Maribyrnong deputy mayor Nam Quach has launched a passionate plea that federal Attorney General George Brandis withdraw proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act, claiming he continues to receive racial abuse about his Asian heritage.
Cr Quach spoke out as Maribyrnong joined more than 67 councils from around Australia in adopting a motion on July 22 against the changes.
The government’s planned amendments to the act would remove provisions making it an offence to offend, insult and humiliate on the grounds of race, while introducing vilification as an offence.
The motion, put forward by Cr Sarah Carter, supports the “fundamental importance” of Section 18C of the act, recognising it provides “protection to individuals from offensive behavior because of race, colour, national or ethnic origin”.
According to Local Government Victoria, Maribyrnong has the second most ethnically diverse population among Victorian regions, with 40 per cent of residents born outside Australia.
Cr Quach said he continued to encounter racial abuse.
“This is an issue dear to my heart,” he said. “I’ve suffered racial abuse since I was a kid … only three days ago [July 19] I was in the city with friends and a car pulled up and [the occupants] started hurling racial obscenities out the window.”
Cr Carter said the changes to the act would tear at the fabric of Australia’s multiculturalism.
“As one of the most culturally diverse cities in the state, any changes to the Racial Discrimination Act will significantly diminish the rights of the people we represent,” she said.
Cr Martin Zakharov said the proposed amendments were a “backward step” and an “embarrassment to all of us”.
