News: Australasia

Immigration

Negative attitudes about Muslims in Australia remain high, survey finds The annual Scanlon Foundation report has found negative attitudes about Muslims remain high, while concerns about climate change have almost doubled.

November 26, 2019   

(SBS) The vast majority of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia, but a significant minority still express negativity towards Muslims, according to a report released on Tuesday. The findings come in the 12th annual Scanlon Foundation report into social cohesion […]

Academics & Education

Merlino calls for urgent review Merlino: 'I have asked for an immediate review into how both schools have handled these matters, to ensure they were dealt with appropriately.'

October 4, 2019   

(Australian Jewish News) Victoria’s Education Minister James Merlino has ordered an “immediate review” into how two Melbourne schools responded to alleged incidents of antisemitic bullying, following yesterday’s exclusive report in the AJN. In a story that has since made international headlines, we […]

Academics & Education

‘A rapidly spreading crisis’ A 12-year-old student in Melbourne was verbally abused, physically assaulted and forced to kiss the feet of a Muslim boy — all because he is Jewish.

October 3, 2019   

(Australian Jewish News) A five-year-old student began wetting himself in class after he was subjected to antisemitic bullying over the course of four months, while a 12-year-old student was forced to kiss the feet of a Muslim child and was physically assaulted. […]

Government & Politics

Think tank group targets Muslim council candidates A former ACT MP says she was unaware of derogatory and xenophobic remarks towards Muslims on a Facebook group she set up.

September 7, 2019   

(Radio NZ) The Facebook group for political think tank New Zealand Centre for Political Research has several threads taking aim at Muslim candidates standing in the local government elections. Former ACT MP Muriel Newman founded the think tank in 2005. Dr Newman […]

Government & Politics

Websites blocks for extreme terror content

August 25, 2019   

(AAP) Websites hosting abhorrent violent material or extreme terror content will soon be more easily blocked. Communications Minister Paul Fletcher intends to put in place stricter rules after the Christchurch terror attacks were live-streamed in March. “The Morrison government is determined to […]