Ash Ambihaipahar (Barton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to acknowledge and honour the 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 16:22 to 16:46

This is one of the most profound legislative markers in Australia's modern story and a law that has shaped the lived experience of millions, including families like mine and communities like Barton. The passage of the Racial Discrimination Act was not just a legal reform. It was Australia declaring formally and finally that equality before the law is not optional, not conditional, not aspirational, but fundamental. Half a century on, we recognise that this act continues to be a pillar of our democracy, our social cohesion and our identity as a nation that believes in fairness.

When I delivered my first speech in this place, I spoke about the journey of my life. So many migrants arrived here with hope, humility and a fierce determination to build a much better life. I spoke about growing up in my electorate, about the pride I feel in my Sri Lankan and Papua New Guinean heritage—raised by a Maltese and Italian family—and about the pride I feel being Australian. I spoke about the lessons of my late grandfather, a man who taught me that service, kindness and dignity are the measure of a life well lived.

What I did not get the chance to say, but wish to say today, is that their lives and mine would have been very different if not for the Racial Discrimination Act. When the Racial Discrimination Act passed this parliament in 1975, it did something incredibly simple yet profoundly transformative. It recognised that everyone in this country is entitled to the same respect, the same safety and the same dignity, regardless of race or background. That principle sits at the heart of the electorate of Barton.

Barton is one of the most multicultural communities in the nation. Our residents come from every continent, every faith tradition and every culture, and we are stronger because of this. I'm proud to represent a community where diversity is not just tolerated or accepted but absolutely celebrated as our greatest asset. But the truth is that, for many decades in this country, people of colour, First Nations people and multicultural communities faced systemic discrimination. It occurred in housing, in employment, in education and in access to services. Many still face it today.

The Racial Discrimination Act was a promise to all of those communities that the law would stand with them, not against them. It was a promise that the lapses of our past—including the White Australia policy, exclusionary practices and harmful sways—would not define our future. It is a promise that we must continue to uphold. Over the last 50 years this act has changed lives. It has empowered people who face discrimination to seek justice. It has shaped policies and behaviours across both public and private sectors. It has strengthened multiculturalism as a core Australian value. It has shown generations, including mine, that belonging is not something you must earn at the expense of your identity. Belonging is a right.

In Barton I see the legacy of this legislation every single day. I see it in the confidence of young people who grow up speaking two or three languages at home. I see it in the parents who know their children will be judged on their character, not the colour of their skin. I see it in the friendships, in the local businesses, in community organisations and in faith groups that together form the social fabric of our community.

But anniversaries are not only moments of celebration; they are moments of reflection, because the work of the Racial Discrimination Act is not finished. It cannot be finished while racism, in any form, still exists in this country. We know it persists. We see it in the rise of online abuse. We see it in misinformation campaigns targeting migrant communities. We see it in casual racism that still sits beneath the surface of national conversations. We see it in the prejudice experienced by our First Nations people, whose rights and voices must never be ignored. We see it in humiliating behaviour, particularly this week from Senator Hanson in the Senate, who's clearly said she has no respect for the people in this House, let alone the people of Islamic faith. We also see it in new forms, including algorithmic bias, discrimination in AI and inequalities in data and technology. These are challenges the original drafters of this act could never have imagined, yet they now fall on us to confront. It is our responsibility, as parliamentarians and as Australian citizens, to ensure the Racial Discrimination Act continues to evolve so it remains powerful and relevant for the next 50 years.

As someone who has worked closely with communities through the St Vincent de Paul Society, I've seen the way discrimination, even subtle or systemic, compounds disadvantage. It limits pathways to employment. It affects health outcomes. It creates social isolation. It sends a message that some people are less valued. We are not simply recognising a historical achievement. We are recommitting ourselves to the vision of a nation where equality is real and not rhetorical.

The founding words of the act are as relevant as they were in 1975. They say that racial discrimination is unlawful in any area of life. Those words must continue to guide us, especially in the era of global uncertainty, rising extremism and economic pressure. History has shown that in times of hardship, racism can resurface. It can be used by those who seek division. It can weaken the social cohesion that all Australians rely on. As leaders, it is our duty to push back clearly and firmly.

In my first speech I spoke about the privilege of being the daughter and granddaughter of people who sacrificed so much so that I could stand in this Chamber. I spoke about representing a community that embodies the best of multicultural Australia. I spoke about the responsibility I feel to fight for fairness, for justice and for the dignity of every person in Barton. Those convictions are strengthened by the legacy of the Racial Discrimination Act. As we mark the 50th anniversary, let us pay tribute to the lawmakers who passed it, the activists who demanded it and the communities who needed it. But let us also honour the next 50 years, the generations who will depend on us to defend it.

The fight against racism is not a moment; it is absolutely a movement. It's not a single law; it is a lifelong effort. It's not the work of one parliament; it is the work of an entire nation that believes in fairness. Australia is at its best when we treat every person with respect. Australia is at its strongest when we cherish our diversity as a source of pride. Australia is at its most united when we stand up clearly and courageously against racism in all forms.

The Racial Discrimination Act gave us the foundation. It is our task to build the future. On behalf of the people of Barton, a community shaped by migration and strengthened by diversity, I am proud to stand today to honour the 50th anniversary of this landmark legislation.

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