Australian Greens Call for Change from Harmony Week to Anti-Racism Week

The Australian Greens, led by spokesperson for Anti-Racism Senator Mehreen Faruqi, are advocating for a significant change in the way the nation celebrates its multiculturalism. The proposal involves transitioning from the current Harmony Week to a newly suggested Anti-Racism Week. This call aims to address what the Greens describe as a superficial and tokenistic approach to celebrating diversity.

In a letter addressed to Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles, Senator Mehreen Faruqi highlighted the need to shift the focus from mere cultural celebrations to actionable steps against racism. Faruqi emphasized that the current framework of Harmony Week sidelines the core purpose of recognizing and eliminating racism in Australia.

Since its inception in 1999 by former Prime Minister John Howard, Harmony Day, later expanded into Harmony Week in 2019, has faced criticism for not fully addressing the underlying issues of racial discrimination in the country. Faruqi argues that such celebrations tend to conceal the structural problems of racism behind symbolic gestures.

The push for change comes in the wake of the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch mosque massacre in 2019, which saw 51 Muslims killed by an Australian white supremacist. Despite the tragic event, Australia is still without a completed National anti-racism strategy, reflecting the ongoing challenges in combating racism.

Suggesting that the move would have broader implications beyond symbolic gestures, Faruqi drew attention to the need for genuine action on racism. She also pointed out the history of the Harmony initiatives being created by governments known for discriminatory policies and controversial stances on migration and refugees.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles responded by underlining the importance of multiculturalism rooted in a steadfast zero-tolerance policy towards racism. He noted that the Labor Government is working on the Multicultural Framework Review to ensure that all individuals in Australia, regardless of background, feel a sense of belonging.