Coronavirus: Chinese tourism blow as Scott Morrison slams racism

The chief medical officer has raised concerns about xenophobia and racial profiling in Australia as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Scott Morrison in question time on Tuesday. Picture: AAP

Australian Chamber of Tourism chairman John Hart says the Chin­ese tourism market, which contributes $711m a week on average to the economy, has effectively “come to a dead stop” after the corona­virus outbreak prompted the government to shut its borders.

Mr Hart said the loss of the Chin­ese market was a double blow after a horror bushfire season that had impacted on international tourism, as images of the inferno were broadcast across the world.

It comes after the Chief Medical Officer raised concerns on Tuesday about xenophobia and racial profiling in Australia as a result­ of the outbreak, and Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese both urged Australians to “stand up and speak out” against racism after restaurants and shops run by Chinese-Australians reported a reduction in customers over recent­ weeks. The Prime Minister said parliament “stands as one” on the issue of supporting the Chin­ese-Australian community.

“This is a very significant challenge and the Chinese-Australian community has risen to that challenge — they deserve our great ­appreciation and support,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said Chinese-Australians had been undeservedly targeted as a result of the virus. “The fact is, any racism behaviour will not be tolerated and must be called out,” he said. “All of us must stand up and speak out against ugly, divisive and racism behaviour … directed to some of our fellow Australians.”

“It’s pretty concerning,” Mr Hart said of the reduction in Chin­ese tourism. “Especially because the Chinese market should be ­delivering even more than that avera­ge at the moment because we are in peak tourist season with the middle of the Chinese New Year. Having lost the peak of our holiday season to the bushfires, we are now losing the peak of the Asian tourism season.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk raised concerns in parliament last week that the economic loss to tourism operators in the state could soar to $400m. “The top 10 operators report a 15 per cent to 20 per cent drop in trade,” she said. “This affects 3500 businesses and 42,000 jobs. In far north Queensland, estimates are local businesses are losing around $5.5m a day. As much as $350m could be lost by March.”

Mr Hart said some businesses such as Chinese-language tours were particularly affected. “The Gold Coast, Cairns and Tasmania, where many of these Chinese-languag­e tours are very popular, is where they are going to be doing it really tough,” he said.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Tuesday: “We are very concerned about xenophobia and any sort of racial profiling, which is completely abhorrent.

“There’s no reason for people to avoid anybody of any particular background or appearance,” Dr Murphy said.

He was flanked by federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, who said the evacuees on Christmas Island­ would have a final health check before leaving the island next week after spending 14 days in quarantine. “They will be able to go home, subject to having a very clear process of having been checked and been declared ­disease-free,” he said.

There have been 15 confirmed cases in Australia, with five recovering and the other 10 in isolation and in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, 11 of the 229 Australians on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan have been diagnosed with coronavirus and given medical treatment on land by Japanese authorities.