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My name is Giridharan Sivaraman and I’m the Commonwealth Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.  

I wish to acknowledge the Kaurna peoples as traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of this region.

I wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

I would also like to acknowledge and welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be attending today’s event.

Acknowledging that I’m on country is important. For me, as a non-First Nations person, but who has lived experience of racism and is leading anti-racism work, it’s important to understand the difference between the racism someone like me suffers, and that which is suffered and has been suffered for 238 years by First Nations people. Someone like me may suffer racism through a denial of equality, dignity and respect. The racism First Nations people suffered and continue to suffer is also a denial of equality, dignity and respect. But in addition, it is a denial of self-determination and sovereignty which included the taking of their land by settlers before me. And I, as a settler, have benefited from that denial of sovereignty. I have benefited from the taking of their land. Therefore, it is a small but important step for me to acknowledge I’m on country.  

As many of you know, this week has been traditionally celebrated as Harmony Week in Australia, and the 21st of March as Harmony Day. This is the context in which I’ve been invited here to speak today.  

The 21st of March has been a date globally recognised as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD). It was designated as such by the UN in 1966 and began as a day of mourning. It is a day set aside to annually observe and reflect on the mass murder of 69 people, by police, at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa. The United Nations frames the day as one in which we should be “building solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination.”

For me, it is somewhat jarring that a day recognising a massacre born of racism, is replaced with a day of celebration under the banner of Harmony Day. And Australia is the only country in the world to do so.  Harmony is a wonderful ideal. But we have to ask ourselves, as a country, why are we so loathe to talk about racism? Because to get to a harmonious society, we first need to address racism.

Racism is rarely about race. Ta Nehise Coates wrote, ‘race is the child, racism is the parent’. It’s usually about power and privilege. Structural racism ensures that power and privilege is maintained by the dominant race. In Australia that dominancy is white. It is white Anglo race, culture and identity which remains dominant, and structurally so.    

If you are white, it’s the power and privilege to know that the institutions around you were built by people like you, for people like you and privilege people like you.  

It is also the power and privilege to decide on the narratives that influence politics and public discourse.  

It was a deliberate decision to rename IDERD to Harmony Day. The change was made in 1999 under former Prime Minister John Howard, to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism, instead of focusing on racism and discrimination.  

Celebrating the diversity within our communities has value. However, in Australia, the refusal to name and confront racism has prevented meaningful progress on eliminating it.  In our work at the AHRC we have found that approaches to anti-racism across all levels of government is ad-hoc, disjointed and piece meal. Many areas of government don’t even want to use the word racism. They would rather use terms like social cohesion, or harmony. Racism isn’t Beetlejuice. Naming it doesn’t make a demon appear, the demon is already amongst us. Anyone who’s watched a horror movie knows that closing your eyes and pretending the monster isn’t there doesn’t make it go away. It’ll still get you.

Australia is often eager to promote itself as a successful multicultural nation. But are we genuinely pluralistic or are you forced to express your culture in the shadows? I think of my own life and journey into the world of law. I was brought up in a Tamil speaking, Hindu, teetotalling, vegetarian household. I was acutely conscious of fitting into the world of law. It rewarded conformity not difference. I let go of Tamil so as to not sound different. It’s a beautiful language, of poetry and literature but it had no place anywhere outside private spaces. I remember my ceremony to be admitted as a lawyer. I was given a choice of an oath on a bible or a secular affirmation. No room for Hindu beliefs there. I remember attending events started with a Christian prayer. Even now the only religious public holidays recognised by law are Christian ones. Alcohol was the key to mingling with clients or other lawyers, otherwise you were left out. So, all I maintained was my vegetarianism. For a while their veganism was in vogue which meant i was cool for a bit but that quickly passed.  I’m part of the multicultural success story. Yet my culture, language and religion were all obstacles to my success.

When it comes to calling the 21st of March IDERD or Harmony Day, it can be easy to say that it’s just a choice of words. But words are never neutral.  

Throughout history, language has been used to label people, to erase struggles and to strategically shape political narratives. In Australia’s own history, racist policies enacted towards First Nations communities were called ‘protection policies’. Yet these policies involved abhorrent racial segregation, dispossession, and the tragedies that we now refer to as the Stolen Generations.

Language is powerful. It can empower people or silence them. It can expose or obscure the truth. It can challenge or reinforce injustice.  

In this case, replacing acknowledgement of racism with words of harmony risks contributing to the notion that racism is not a significant problem in Australia — one that requires urgent attention and policy change.  

