Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia (Inc.

Our Ref RDA/04-2014 29th April, 2014 Senator George Brandis QC Attorney General PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Attorney REF: PROPOSED REFORMS TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975. On behalf of the ethnic and migrant communities in Western Australia, I thank you for the opportunity to respond to the proposed reforms in the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) 1975. We have consulted far and wide with the representatives and delegates from our member and nonmember organisations. After collating all the responses a draft document was tabled for discussion on 28th April 2014 and was endorsed for submission to your office. It is evident amongst the membership of Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia (ECCWA) and through our consultations with the community that there is wide support for the current legislation and a sincere appreciation and reliance on the protections currently afforded under RDA 1975. Confidence in the law is a principal element of modern democratic society and for minority communities reliant on the laws protection; the proposed changes under this Bill significantly undermine their trust in that pillar. ECCWA hence opposes any changes to the RDA 1975 and accordingly recommends immediate withdrawal of the proposed reforms as they do not take into account any evidence based research, consultation or valid justification. It is causing undue stress to the various sections of the community in particular in Western Australia which can truly be labelled as state of migrants as it has got a higher proportion of migrants who call Australia home, a home which was built on the foundation of Advance Fair Australia that we all take pride in.

With kindest regards

Dr. Zarrin S Siddiqui President

Attachment A: Feedback on the proposed reforms Attachment B: ECCWA Research Brief 01 on Racism

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