Laura Tingle’s racism claims are the latest in a long lineage

BEYOND 23 News Corp hosted the Beyond 23 conference at The Horden Pavilion in Sydney. Guests on stage were debating the Indigenous Voice to parliament. Anthony Dillon pictured. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Claims that Australia is a racist country are all over the news again. This time, chief political correspondent for the ABC’s 7.30 program, Laura Tingle, recently stated at the Sydney Writers’ Festival: “We’re a racist country, let’s face it. We always have been and it’s very depressing and a terrible prospect for the next election.”

It goes without saying anyone who challenges any claim of racism is seen as being in denial of racism, or worse, a racist themselves. So let me state upfront, I am not denying the existence of racism in Australia, I am challenging the sweeping generalisation Australia is a racist country. The existence of racism in some Australians does not necessarily mean we are a racist country.

What Tingle’s statement lacks in evidence and credibility, is offset by its highly emotive tone.

This tone results from claims of “let’s face it” and “we always have been” — phrases which are intended to deter anyone from challenging her inflated claim we are a racist nation.

In the absence of robust evidence for Tingle’s claim, we need to ask why she, and many others over the years, persist in making these claims.

American economist Thomas Sowell, a man many would consider one of the great thinkers of modern times, provided a clue when he stated: “ … people do not want a factual or analytical explanation that leaves them emotionally unsatisfied. They want villains to hate and heroes to cheer …”

Applied here to Tingle’s claims, she becomes the instant heroine to many, and Australia becomes the villain.

And, of course, as social media activity is showing, there are many Australians who are very emotionally satisfied through hearing Australia is a racist country.

Until Tingle or someone else provides solid evidence Australia is a racist country, I’ll stick with Sowell’s insightful description of human nature.

In response to widespread criticism of her recent remarks, Tingle issued a statement giving examples of what she believes is racism in Australia. Her examples included anti-Semitism, racial profiling, and surveys claiming to show the majority of Australians of non-European backgrounds report experiences of discrimination and racism.

None of these examples, I would argue, is definitive. At best, they demonstrate possible examples of racism, but not that Australia is a racist country.

Tingle is one of many over the years who have made similar claims, so let’s take the spotlight off her and focus on why people love to make such claims and what the implications are of these claims.

There are a few reasons why many cling to the claim Australia is a racist country. Naming a country as the villain and not naming individuals is intellectual laziness and virtue signalling at best, and utterly false at worst. Those revelling in the claim we are a racist country can tell themselves it’s not they as individuals who are racist, it’s Australia that is racist. They can see themselves as saints and not sinners.

Another reason for believing Australia is a racist country, in the absence of clear evidence for such a claim, is somewhat obvious.

When a falsehood or unproven claim is heard often enough, people come to believe it as true. Psychologists have a term for this — illusory truth.

For as long as I can remember, certain sections of the media, most notably left-leaning media, have been telling us racism is rampant in this country.

Once the belief we are a racist country is planted in the minds of ordinary people, confirmation bias takes over and they interpret events and claims in ways which support their existing beliefs.

For example, I continue to hear the defeat of the Indigenous Voice campaign is unquestionable proof Australia is a racist country. And, of course, any talk of reducing immigration numbers is also proof positive for some Australia is a racist country. Both claims are nonsense.

Or, people may see examples of actual racism, assume these examples are widespread, and then generalise Australia as a racist country.

I believe we do a great harm to ourselves when shouting endless claims we are a racist nation.

British author and intellectual giant Douglas Murray has stated: “Few people think that a country cannot be improved on, but to present it as riddled with bigotry, hatred and oppression is at best a partial and at worst a nakedly hostile prism through which to view society. It is an analysis expressed not in the manner of a critic hoping to improve, but as an enemy eager to destroy.”

Yes, let’s stamp out racism where it exists, but I believe the far greater problem facing Australia are the false claims our nation is racist. Let’s stamp out these claims.

Anthony Dillon is an Indigenous commentator, and an honorary fellow at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University in Sydney