Media Releases

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) joins with a number of other organisations in a statement of support of Adam Goodes, following the racism directed towards him.  As the national peak body representing Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities and a member of the National Anti-Racism Partnership, FECCA strongly opposes all form of racism and discrimination.

Racism is racism and some members of the Australian community including media commentators should refrain from constantly trying to make excuses for it being something else.

FECCA Acting Chair, Eugenia Grammatikakis said, “However confronting it may be, members of Indigenous communities and minority groups should not be shut down when they stand up and speak about issues important to them and their communities.  There needs to be respect even for views we may not agree with.  In a free and democratic society all should have an opportunity, without offending others, to safely express themselves and what they believe in.”

There should be zero tolerance for racist behaviours in sport and in all aspects of Australian life.  Condoning and encouraging racist behaviour would do very little in strengthening our social cohesion, and creating a healthy and inclusive Australian society.

We condemn the racially motivated sledging and attacks on Adam Goodes during AFL matches.  Racism has no place in Australian society, and we support Adam Goodes in proudly displaying his Aboriginal culture and heritage.

FECCA supports an Australia that is accepting and respectful of all people, regardless of their cultural, linguistic or religious background.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) calls on both the Australian Government and the Opposition to stand by Australia’s international obligations and responsibilities, in response to the positions taken by both major parties on boat turnbacks.

FECCA Acting Chair, Eugenia Grammatikakis said, “We would like to reiterate our strong stance, in line with a human rights based approach and our international obligations, against boat turnbacks, offshore processing and denying asylum seekers who arrive by boat and are found to be refugees the right to be resettled in Australia.”

As a signatory to the Refugee Convention, Australia has committed to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees have the right to enter a country for the purposes of seeking asylum, regardless of how they arrive or whether they hold valid travel or identity documents.

As the national peak body representing Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities and their organisations, we support a sustainable and non-discriminatory humanitarian program with a longer-term vision, that is responsive to refugee situations across the world and meets the growing global needs for resettlement.

Australia should take on a leadership role and channel its diplomatic efforts towards improving regional cooperation on the refugee protection in Asia-Pacific, while also genuinely promoting the safety and human rights of those seeking asylum. “Australia should place greater focus on working with the region’s key stakeholders to establish workable regional arrangements to ensure safer ways to seek protection,” Ms Grammatikakis concluded.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.

The Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015 (Cth) was introduced into Parliament last month, and has been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.  The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA), the national peak body representing Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and their organisations, is alarmed by the proposed changes to citizenship which are introduced by this Bill.

Last week, FECCA made a submission opposing the passage of the Bill in its current form.  The submission raises concerns about the effect of automatic cessation or revocation of citizenship for dual nationals, including children.  It also raises concerns about various procedural elements of the Bill which FECCA believes do not provide adherence to fundamental individual rights.  You can read the submission here.

FECCA Acting Chair, Eugenia Grammatikakis, said, “We are very concerned that this Bill may create two categories of citizenship, which has the potential to disrupt social cohesion in the Australian community.”

We stress the importance of social inclusion to build a cohesive, accepting and unified Australia.  Recently, there has been a rise in racially and religiously motivated attacks against members of the Australian culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community.

“It is discouraging to see a rise in rallies and racist attacks that promote exclusion, distrust and fear in our communities,” said Eugenia Grammatikakis.  The rhetoric purported by the Reclaim Australia rallies and other similar groups is one that is at odds with Australian values of cultural diversity and multiculturalism.

FECCA highlights the importance of social cohesion in the Australian community including the role that citizenship policy can play, by giving a sense of belonging and acceptance.  It is also important that the wider Australian society comes together to foster harmony and cohesion.

Media Comments: FECCA Office – (02) 6282 5755, media@fecca.org.au.