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Commission takes anti-racism message to screens across the country

Graphic: One woman leaves an elevator, while another woman stares in at a man who looks uncomfortable

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched Community Service Announcements asking people to take a stand against casual, everyday racism.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched two Community Service Announcements (CSAs) for broadcast on national TV and for streaming to desktop computers and hand-held devices around the country.

The CSAs depict casual racism in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services.


An Aboriginal man is refused a taxi in this Community Service Announcement from the Australian Human Rights Commission.


"Racism frequently occurs at work and while people are doing everyday things such as catching a bus, riding a train, or flagging a taxi," Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner Tim Soutphommasane said.

"At the Commission, 54% of complaints under the Racial Discrimination Act received in 2015-16 were made by Indigenous Australians and a large number of complaints related to employment.

"These everyday and often casual expressions of racism are unacceptable," Commissioner Soutphommasane said.

"We have developed these Community Service Announcements because we want to raise awareness of everyday racism and its impact.

"We'd like to get people thinking about what they can do to help put a stop to racism.

"We hope these CSAs help create a culture where people are able to identify racism and have the confidence to respond appropriately and safely."


A woman with an African background runs to catch a lift in this Community Service Announcement from the the Australian Human Rights Commission.


Free-to-air television networks will screen the CSAs for the two months.

The Commission will also stream the CSAs to social media, hand-held devices and desktop computers from its Racism It Stops With Me website.

Date: 5 October 2017

Source: Australian Human Rights Commission


Image credits

  1. One woman leaves an elevator, while another woman stares in at a man who looks uncomfortable - Australian Human Rights Commission