by Scott Wilson

Created on: July 04, 2010   Last Updated: July 05, 2010

There is a racist minority in any society, including Australia. The question is whether a majority of the Australian population is still holding public or privately racist beliefs.

My grandfather held unashamedly racist views, as did a majority of his generation. But until the early 1980s, many if not most western countries could say the same.

I've seen a very substantial shift in national beliefs since my university days (late 80s) onwards. Australia may have been a cultural backwater decades ago, but it is as modern and progressive now as any western democracy.

There is no doubt that there are still racist, ill-educated elements of Australian society and Pauline Hanson is an appallingly accurate example. But the majority of Australians are international citizens and pride ourselves in being so. Our friends and business associates stretch through Asia, Europe and the rest of the world.

In truth, Australia has one of the most culturally diverse and inclusive societies in the world. Melbourne is a wonderful example of harmonious, multi-cultural society. Race isn't ignored, but it is seen as a characteristic not a flaw, a topic of conversation not a basis for prejudice. I guess I'm a Skippy (white-anglo Australian) and some of my closest friends are dumb wogs (Greek, Italian et al) but we are comfortable enough to laugh about it during World Cup or whatever and utterly ignore it otherwise.

It's sad that Australia still has a lingering reputation for racism that is propogated by world media and inflamed by various interest groups. It is no more justified than any similar claims against USA or the UK. There will always be a racist minority. What the world media didn't broadcast (because it was boring) is that Pauline Hanson's One Nation party was roundly ridiculed by the VAST majority of Australians and vanished from the political landscape as quickly as it emerged.

That said, Australian government policy in relation to refugees and asylum seekers needs to improve. Boats regularly cross the Timor Sea, only to be diverted to various island detention centres that are under-resourced and crammed past capacity. While a very large disincentive is essential for the boats' operators (a very significant jail sentence for instance), we are punishing the wrong people with current policy.

Australia enjoys one of the most tolerant, peaceful and inclusive societies in the world.  It's been that way for a long time now.

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