Australia's federal race discrimination commissioner accused One Nation and the federal opposition of dehumanizing and scapegoating immigrants during a seminar this week [1].
The comments highlight a growing tension between human rights oversight and political rhetoric regarding immigration in Australia. By linking the Coalition and One Nation to a "deep vein of racism," the commissioner suggests that anti-migrant sentiment has moved from the fringes into the mainstream political discourse.
Giridharan Sivaraman spoke during a human-rights seminar held in Brisbane on Wednesday [1]. He said that One Nation and the federal opposition are dehumanising and scapegoating immigrants, drawing on a deep vein of racism [1].
Sivaraman described the current state of the national discourse as a significant challenge to social cohesion. He said that Australia faces a pronounced political fault line [1].
The commissioner indicated that the rhetoric used by these parties does more than just debate policy; it targets the humanity of those arriving in the country. This approach, he said, reflects an underlying racial prejudice that persists within the Australian political landscape [1].
The seminar served as a forum to discuss the intersection of human rights and political speech. Sivaraman said that scapegoating vulnerable populations can lead to broader systemic discrimination and a breakdown in community trust [1].
“One Nation and the federal opposition are dehumanising and scapegoating immigrants, drawing on a deep vein of racism.”
This accusation from a federal commissioner signals a high-level institutional critique of the Coalition and One Nation. By framing the rhetoric as a 'fault line,' Sivaraman is suggesting that the political strategy of targeting immigrants is not merely a campaign tactic but a systemic issue that may undermine Australia's human rights obligations and social stability.
