To download this statement in PDF format, click here.

 The rapid spread of the poten­tially deadly Covid 19 virus has jus­ti­fi­ably deeply unsettled people across the world.   People are right to take sensible pre­cau­tions against con­tract­ing the virus.  Media coverage has boosted our awareness of the dangers of the virus and steps we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones from it.

At the same time, the lines between public vigilance and over­re­ac­tion have sometimes become blurred.  Whilst health workers and many others have shown great ded­ic­a­tion and respons­ib­il­ity in attempt­ing to contain the spread of the virus, a minority of people has done the opposite, suc­cumb­ing to irra­tion­al fear and prejudice.

The worst mani­fest­a­tions of the latter have included verbal abuse, “othering” and har­ass­ment of Aus­trali­ans of Asian or presumed Asian back­ground, for that reason alone, whether or not they have recently been overseas or exhibit any symptoms. Absurdly, this behaviour has also been directed at doctors and other health workers of Asian appear­ance, every one of whom may be needed to see us through this crisis.

The mindless scape-goating of innocent people is cowardly and ignoble.  It violates the most fun­da­ment­al ethical teachings of each of our respect­ive religions, which provide the found­a­tions for our legal and con­sti­tu­tion­al system and our uniquely Aus­trali­an ideas about tolerance, respect and a fair go for all.

We commend the Prime Minister and Oppos­i­tion leader for con­demning xeno­pho­bia and racism, and express­ing sympathy and solid­ar­ity towards Aus­trali­ans of Chinese back­ground. We support the call to reason made by the Race Dis­crim­in­a­tion Com­mis­sion­er.

We appeal to all people of faith:

• to join in prayer for a speedy end to the current scourge;
• to show inner strength at this testing time by setting a moral example by speaking out against racial prejudice whenever they see it; and
• to volunteer to assist char­it­able organ­isa­tions providing help for affected indi­vidu­als and families.

We appeal to our fellow Aus­trali­ans, whether they are people of faith or no faith, to work together in solid­ar­ity to minimise the impact of the virus to the extent that this is within our power.

Contact
Peter Wertheim | Co-CEO
ph: 02 8353 8505 | m: 0408 160 904 | fax 02 9361 588
e: [email protected]| www.ecaj.org.au