Is Australia a racist country?

Question

i am very excited about a job i got in Australia
but everyone i meet tells me that it is a very racist country
is that true?
does anybody have any bad experience?
please help as i am making a huge change and i want to be prepared.
thanks in advance.

soory i forgot to mention that i am of irish origin
and i hear that they call the english pommies
i do have a irish accent i hope i blend in well

Answer 1

The biggest problem I find is the racism we Aussies get from others! Who would have ever thought we wouldn't feel welcome in our own country! This place is so multicultural it's hard to tell who owns it!
Australians love the irish! Anyone with an accent really! We call the English "pommies" because that name has been around so long. I bet 90% of people couldn't tell you what the word "pommy" means anyway. The only joke we have about irish is that they're dumb...and drink a lot. My boyfriend is Irish and he isn't dumb though. We only ever joke about things like that though so don't feel insulted. We're very laid back in Aus.

By the way, a question for theanswer: Why have you stayed here so long if you don't like Australia? Every person is different here so you cannot judge the whole country by one small, old fashioned town.

Answer 2

Well, it depends how you define racism. In Australia, for example, you won't get denied work just because of the color of your skin or your ethnicity. If you are the best person for the job you'll get hired. However, the underlying problem in Australia is that alot of the first British immigrants that came here were convicts and slaves (That's 92% of the population). The very ancestors of these zero class people are the people behind the racial problems in Australia. Obviously, not everybody is racist, however at least 5% of the population currently are, and many others are closet racists due to a lack of understanding of other cultures and due to very limited experiences in life. Don't forget that Australia is EXTREMELY far from the rest of the world. Bottom line is you don't have to be white in Australia, however, if you talk like an Australian and act like an Australian you will be accepted in Australia. There are definitely people over here that are unable to accept people with different colored skin or even other white people that don't adhere to the anglo-saxon culture. The problem in Australia is not entirely racism, but also a mixture of ignorance and laziness. Australia is definitely not a bad country but racially it is a little far behind from the rest of the world. Overall, racism does exist, just like it exists everywhere. The skeletons are now starting to come out of the closet. Therefore, FYI, Australia I would say is low level to moderate level racist country.

Answer 3

To say racism doesn't exist would be far too utopian, nonetheless, I have lived in Australia most of my life and have never experienced severe forms of racism. Sure, it may exist amongst some ignorant people, but I would not say it is the norm. I have lived in other countries where racism is a real issue and there is no comparison to the peaceful life we have here.

Australians are generally lovely and welcoming You'll love it here. The people are generally very accepting. We are a very multicultural nation, built on over two centuries of immigration that has made our nation the proud and diverse country it is today.

Cheers and welcome

Answer 4

I have lived here for over 35 years and never had a "racist" experience and I am of Asian origin.
That doesn't mean racism doesn't exist - just like in ANY country. Racism is actually worse in the USA than in Australia.
There have been so many same questions asking if Australia is a racist country here in Y!A. Try seraching for them. You will find great answers there.

You will only get bad experience if you come here and expect people to change to YOUR way of life and values or complain why things aren't like back home. This is AUSTRALIA. It has its own culture and values and ways of living. You need to adjust to it NOT the other way round.
Threat us the way YOU want us to treat you and you will be OK. We don't care where you are from or what is your skin colour. Just live you life peacefully and tolerate others and you will get along with everyone else.

Below are the links to past question of same theme:
http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoETcgBQRpCCNehXMMRlfrXh5gt.?qid=20070726193751AAyGULu

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar2AOXp_W8G464etNs3lMU_ty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070803063625AAbsArz

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgHtsG._hRNgbX8v5aufcs0jzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20071029205926AA8KxZN


These links will dispel you misconception of Australia.

Cheers

Answer 5

Personally I don't have any bad experience on the subject .

Most people may tell you differently if they read the news .

However , one reads the following articles and will conclude that the Bali bombing has made our nation defensive against the possible terrorists .
Another incident was related to refugees issues.

Certain groups may be involved in political actions .

However , individuals Australian are very friendly and I can assure you , you won't encounter racist problems.

http://www.white-history.com/euroauscrime.htm

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8EEF3JO0&show_article=1

http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/news%20and%20events/media%20releases/20020522.asp

http://www.greenleft.org.au/2003/565/29088

Answer 6

No Australia is not a racist country... you have nothing to worry about.. in Australia we have a saying " give everybody a fair go" and most of us stick to that.. your going to love it down here its a really beautiful and interesting country.

Answer 7

There are racists in every country in the world,but Australia is not a racist country.99.99 per cent of Australians are not racist.

Answer 8

No it isn't.
People can be racist sometime but not a country. If Australia is a racist country why would it be letting people from all different countries immigrate there?

Answer 9

Australians can be very racist it depends who they are with they tend to act up infront of their mates so to look tough they act racist it depends on what race you are, some races are okay some are not Ausiesare not into being seen talking with strangers they worry about the image they have so they avoid conversation o as not to show just how little they know.
I have been in Australia for over forty two years and still suffer from racism from some Australians towns are very bad especialy the bush, and in many places in queensland avoid Broken Hill in NSW they have told me to my face they do not like people of my race Australia is becoming a very expensive place to live. I am leaving broken hill because of racism here I wish my parents had never brought me to Australia so I could have had a normal social life. instead of having to worry out violent drunk Aussies avoid Coffs Harbour that is becoming a violent place Australian drink too much and get angry when they are drunk avoid them when they are in crowds they show off by picking on people who are weaker than themselves. I hope this helps maybe you should try NZ if you talk to Aussies try not to sound clever they take great offence at that stick to telling them how good they are at drinking and cricket and you will be okay you must agree with the all of the time other wise you will be on the outer they like it best when you crawl to them if you watch them they crawl to each other especialy the men it is rather strange but that is the way its in australia and the only way to get on lieing is a very psitive force in Australia

Answer 10

nope, i live in Australia and I'm not a racist .. I have plenty of friends who are asian, sudanese and muslim..
I think there is racism in every country.. and I dont think you can call a whole country racist.