MEDIA STATEMENT
DeCo, advocacy groups condemn anti-immigration march, call out racist dog-whistling from political leaders
National racial justice organisation, Democracy in Colour, condemns the anti-immigration march held on Sunday 31 August, organised by a coalition of neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups who want to intimidate migrants, communities of colour, and anyone who does not fit their narrow vision of Australia. Several other groups advocating for equity have joined Democracy in Colour in condemning this rally and calling for a renewed commitment to a diverse and inclusive democracy.
The march’s thinly veiled calls to “take our country back” and “defend our culture” are nothing more than a new version of the “White Australia” policy, and a direct attack on our multicultural society.
DeCo Board Chairperson, Jamal Hakim, says: “These groups are attempting to exploit genuine concerns from all Australians about issues like the cost of living, job security and housing affordability, and instead of addressing the real causes, they are scapegoating migrants and people of colour. This is a tactic as old as racism itself, and it is a dangerous one.”
Events like the anti-immigrant march are a direct result of a political environment where anti-immigrant sentiment is not just tolerated, but actively encouraged by mainstream political figures. Former opposition leader Peter Dutton’s repeated attempts to scapegoat migrants—his inflammatory statements about immigration levels and so-called “social cohesion”—are nothing less than dog whistles to the far-right.
Hakim says the events across Australia, particularly the violent scenes in Melbourne, are a reminder of the dangerous echoes of history.
“We cannot pretend this is harmless. The rhetoric on our streets this weekend might as well have been accompanied by swastikas — the message was the same. This is the same scapegoating and mobilisation we saw in Europe in the 1930s. To see fascists emboldened in Australia today, protected and platformed, should be a wake-up call to every Australian who values democracy and human dignity.”
“Australia has a long and proud history of migration. Migrants have built our economy, enriched our culture, and strengthened our communities. Yet once again, we are seeing the same tired politics of fear being used to divide us. We reject this dangerous narrative in the strongest terms,” Hakim says.
Racist rhetoric from political leaders like Mr Dutton is providing a wink and a nod to extremist groups and individuals who feel that their racist beliefs are being validated by a major political party. This kind of leadership is not just irresponsible; it is actively dangerous. It emboldens hate groups and creates a climate where marches like the one on 31st of August can thrive.
We, the undersigned, call on all political leaders to stop legitimising racist scapegoating and to unequivocally condemn this rally and the forces behind it. We believe that a strong, vibrant democracy is an inclusive one. We reject the politics of fear and division. We call on all Australians to stand against this hateful march and to reject the political dog-whistling that fuels it. Our nation’s strength lies in our diversity, and we must not allow a small minority of extremists and the politicians who pander to them to undermine a multicultural nation for all.
Signatories:
- Arab Council Australia
- Asian Australians for Climate Solutions
- Browns for Better
- Multicultural Leadership Initiative
- Trans Justice Project