Chinese Australian Forum

 Happy Chinese New Year from the Chinese Australian Forum. Wishing you and your family good health, luck, prosperity and happiness in the Year of the Dragon.

Local newspapers have today reported that well known Asian-Australian neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo, will state that "racism is still alive in Australia" when he delivers his NSW Australia Day address.

The article can be found here.

Interesting article on CNN's InAmerica page that is worth a read. Two young Asian-American soldiers were apparently driven to take their own lives due to the bullying and "hazing" they received as members of the United States Armed Forces.

The article can be found here and is written by Jeff Yang as a CNN Special author.

 CAF President Tony Pang was appointed as a Commissioner to the Community Relations Commission by former Minister for Citizenship John Hatzistergos back in March of this year. Tony is the only current Commissioner of Chinese descent and his presence on the Board of the CRC gives the Chinese community a strong voice. The CRC has not had a Chinese committee member in quite some time.

The CRC has responsibility for promoting community harmony, participation and access to services in order that the contribution of cultural diversity to NSW is celebrated and recognised as an important social and economic resource. It recognises multiculturalism as a deliberate public policy and takes proactive steps to ensure a cohesive and harmonious society.

If you have any issues that you wish to raise and be brought to the attention of the CRC, you can contact Tony directly or via CAF in writing.

For more information on the CRC you can visit: http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au

The Chinese Australian Forum (CAF) recently lodged formal complaints with Radio 2SM and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) following radio celebrity John Laws’ on-air derogatory and racist comments about Chinese-Australians.

After coming out of retirement, John Laws on Radio 2SM’s The John Laws Show on 1 March 2011 said “And I hate to say it, it was a woman driver, and it was an Asian woman driver and she was from one lane to the other, I think she was putting on lippy or mascara or something, which is a bit of a waste of time if you’re Asian because you haven’t got too many eyebrows to put the mascara on... I remember my friend Ron Casey ... he was taken off the air from 2KY for a week because he said the problem with Asian drivers was they didn’t have any peripheral vision, and of course if you look at the shape of the eyes of Asian people he may well have a fact. I don’t know that it’s ever been proved, maybe we should ring an eye specialist and ask is that true."

Read more: 18 August 2011 - News - Racist radio comments made by John Laws

By Peter Jean, Canberra Times

Finance Minister Penny Wong has announced her partner Sophie Allouache is pregnant. Senator Wong said in a statement that the child was due in December. ''Like any expecting parents, the prospect of welcoming this child into our lives fills us both with joy,'' she said. ''We are extremely grateful to our IVF service and staff, and to our donor, for giving us the opportunity to raise a child together.

Read more: 9 August 2011 - News - Penny Wong and partner expecting first baby

The One: You were born in Hong Kong, grew up and are living in Sydney, Australia. You can speak English and Cantonese. As an Australian Chinese, how do you think about Australia’s cultural diversity? How do you understand and assess your underlying cultural values and position yourself in the country filled with rich humanity, creativity and respect?

Simon Chan: Australians in general do embrace Multiculturalism and we do live in a relatively racial harmonious society compared to a lot of other countries. I am particularly interested in cross-cultural activities where we explore the possibilities of integrating the positive aspects of different cultures so that we can also understand and respect the different cultural values in the process.

Read more: 7 July 2011 - News - Interview with Simon Chan for The One Magazine

When we were children, our parents taught us to say “sorry” upon wrongs we had done against others. This is universal and not unique to the western culture. Australia and other modern nations have in the past conducted reconciliation processes in our efforts to reunite peoples previously divided by their actions and understandings. Some have even been successful in bringing justice and peace to those previously oppressed and victimised.

Read more: 3 July 2011 - Blog - When forgiveness is more powerful than hearing sorry

International Students! Contact the NSW State Government’s Community Relations Commission (CRC) and raise your concerns. Do you have an issue with your education provider, agent, accommodation or employer? Are you experiencing discrimination? Here is an opportunity for you to raise your concerns in strict confidence to the Commission. E-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to discuss your concerns, or to book an appointment to speak with a NSW government representative to assist you.

Read more: 1 July 2011 - News - E-mail hot-line for International Students

The Hon Helen Sham-Ho, spoke to Channel Seven reporter Mike Duffy.

Ms Sham-Ho briefly explains the significance of shark fin soup in Chinese cuisine. She also believes the consumption of shark fin soup is a matter of moderation.

Read more: 1 July 2011 - News - Shark Fin Controversy