Elizabeth's posters were spoofed during the 2016 campaign. (ABC Photo)
Two multicultural politicians in the capital's territory said they had suffered blatant racial discrimination during the campaign and had been labelled "Chinese spies" and "curry men.
South Korean Liberal Party candidate Elizabeth Li (Elizabeth Lee,) and Indian Party candidate Gupta (Deepak Raj-Gupta) have spoken out recently that their campaign experience is particularly distressing and disappointing in the context of increased diversity in Canberra.
However, both believe that racism is rare and that their interactions with voters are mostly positively ..(Agencies
Whatever the intentions behind the racist mockery, Elizabeth stressed, would be unpleasant. "No matter how relaxed it may sound, or as if it were a joke, this is another small reminder to the listener that we are not quite the same and we are not completely accepted. "
The influence of Asian faces
Elizabeth said she was affected by her Asian face. (ABC Photo)
Elizabeth moved from South Korea to Australia at the age of seven. Growing up in Sydney, she said her ethnic identity had not had a serious impact for much of her political life.
But she says that during the campaign, her face was sometimes judged.
As early as 2016 for the Liberal Party campaign, and successfully won the Canberra Kura Chung (Kurrajong) constituency.
"There is no doubt that my looks clearly indicate that I have an Asian background ," said Elizabeth. Asian faces do have an impact, because they are the first to attract attention. "
Elizabeth also noted that racist attacks on the Internet were the most serious. Messages like "get back to your country, you're a Chinese spy" are common.
Sometimes people's words are not direct, but still hurt her deeply.
"One day, I was shopping, and a woman came up friendly and said ,' I like your shoes ,' and the next thing was ,' I bet you bought it from China ,'" recalled. "
Discrimination of Indian colou
Voters say they don't like Gupta's skin color. (ABC Photo)
Gupta emigrated from India to Australia in Year Nineteen Eighty-nine. When fiz harris (Meegan Fitzharris) announced his resignation as head of transport last june and withdrew from politics, gupta was elected to the yerabi (Yerrabi) Yerrabi) constituency councillor. the most diverse area of the capital territory.
He admitted that he had been called the "curry man" and noted that racism had risen in his campaign.
"Sometimes this happens in person. You're standing at a stand on the side of the road, and someone will watch comments while walking. "When we go to the door to canvass tickets, some volunteers will experience the same situation ," Gupta said. Someone said ," Tell him we don't like his skin color'."
He added, however, that although this was disappointing, it was not entirely biased.
It is reported that the capital territory elections will be officially opened on October 17. But residents can vote early next week.
