MEDIA RELEASE

Invitation for Submissions to New Inquiry into Racial Vilification

The Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion has announced a new inquiry into racial vilification in the ACT and is calling for public submissions from Monday 22 November 2021.

The Committee will investigate the prevalence of incidents of vilification and threats of physical violence in the Territory - based on racial, linguistic, ethnic, or religious background, and status as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person - and the mechanisms for reporting such incidents.

The Chair of the Committee, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA, said ‘We want to hear from as many interested people and organisations as possible about their experiences and observations of racial vilification, and whether the reporting mechanisms are effective and accessible.’

Submissions for the inquiry open at 9am on Monday 22 November 2021 and will close at 5pm on 31 January 2022.

Hearings for this Inquiry will be held out in the community across February, March, and April 2022.

The Terms of Reference of the Inquiry are available on the Committee’s website at:  www.parliament.act.gov.au/parliamentary-business/in-committees/committees/eci/inquiry-into-racial-vilification

Submissions should be lodged by 5pm 31 January 2022 at:

Email: LACommitteeECI@parliament.act.gov.au

Postal: The Committee Secretary, Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion, Legislative Assembly for the ACT, GPO Box 1020, CANBERRA ACT 2601.

The Committee prefers all submissions to be lodged in electronic form (Word or PDF format), although handwritten submissions are acceptable. All submissions, including those sent electronically, must include a name, an email address, a postal address, and a telephone contact number. Personal contact details will not be published.

Information about getting involved in the Inquiry through making a public submission is available at: https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/parliamentary-business/in-committees/Getting-involved

For more information contact:

Committee Chair, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA on 620 51405

Committee Secretary, Christine Regan on 620 50124