A year of wedges among the multicultural success stories

We must also address the new challenges of racism by ensuring that our laws provide strong remedies to redress discrimination and promote equality.

Presently, the RDA does not impose an obligation on government agencies to promote equality. In this regard, Australia is trailing behind the UK, Canada and other developed countries which have enshrined a duty to promote equality on government agencies as a statutory requirement.

In addition, the formalities of the legal process, and particularly the evidentiary requirements to prove discrimination under the Racial Discrimination Act, are making it difficult for complainants to succeed in an action for unlawful discrimination.

These are just some of the issues that need to be reviewed in order to ensure that the legal mechanisms continue to be responsive to new forms of racism.

If addressed, we can look forward to a new era of social cohesion in Australia for 2008 and beyond.