The UN's Special Rapporteur on racism, Mutuma Ruteere, has handed down his preliminary findings on Australia, highlighting concerns over federal politicians' comments about Muslim community members.
While he says he is generally impressed with Australian attempts to help migrants integrate, he is concerned about the language used by some politicians.
“I note with concern that some populist politicians, cheered on by sections of mainstream media, continue to stereotype and fan hostility against certain categories of migrants,” Mr Ruteere told reporters in Canberra.
While he chose not to name them, Mr Ruteere said discriminatory comments by politicians must be stamped out to avoid “contaminating” mainstream politics.
“I call upon mainstream political leaders to denounce and censure this kind of divisive and racist rhetoric particularly when made by members of their own political parties,” he said.
“The elimination of racism, xenophobia and discrimination will not happen unless it is led by the most senior political leadership.
“If political leaders don't speak out they lend silent legitimacy to this racist element."
When Mr Ruteere was asked whether his reference was particularly aimed at Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s remarks about Lebanese Muslims, he said it was a broad analysis about the situation in Australia.
The Immigration Minister was contacted by SBS but declined to comment.
Research fellow at the Australian National University’s Centre for Social Research and Methods, Naomi Priest, told SBS racist comments by high profile figures are not only harmful but give a social license to others.
“As we are seeing really high profile politicians all around the world, and certainly in Australia, giving voice to these opinions, which may have been kept on the margins within the community - they are now given much more voice,” she said.
“The elimination of racism, xenophobia and discrimination will not happen unless it is led by the most senior political leadership."
In his report, the UN’s Special Rapporteur also recommended constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.
He highlighted his concerns about incarceration rates, particularly for young Indigenous Australians.
"I recommend a re-examination of the criminal justice system to embrace alternatives to detention and avoid mandatory sentences," he said.
"The current policing of Indigenous communities is too punitive and need an urgent change as its consequences can only lead to even further devastation of these communities.
"There are very few Indigenous police officers and Indigenous communities are patrolled by non-Indigenous law enforcement officials who have little integration in the communities they are intended to serve. I was told of the humiliation that Indigenous peoples sometimes face in everyday life, in some parts of the country, whether it is in being singled out for security checks at shopping places or whether it is in the enforcement of alcohol control rules."
The last report of this kind was handed down back in 2001.
At the time, Shadow Human Services Minister Linda Burney offered her views as Director General of the NSW Department of Indigenous Affairs.
She says 15 years on and not much has changed for Indigenous Australians.
“We have seen incarceration rates not go down, but actually increase,” she told SBS.
The Special Rapporteur also slammed the idea of making changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Mr Ruteere said it would open the door to racist and xenophobic hate speech.
He said Australia should consider a broader human rights bill in the form of a constitutional charter of rights and freedoms.
