NSW Opposition leader John Robertson has said that Labor will oppose any watering down of racial discrimination legislation and develop a bold policy agenda for hospitals, schools, transport infrastructure and jobs.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the subcontinental media, Mr Robertson said that with just 12 months to go for the 2015 state election, Labor was finalising its range of policies.
“This is an exciting period for Labor as we move to develop and finalise policies that will make NSW a better place,” Mr Robertson said. Shadow minister for citizenship and communities Guy Zangari was also present at the meeting.
Mr Zangari said that Labor had deep respect for the contribution of the State’s diverse communities. He alleged that the Liberal Party’s actions in the last several months were hurting multiculturalism and the state’s communities. These measures, Mr Zangari said, included:
A move to water down Anti Racial Discrimination provisions
Eliminating the State government’s responsibility to provide a comprehensive English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum
Cancelling the Building Multicultural Communities Program – killing funding to 130 multicultural projects across NSW.
“If the Liberal Party truly respected subcontinental communities, it would not make it easier for people to hurl around racial abuse,” Mr Zangari said.
“It would not refuse to honour contracts that subcontintental community groups such as the Afghan Community Support Association signed in good faith before the election.”
ublished in Indian magazine, Australia
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