In 2024, polling by Essential Media found only 37% of respondents believed Australia was a racist country. Meanwhile 64% expressed that they were scared to say what they really think in case they’d be labelled as racist. Spoiler alert: if a person is worried that something they want to say may lead to being called racist… most of the time, that’s because it is racist.

And despite the Essential Poll showing only about a third of people acknowledge racism is rife across our society, reports of racism are only rising. For example, many organisations and peak bodies, including Reconciliation SA, have noted the increase in notifications of racism since the referendum in 2023.

Moving forward

Racial literacy and intro to Framework

Before we can tackle racism, it is necessary to first meaningfully acknowledge the issue. We must call out racism for what it is and recognise its ongoing harms, instead of allowing it to be obscured under words like harmony or social cohesion.  

But there is still cause for optimism. That’s because we have a roadmap for the future.

In November, the Commission released the National Anti-Racism Framework. It contains 63 recommendations for a whole of society approach, with proposed reforms across Australia’s legal, justice, health, education, media and arts sectors as well as workplaces and data collection.  

In the Framework, a key theme is the need to build racial literacy. When I walk into a room, people will automatically have assumptions about me based on my name and the way I look. Understanding that is racial literacy. The next step is understanding how our institutions and systems disadvantage some people based on race. That is building our racial literacy in a way that allows us to improve our institutions and systems.  

Stronger racial literacy across society is essential for initiatives like the Framework to properly address racism in all forms across vital areas of our lives like health, education, workplaces, justice and the media.

Learning and education  

Skills in racial literacy are built over a lifetime.  

None of us can be expected to know everything. For us to tackle racism, we must all make a genuine commitment to ongoing learning and educating both ourselves and others.

I am encouraged by noting that Reconciliation SA has taken proactive steps to deliver anti-racism training at schools and organisations.  

However, enhancing racial literacy and education alone is not sufficient for addressing racism. It must be accompanied by actively challenging racist systems, structures, and ideas.

Action 

The National Anti-Racism Framework aims to tackle racism in Australia through real action and change, instead of symbolic words and gestures.  

We are all too familiar with seeing corporate diversity campaigns that showcase staff of different backgrounds, while there are no steps to address the discrimination those staff are being actively subjected to.  We are tired of people in authority publicly condemning a horrific act of racism when it occurs, and then seeing no action being taken. We no longer want the pain and suffering of so many communities being swept under the rug and silenced with platitudes.  

Examples like referring to IDERD as ‘Harmony Day’ hinders our collective anti-racism journey. It weakens our ability to identify and address the harm experienced by negatively racialised communities. We need to take this chance to address racism in Australia. Let’s question how racism affects our society and commit to anti-racist efforts to eliminate it.  

I encourage everyone here today to read the Framework and reflect on your own areas of work and influence and commit to meaningful change as we embrace this collective journey to eliminate racism. 

In my explanation of structural racism, I have talked about how it is inherently tied to, and upheld by, power and privilege. Fortunately, it is also power and privilege that can be used to dismantle it.  

Yes, tackling racism on a systemic level in Australia requires significant action – some of which requires commitment from government. But each of us still have a role to play. 
Everyone in this room today, whether institutionally or individually, has some sort of power or authority.  We therefore have the privilege of being able use our power to lead the way.  Challenge racism in your workplaces, advocate for anti-racism policies and speak up when you see injustice. When we collectively commit to a better future and reflect this commitment in our everyday actions, change is possible.  

Many of the rights we take for granted today exist because people came together in solidarity, refused to accept injustice and demanded change. History shows us that when communities unite in this way, systems have to shift. At a time when the road ahead might seem overwhelming, this is the hope we must remember.  

And if you are someone who does not experience racism, your role is even more important.  As Lilla Watson and other Aboriginal activists once said “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”  

I’m not asking for anyone to give anything away. Defeating racism is not a zero-sum game. If we live in a society where everyone feels safe, everyone can be their whole selves, everyone can prosper and everyone can be happy, imagine how much better that would be for all of us. That’s my vision and I ask you to join me help us realise it together.

Source: Australian Labor Party (ALP)

With the return of spring comes the start of beach-nesting bird season on beaches up and down the coast, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is taking this opportunity to remind the public on how you can best help these precious birds.

Each year threatened birds such as Little Terns, Pied Oystercatchers, Hooded Plovers and Beach Stone-curlews lay their eggs on beaches up and down the east coast, where they are highly camouflaged and can be very difficult to see.

