjoy and ensure social cohesion is not undermined.
“The committee believes it would be of benefit to have an information and awareness campaign around this means of reporting foreign interference and to involve peak groups,” the report added.
In evidence to the inquiry, Australia's national security agency ASIO said it was concerned individuals have been threatened for “their voicing of opinions on political and ideological issues which a foreign country deemed to be a threat to their government.”
Human Rights Watch also warned it has become aware of “increasing instances of surveillance, harassment, and intimidation within certain diaspora communities in Australia”.
Members of Australia's Uighur community were among those to warn the committee about facing threats of intimidation from a foreign government.
The committee found stronger relationships between government agencies and culturally and linguistically diverse communities would help strengthen resilience against the threat.
Concerns over increasing incidents of racism
The committee has also recommended the government consider resourcing a new and comprehensive national anti-racism framework “as a matter of urgency”.
The report found this would benefit from “comprehensive consultation” with diaspora groups, in light of what appears to be “increased incidents of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
It noted that discrimination poses a threat to social cohesion and risks aggravating inequality by reducing access to employment, housing and education and negatively impact wellbeing.
A former national anti-racism strategy known as the “Racism It Stops with Me” campaign was launched in 2012.
But the committee heard this stopped receiving direct government funding since 2018.
“The committee sees value in reinvigorating that National Anti-Racism Strategy and campaign as a matter of urgency,” the report said.
The committee also heard from the Australian Human Rights Commission that it should “consider strengthening legislative protections against online race and religious hate.”
It said this should be considered alongside efforts to “fund programs to counter the online organisation of right-wing extremism”.
Barriers to participation
Around 9.1 per cent of the Australian population - or over 1.9 million people aged 15 years or over - were recent migrants or temporary residents who had arrived in the past ten years, according to ABS statistics from 2019.
Many witnesses told the committee that the full potential of diaspora communities remained “under acknowledged” and “underutilised”.
The committee has recommended action to ensure these communities don’t “inadvertently disadvantage or exclude smaller and new and emerging community organisations” and “have sufficient flexibility to meet the specific needs of communities”.
Another recommendation urged the government to clarify how it intends to respond to the “identified need” for some individuals to access settlement services beyond their first five years in Australia.
Improving communication with diaspora communities
The committee also heard about problems with government communication, including messaging not being “culturally appropriate” and the need for it to have “availability in more languages”.
It found this demand has been “particularly highlighted” during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the need to communicate critical health advice.
The committee has recommended the government review its approach to communication with migrant audiences to ensure essential information is being effectively disseminated.
It also suggested the government consider establishing a single government point of contact for diaspora communities.
