City of Darebin’s job ad for the role of anti-racism officer criticised as ‘divisive and offensive’

A Melbourne council is looking for someone to fill a $90,000 job but they must be Indigenous, a person of colour, or from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.

White Australians with Anglo-Celtic backgrounds are effectively barred from applying for a $90,000-plus job as an anti-racism officer at a local council.

Only Indigenous citizens, people of colour, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are eligible to be considered for the ratepayer-funded position at the City of Darebin.

The council is able to discriminate against certain white people in this case because of a special provision under Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act it says will “foster greater racial equality”.

Darebin’s job ad says that “having varied perspectives and lived experiences helps generate better ideas to enable a diverse, inclusive and connected community”.

A provision under Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act means the council is able to discriminate against certain white people.

“Darebin values diversity, and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of colour,” it says.

“We welcome unique contributions and perspectives of all people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities we work with and live in.”

But director of the foundations of Western civilisation program at the Institute of Public Affairs, Dr Bella d’Abrera, said Darebin should stop meddling in identity politics and focus on what was important to local residents.

“This job description is divisive and offensive. There is no place for segregation such as this in Australian society,” she said.

Victorian Ratepayers Association president Dean Hurlston said that by excluding Australians not with culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds, “the council is in itself perpetuating a form of racism and exclusion”.

“The job should be awarded on merit,” he said.

The anti-racism program job is part of the council’s plan to “address systemic racism and racial discrimination, and to create an inclusive and respectful Darebin community”.

Among the role’s duties is to collate data on local racism and racial discrimination experiences; design a program to address systemic racism; and develop productive links with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and multicultural groups.

A City of Darebin spokeswoman said the anti-racism officer position had been assessed via council’s internal procedures as a special measure under the state Equal Opportunity Act, “and therefore the role does not require an exemption”.

“This position is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, or people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, as this supports our...action to address racism and discrimination and to create an inclusive and respectful Darebin community,” she said.

“Also, given the purpose of the role, a deep understanding of the impact of racism and discrimination is a core role requirement.”