Government's 'feel good' cover-up

Wednesday, April 7, 1999 - 10:00

By Kim Bullimore

The federal Coalition government's hypocrisy was again evident when immigration, multicultural affairs and reconciliation minister Philip Ruddock launched its multi-million dollar "Living in Harmony" program. The program, which aims to "illustrate our inclusive community" and promote "Australian values", was launched on the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, one day after the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) found that the Coalition's amended Wik legislation was "racially discriminatory".

Australia is the first western country to be asked by the 18-member CERD to explain its policies on race. The committee found that the Australian government had breached its obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which it signed in 1966.

According to the CERD, four aspects of the Wik legislation discriminate against indigenous title holders. It said: "The amended act appears to create legal certainty for governments and third parties at the expense of the indigenous title."

The CERD called on the government to suspend implementation of the legislation and reopen talks with indigenous people, as there had been a lack of consultation with them over the amended Wik act. Senator Ruddock dismissed the UN findings as "absurd".

The Living in Harmony program clearly indicates that the Coalition's only commitment to the elimination of racial discrimination is to conduct a "feel good" public relations exercise. There is no attempt to eliminate and provide redress for racially discriminatory practices.

While found guilty of racial discrimination at an international level, the government is issuing turquoise ribbons (to represent harmony) and glossy posters and pamphlets, t-shirts and caps with the slogan "You, Me, Us". It is also providing $2.5 million dollars to community groups "to promote community harmony".

The program claims to uphold "traditional Australian values" such as "justice, equality, fairness and friendship". This is a furphy; the program's real role is to divert attention from the Coalition's legislation which, said the CERT, is an "acute impairment of the rights of Australia's indigenous communities".