New Laws to Deal with Ethnic Violence

The New South Wales Government has announced new laws to crack down on ethnic violence, in response to the unrest that has occurred in parts of southern Sydney since Sunday December 11.

Carloads of men on Monday night, attacked people, vandalised cars and smashed shopfronts in southern Sydney, according to NSW police.

This followed unrest on Sunday when an estimated 5000 people gathered at North Cronulla beach, after text messages circulated last week urging "Aussies" to take revenge for the attack on two lifesavers allegedly by youths of Lebanese descent. The day resulted in violence that targeted people of Middle Eastern appearance which then saw revenge attacks in beach-side suburbs.

In response NSW parliament will hold a special sitting on Thursday to pass new laws, which will enable police to declare lock-down zones, confiscate vehicles, shut down licensed premises and impose temporary alcohol-free zones.

"These criminals have declared war on our society and we are not going to let them win," NSW Premier Morris Iemma said.

The Premier said laws also would be passed to remove the presumption of bail for the offences of riot, and the penalty for riot would be increased by five years to 15 years in jail.

Mr Iemma said anyone planning further violence in Sydney would be met by the full force of the law.

He said the police would deal with offenders regardless of their background or skin colour.

"They aren't going to win no matter where they come from."

Racism in Australian society?

Federal Labor MP Harry Quick has contradicted the Federal Government and Opposition Leader by saying that racism is embedded in Australian culture.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has said the Sydney clashes are "simply criminal behaviour", while Attorney General Philip Ruddock says he doesn't believe Australia is a particularly racist society.

However Mr Quick says leaders need to look seriously at the underlying issues.

"It really concerns me that Australians – if you scratch them you discover a racist and this is one of the sad things about Australia, despite us espousing multiculturalism, deep down we have this fear of people who are different from us," Mr Quick said, according to the ABC.

However the Ethnic Communities Council says the vast majority of Australians are not racist.

"The catalyst for the most recent appalling events was the action a small group of racist thugs who decided that they needed to stir up ethnic rivalries. This group has the same mentality of others with similar views who are not interested in participating in a multicultural society," Mr Passaris said.

"This is not a reflection on any particular ethnic group – racists are to be found everywhere."

International reputation

Prime Minister John Howard believes Australia's international reputation will not be affected in the long term.

"You have outbreaks of domestic discord that happens to every country and when it occurs there's publicity, but people make a judgment about this country over a longer term," Mr Howard said.

But Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says that anyone who argues Australia's international standing has not been affected is burying their head in the sand.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar says Sydney's racial tensions show extremists can be found in all countries.

"Racism, xenophobia, these are the prejudices – it shows extremism is not peculiar to Muslims," he said.

Community Response

The Ethnic Communities Council of NSW (ECC) has supported the review of Australia's racial vilification laws.

"This type of mob action is entirely inappropriate and the state government needs to take swift and decisive action. It may be necessary to be firm to achieve peace and stability – but that is what must be done," says ECC Chair Jack Passaris.

"In particular we would urge the government to introduce laws which would make the intentional incitement of racial hatred into a criminal offence."

Meanwhile the ABC reports that the southern Sydney surf gang, the Bra Boys, held a meeting with the Comancheros, who has a large Lebanese membership, with both agreeing to stay out of the unrest. However they say they do not represent those involved in the violence.

A surf carnival planned for Sydney's North Cronulla beach this Saturday has been cancelled amid fears race riots will continue into the weekend.

With AAP