Thursday 23rd March 2000

United Nations Poised to Condemn Australia as Racially Discriminatory

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation are calling on the Federal Government to recognise its international obligations and take decisive action on mandatory sentencing and native title.

The Australian Government is bracing itself for another damning report from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Australia is currently under an early warning action from the international race watchdog, the only Western nation to be so openly condemned for its domestic rights abuses.

Government officials fronted by Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Philip Ruddock appeared before the Geneva-based committee overnight (AEDT time) and were questioned over mandatory sentencing and the high rate of Aboriginal imprisonment.

The Committee told Mr Ruddock mandatory sentencing legislation "conflicted with the norms of justice", and one CERD member noted that some of those imprisoned under the legislation did not know why they were arrested.

The Committee also questioned the Government delegation on aspects of its Native Title Amendments that have been found to breach AustraliaÕs obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Under the Convention, Australia is required to "amend, rescind or nullify any laws which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination". If the Committee hands down its expected condemnation of mandatory sentencing laws and native title amendments, the Australian government will be required to revisit legislation on these issues, or risk an international outcry in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics.

ANTaR calls on the Australian Government to respect the decision of the United Nations Committee, and act decisively to overturn mandatory sentencing provisions and revisit discriminatory elements of the Native Title Amendment Act.

For interviews, please contact: David Cooper 02 9555 6138 or 0418 486 310

ANTaR sponsors the Sea of Hands, which has travelled around Australia and represents the commitments of hundreds of thousands of Australians to the principles of non-discrimination. ANTaR was one of many NGO and Indigenous organisations that submitted evidence to CERD