Opposition frontbencher Andrew Giles will warn the coronavirus outbreak is being used as an excuse for xenophobic behaviour towards Asians as he calls for a 'zero tolerance approach to racism'.
Mr Giles last week visited businesses in Box Hill, home to a big Chinese community in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, which he says has experienced a 70 per cent drop in business "no doubt because of fear and misinformation" about the virus.
"But I also heard stories of Chinese people being yelled out on public transport – told to go back home – and Chinese people being denied rides on ride-sharing apps," Mr Giles will say, according to a draft of the speech.
If the government didn't step in, "we may end up with more racism, more violence and a country that no longer resembles what we love most about Australia". "Across Australia, people and organisations are doing good things to reduce and prevent racism, particularly following the high-profile Adam Goodes documentaries," Mr Giles will say. "But they can't do it alone, we also need political leadership."
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