Editorial: Trouble in paradise

OPINION: Today is Australia Day, and no doubt our cousins across the Tasman will be enjoying the anniversary by throwing a few extra shrimps on the barbie.

On the face of it Australia has a lot to celebrate. It is a first world country with a robust economy, good rates of pay, and first class education and health systems. Because of this it has always been a magnet for migrants. It is where migrants would like to believe that opportunity abounds, an egalitarian paradise where the class systems of older countries in Europe and Asia have failed to take root.

Australians, according to folklore, would give anyone a fair go as long as they are prepared to work hard and have what it takes to contribute.

Unfortunately for Australia one side-effect of its success and prosperity is a racist underbelly. It seems there is a growing band of white Australians who believe that because their forebears got to Australia first, they have the right to discriminate against newcomers.

Melbourne's Indian community has borne the brunt of the attacks and grabbed the most headlines, thanks to a bolshy media at home in India. It was already a big issue, but the murder of Nitin Garg, a 21-year-old Indian student earlier this month, made it red hot. Victoria's police chief angered Indian politicians by insisting that the students were safer in Victoria than they would be at home. But police have also conceded they have a problem and are now concentrating on keeping the Indian community safe. Reported attacks on the community have jumped more than 30 per cent in a year.

As well as the violent street attacks there is an organised internet campaign targeting the community with sites on Facebook springing up, with names such as I think Indian People Should Wear Deodorant and Australia: Indians, You Have a Right to Leave.

Relations between the Muslim community and the wider Australian community have also become strained because of racist incidents.

To mark Australia Day and no doubt step in to fill the void created by a lack of political leadership in the battle against racism, former defence force chief and Australian of the Year General Peter Cosgrove has spoken out about the strains with the Indian and Muslim communities. According to him, racist attacks on Indians are now a major problem and an estrangement has developed between the immigrant communities and wider Australia.

The general has isolated himself from Victorian politicians by speaking up about a problem the rest of the Australian establishment is reluctant to tackle. Hopefully his actions will encourage Australians to reflect on this dreadful problem, and vow to do something about it.

Australia is a fantastic country. Racism and intolerance have no place in it.

- © Fairfax NZ News