Recommendation 132

The Australian Government supports the National Anti-Racism Partnership Strategy and its related public awareness campaign, Racism. It Stops With Me. The second phase of the strategy was launched in July 2015.The Scanlon Foundation's 2016 Mapping Social Cohesion report found that 86% of the community reported that multiculturalism has been good for Australia.

Australia has comprehensive anti-discrimination laws at federal, state and territory level that are the subject of ongoing review and public debate. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) makes discrimination on a range of protected grounds unlawful including race, colour, descent and national or ethnic origin.

Australia has had a dedicated federal Race Discrimination Commissioner since 1986. The Commissioner is established within the Australian Human Rights Commission by the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). The Commissioner's functions include promoting understanding and acceptance of the Act, and developing research and educational programmes to combat racial discrimination. The Commissioner leads the Racism. It Stops With Me campaign. Information about the Commissioner and work underway can be found on the Race discrimination page on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

Multicultural Australia: United, Strong, Successful Australia's national statement on multicultural affairs, renews and reaffirms the Australian Government's commitment to a multicultural Australia setting policy and program priorities and directions for the coming years.

Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) engage with key culturally and linguistically diverse communities around Australia to discuss policies and programs and to explore community sentiment and dynamics.  CLOs help connect communities over responsibilities including multicultural affairs, social cohesion, migration, and citizenship.

Australians are free to choose their religion. The Australian Government is committed to protecting the right of all people to express and practise their religion without intimidation, interference or harassment, provided those practices are within the framework of Australian law.

The Australian Multicultural Council, an advisory body to the Australian Government on issues of multicultural policy and programmes, provides support and advice on promoting greater intercultural and interfaith understanding and dialogue.

On 22 November 2017, the former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, announced the appointment of the Hon Philip Ruddock to examine whether Australian law adequately protects the human right to freedom of religion. Mr Ruddock has recently served as Australia's Special Envoy for Human Rights, and previously held the positions of Commonwealth Attorney‑General and Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Mr Ruddock was assisted by an expert panel consisting of the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, retired Federal Court of Australia Judge and Chancellor of Bond University, the Hon Annabelle Bennett AO SC, and Jesuit Priest and Catholic Services Australia CEO, Father Frank Brennan SJ AO. The expert panel reported its finding to the Prime Minister on 18 May 2018. The Australian Government is considering the expert panel's findings.

On 29 November 2016, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, asked the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) to inquire into and report on the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief. The JSCFADT inquiry is looking more broadly into freedom of religion around the world, including Australia. The inquiry is ongoing. Australia will continue its strong tradition of interfaith and intercultural dialogues. The Australian Multicultural Council, an advisory body to Government on issues of multicultural policy and programs, provides support and advice to the Australian Government on interfaith and intercultural dialogues. The Australian Government will continue to condemn terrorism and the actions of violent extremists, while maintaining respect and trust in the peaceful practice of all religious beliefs.

For information on state and territory policies and programmes related to social cohesion and multiculturalism, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – Community Services ACT
• New South Wales – Multicultural NSW
• Northern Territory – Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Queensland – Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
• South Australia – Multicultural SA
• Tasmania – Department of Premier and Cabinet - Communities, Sport and Recreation
• Victoria – Department of Premier and Cabinet - Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Division
• Western Australia – Office of Multicultural Interests

For information on state and territory anti-discrimination laws, visit:

• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Human Rights Commission
• Northern Territory – NT Anti-Discrimination Commission
• New South Wales – Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW
• Queensland – Queensland Government and Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland
• South Australia –  Equal Opportunity Commission SA
• Tasmania – Equal Opportunity Tasmania
• Victoria – Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
• Western Australia – Equal Opportunity Commission