Due to threats including native and introduced predators, crushing and disturbance from vehicles, humans and domestic dogs, flooding of nesting sites and adverse weather conditions, most beach-nesting birds remain endangered in NSW.

Here are a few small things you can do to ‘share the shore’ and help endangered beach-nesting birds raise their chicks on our beaches:

• Keep an eye out for and respect bird nesting signs and fenced-off nesting areas on the beach.
• Make sure dogs are only walked on an approved dog-beach and always kept on a leash.
• Walk on the wet sand to avoid nesting birds.
• Only drive on designated 4WD beaches and stay below the high tide mark to avoid accidentally crushing a chick.
• Ensure you take fishing lines and rubbish with you, to ensure avoidable deaths from entanglement or ingesting rubbish are avoided.

Last season was a good one for Little Terns which experienced an almost 15 percent increase in breeding pairs from the previous season across the state.

For more information on shorebirds in NSW, visit Share the Shore.

Quotes attributable to NPWS Threatened Species Project Officer Katherine Howard:

‘Beach-nesting birds rely on the camouflage of their eggs and chicks to keep them safe, but on busy summer beaches, this strategy can really backfire. You might not see the eggs or chick until it’s too late.

‘We need all beach users to “share the shore” with our feathered friends by following a few easy guidelines and leaving some space for birds to raise their families.

‘Off-leash dogs may seem harmless, but they are terrifying to birds, causing them to fly away and leave eggs unguarded. Please check online whether dogs are allowed at your beach before you go, keep them on a leash and keep them well away from nesting birds.’

Source: Australian Labor Party (ALP)

With the return of spring comes the start of beach-nesting bird season on beaches up and down the coast, and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is taking this opportunity to remind the public on how you can best help these precious birds.

Each year threatened birds such as Little Terns, Pied Oystercatchers, Hooded Plovers and Beach Stone-curlews lay their eggs on beaches up and down the east coast, where they are highly camouflaged and can be very difficult to see.

Due to threats including native and introduced predators, crushing and disturbance from vehicles, humans and domestic dogs, flooding of nesting sites and adverse weather conditions, most beach-nesting birds remain endangered in NSW.

Here are a few small things you can do to ‘share the shore’ and help endangered beach-nesting birds raise their chicks on our beaches:

• Keep an eye out for and respect bird nesting signs and fenced-off nesting areas on the beach.
• Make sure dogs are only walked on an approved dog-beach and always kept on a leash.
• Walk on the wet sand to avoid nesting birds.
• Only drive on designated 4WD beaches and stay below the high tide mark to avoid accidentally crushing a chick.
• Ensure you take fishing lines and rubbish with you, to ensure avoidable deaths from entanglement or ingesting rubbish are avoided.

Last season was a good one for Little Terns which experienced an almost 15 percent increase in breeding pairs from the previous season across the state.

For more information on shorebirds in NSW, visit Share the Shore.

Quotes attributable to NPWS Threatened Species Project Officer Katherine Howard:

‘Beach-nesting birds rely on the camouflage of their eggs and chicks to keep them safe, but on busy summer beaches, this strategy can really backfire. You might not see the eggs or chick until it’s too late.

‘We need all beach users to “share the shore” with our feathered friends by following a few easy guidelines and leaving some space for birds to raise their families.

‘Off-leash dogs may seem harmless, but they are terrifying to birds, causing them to fly away and leave eggs unguarded. Please check online whether dogs are allowed at your beach before you go, keep them on a leash and keep them well away from nesting birds.’

Source: Australian Labor Party (ALP)

The community will be encouraged to champion and care for the environment thanks to a range of innovative projects funded by the NSW Government.

Educating young people on how to preserve Western Sydney woodland habitat, care for marine animals and help threatened species are among the 7 projects sharing an investment of almost $1 million.

The educational projects, which are designed to develop skills, encourage and inspire involvement in environmental protection, have been awarded funding under the 2023–24 round of the NSW Environmental Trust’s Environmental Education Grants Program.

The Environmental Education grants program supports projects that broaden the community’s knowledge, skills and participation in the protection of the environment.

