Racism exists in Australia: Oz official

Melbourne, June14 (ANI): With attacks on Indian students continuing in Australia, Race Discrimination Commissioner Tom Calma believes there is a case to give a racist tag to them.

Calma admitted that racism existed in Australia, but said the whole country should not be blamed for it.

"We need to recognize that racism does exist in Australia. It doesn't mean the whole society is racist but it does exist with individual's actions and small group actions," news.com quoted Calma, as saying.

Calma said Australia could not allow a repeat of the 1990s when racial comments by politician Pauline Hanson inflamed feelings across Asia.

"It's important that we all accept that, understand and start to develop the frameworks to address it into the future and not be reactive but be pro-active. That is really what I think we are lacking at this stage," he added.

Calma also feared that the sporadic attacks could affect the highly lucrative international student industry.

He said the authorities must start working with the community to ensure that measures are being implemented to prevent the attacks from swelling. (ANI)