Racial and religious discrimination in Victoria is on the rise, and experts say online media are a key driver.
Over the past five years, the state police have raised more than 60 vilified accusation cases. Anti-discrimination authorities say the accusation is only a fraction of the crime, and platforms such as fb and video website are being used as "weapons" for hate speech.
In 2017-18, 15 charges of "incitement to racial hatred and contempt" were established by the police, including personal threat, according to data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics obtained by Australia's Herald Sun. In addition, two other crimes of incitement to religious hatred have been established, more than four times as many as five years ago.
(photo source: Australian Herald Sun)
During the same period, the Victorian Equal opportunities and human rights Commission received 136 complaints of racial discrimination, up 76% from a year earlier. Complaints of religious discrimination increased by 35% to 42. In some complaints, victims said they still had no access to public places when they bought tickets.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said individuals and groups are increasingly using online forums to attack minorities.
"they use the Internet as a loudspeaker," he said. "it's a cheap, real-time, anonymous way to post slander and toxic information."
Deputy Superintendent Sue Thomas of the priority Community Department of the Victoria State Police said a significant number of incidents of vilification had not been reported and that victims should bravely step up and accuse the malicious remarks.
"We will not tolerate any incitement not to treat people with courtesy," she said. "everyone has rights to choose their religion and belief."
Dr Abramovich said, however, that many of the victims were afraid to stand up.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Committee (photo source: Internet)
"victims are reluctant to deal with the police, or fear that they will be injured again in police or court enforcement, or simply fear that pain will continue, so there are fewer reports of similar incidents," he said.
Last year, Blair Cottrell, the leader of the United Patriot Front, and Neil Erikson,Christopher Neil Shortis, a supporter of the United Patriot Front, were charged and fined by police for conducting and filming videos of dummy "beheadings" at a mosque in protest Bendigo.