Rainbow Territory a review of the Anti-Discrimination Act to be sped up in light of racial segregation

RAINBOW Territory is calling for urgent reforms of the Anti-Discrimination Act in light of allegations an Alice Springs hotel was racially segregating people

Rainbow Territory want to see the Anti-Discrimination Act review sped up in light of the recent allegations of racial segregation at a hotel in Alice Springs

RAINBOW Territory is calling for urgent reforms of the Anti-Discrimination Act in light of allegations an Alice Springs hotel was racially segregating people.

Submissions for the review into the 25-year-old Anti-Discrimination Act closed on January 31.

Rainbow Territory, who represent LGBTQI people in the NT, put in a submission to the review and want to see a representative complaints process included in the reforms.

News broke last week, that the Ibis Styles Alice Springs Oasis was ­accused of instructing employees to direct guests from Aboriginal communities into designated rooms for the same price charged to non-indigenous customers for much nicer accommodation, according to revelations from an ABC investigation.

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Ibis’ parent company Accor has since launched an investigation into the claims.

“Since Accor was made aware of the matter raised on the ABC at Ibis Styles Alice Springs Oasis, we have initiated an investigation into the ­allegations and are taking prompt and decisive action on this incident at the highest level,” an Accor spokesperson said.

A Rainbow Territory spokesperson said the alleged racial discrimination in Alice Springs uncovered the high levels of interpersonal and systemic discrimination experienced by Aboriginal people in the Territory.

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“A representative complaints model is a key part of a workable Anti-Discrimination Act, and a mature NT that addresses systemic discrimination,” the spokesperson said.

“Representative complaints allow for the protections that already exist to be enlivened, rather than be window dressing.”

The spokesperson said the case at the Ibis Styles Alice Springs Oasis showed how individuals could be discriminated against in the provision of accommodation services, and in this case, an individual may be powerless to make a complaint against a global hotel chain like Ibis.

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A representative complaints model would allow a representative body to bring forward complaints on behalf of multiple people at once.

“We want the Anti-Discrimination Commission to be able to act on issues where discrimination, victimisation, or vilification can impact a group of people collectively rather than a single individual, the Alice Springs example is a case in point.”

The NT Government have been contacted for comment.