David Votoupal said:
Now, some of the most racist people you'll come across aren't British, or Anglo-Australians- in fact you'll find worse racism from ethnic groups and Aborigines, but somehow it isn't termed "racism" and hence usually goes unpunished.
That is an empty statement. Some of the most racist people you'll come across ARE British or Anglo-Australians and their crap usually goes unpunished.
Quick pseudo-psycho-socio analysis of the issue, with several holes that some people are sure to pick at:
The thing about racism is that it is a power game. Powerless people transfer their own woes onto another group, giving them an object of hate when it is a part of themselves they really hate. Their own inability to get a job, find a partner, whatever.
We were out to dinner in Brisbane recently and an Aboriginal guy was walking through West End screaming out about white bastards, etc etc. Apart from being slightly wary that he might turn violent we went on with our evening without it really having any effect. That man has no power to make me upset over his ranting. He can hate me, as a white man, all he likes but in the end he is just one man with no power over me. For his own good he should start looking to himself for reasons for his current situation, but that's my only concern about his racist outlook.
However people or groups in powerful positions should have more humility, and racist comments and actions are, in society's eyes, far less tolerable when coming from them. Or should be. They've got the power. Being racist is just poor form. Being a sore 'winner'. Ray Martin is the figurehead of one of the worst offenders. "Asians, are they coming in and taking our jobs?" (viewer: Hey, I have no job, it must be the Asians!) and "Young people, are they just dole-bludgers and criminals?" (viewer: Hey, I'm old and poor, it must be the fault of those rotten kids!) is the sort of deplorable garbage that spews forth from his hateful, hypocritical little TV show. But the content of those current affairs shows is just a reflection of the people who watch them, just like child pornography is a reflection of the people who make and view it.
Hateful people should be publicly mocked and re-educated (and suspended from BigFooty

).