The funded projects include:

• Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary – awarded $59,775 for the Eco Rangers program to engage young people in conservation activities including marine animal care, habitat clean-up and animal rescue and release events.
• Murrumbidgee Landcare Incorporated – awarded $60,000 for the Linking Generations for Threatened Species Conservation project which teaches students about local species and links them with experts and older community members, including Wiradjuri Elders.
• Cumberland Council – awarded $60,000 for Creating change one seed at a time which will protect native endemic species for future generations by encouraging private landowners and residents to become stewards of threatened species and communities.
• Tweed Shire Council – awarded $60,000 for Cultivating Tomorrow which will empower farmers to adopt regenerative agriculture practices.
• Western Sydney Parklands Trust – awarded $249,960 for Guardians of the Park, which will educate young people by providing hands-on learning experiences in restoring, connecting and monitoring threatened habitats.
• Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Connection – awarded $247,583 to deliver on-ground ecological fire management workshops to landholders via the Eco Burn Education project.
• Hunter Region Landcare Network – awarded $243,220 for the Dry Rainforest Revival project which will engage the community in learning and restoring large areas of Hunter region Dry Rainforest.

Source: University of Sydney

19 Mar 2025

Beekeepers have another tool at their disposal to fight Varroa mite with the roll-out of a new online training program.

Launched and developed by the National Varroa Mite Management Program (NVMMP), the ‘Introduction to Varroa management’ course takes beekeepers through a range of online topics that help them prepare for the bee-afflicting mite.

National Varroa Transition to Management (T2M) Coordinator Tamara Prentice said the online program provides beekeepers with critical information to manage the mite.

“Following the decision to transition to management of the mite in early 2024, the National Management Group agreed that widespread education and training was essential for industries to continue to move forward,” Ms Prentice said.

“The Introduction to Varroa management course is a key component of our commitment to help beekeepers and the broader honey and pollination-dependent industries.

“The free online course allows beekeepers to learn about the mite at their own pace and convenience.

“Included are topics that will help beekeepers familiarise themselves with the pest and how best to safeguard their hives.”

Subjects include mite monitoring and surveillance, cultural and mechanical controls, synthetic and non-synthetic chemical use, record-keeping, safety measures and more.

At the completion of the course beekeepers will have a greater understanding of the lifecycle of the mite, its effect on bees and colonies, and the importance of integrated pest management.

eekeeping will change as Varrroa spreads, with a greater need for record-keeping with mechanical and chemical controls.

Each topic can be typically completed in 15-30-minutes with beekeepers able to log back in at any time.

Ms Prentice said the ‘Introduction to Varroa’ course complemented existing training and education programs provided by the NVMMP.

“Another great resource we encourage beekeepers to take advantage of is our face-to-face Varroa Mite Management Workshops,” Ms Prentice said.

“In twelve months more than 6,000 beekeepers have taken part in over 80 workshops across the country.

“This cohort of beekeepers trained manage more than 35 per cent of all registered hives nationally.

“But even beekeepers who have attended an in-person workshop will benefit from completing the  online Introduction to Varroa course.”

The NVMMP also provides beekeepers with regular electronic communications, online webinars and video learning resources.

To access the ‘Introduction to Varroa’ online course, visit – https://www.varroa.org.au/online-training

To view all upcoming Varroa Mite Management Workshops, visit www.varroa.org.au/training.

For more information on the National Varroa Mite Management Program, visit www.varroa.org.au.

To receive regular news from the NVMMP, sign-up at National Varroa Mite Management Program e-news – https://bit.ly/4iEp8br

Media contact: pi.media@dpird.nsw.gov.au.

Source: New South Wales – News

Police and fire crews were called to the corner of Addison Road and Fortisgreen Avenue about 5.15am on Thursday 20 March by reports of a building fire.

Fire crews have worked quickly to extinguish the fire and prevented it spreading to neighbouring premises.

There are no reports of injury.

Detectives and fire cause investigators will enter and examine the premises later this morning.

Northbound traffic on Addison Road is restricted and diverted around the scene due to emergency service activity.  Motorists are advised to find an alternate route to avoid delays.

Anyone who saw or heard any suspicious activity in the area this morning, or has any CCTV or dashcam footage of any vehicles in the area from around 5am, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

Source: New South Wales Bureau of Health Information

The Northern Park Lands will feature a 70ha sport and recreation area and more than 760ha of open green space.

Source: New South Wales Bureau of Health Information

A 10ha parcel of land at Eyre has been earmarked for new $155.3 million secondary campus to cater for the region’s growing population.

Source: New South Wales Bureau of Health Information

Tourists are expected to flock to the Outback to enjoy camping under the night sky, four-wheel-driving experiences and exploring fossil fields.