race relations
 

Are there any racial tensions remaining in Australia,? on a previous visit to Melbourne I found the population to be very mixed racialy and looked to be a very harmonious co existance.
My partner is from Suriname, South America and asked me the question this morning. I would be grateful for any information and personal experiences. Anybody from Suriname in Australia???

Re: race relations
 

I lived in Australia for more than 7 years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Like any other country there is racism, however that should not stop you from visiting there.

I personally find Australia even more diverse than London in some cases.

Then again if this a first question why even leave your house.

Where do you live now?

Re: race relations
 

Hi Taff,

Australians wouldn't be human if there weren't still some racial issues. As I'm sure you know every country in the world has some so it is just a matter of degree. I have seen no evidence that Australia is better or worse than any other advanced western nation though we do have a huge percentage of the population born overseas so that must help.

Just like other countries in the larger, more urban/sophisticated centres you will find less issue, in rural/regional/poorer suburban area's you might find more issues or outright racists - but on the other hand people might be friendlier as well. This is all just about odds not guarantees.

Re: race relations
 

Hello and thank you for your response, this is not my first question and it wil not stop us from going there, I am white living in Suriname South America, I have not experienced any racism here against me personally. The roles would be reversed in Australia and I dont expect to see any there against my partner, I have travelled a lot myself and realise that it could crop up anywhere against any race.

Re: race relations
 

Hi Taff,

Where in Australia will you be heading to?

Taff being white in a 'non-western' country can also give you a privilege in many ways.

However I would say keep an open mind with Australia, even being white may bring its own challenges.

Re: race relations
 

Like anywhere this is about class and education, not nationality, so it depends where in Australia you plan on spending your time. Most Australian cities are more multicultural than anywhere in Britain except London, in which case they're neck and neck.

Re: race relations
 

I work in an engineering office, in which there are:
1 English man (me)
5 Indians
3 Malaysians
1 Chinese
1 Norwegian
and about 4 Australians (of European descent)

There is certainly no racism there.

Re: race relations
 

The Suriname community would be very small as to be almost non existant. For example the 2006 Census stated only 53 Belize born or 503 Guyana born to give you an example of numbers from neighbouring countries.

I don't find Australian cities as diverse as London which has over 40% non white population....but diversity has certainly increased considerably in the past ten years and really accelerated in the past five ....

I wouldn't imagine there being much of a problem at least in the cities.....certainly nothing to the extent that would make either of you uncomfortable....

Re: race relations
 

There's a lot of South Americans and Spanish people around Fitzroy in Melbourne.

Re: race relations
 

Are they ? I would have thought a fair few British cities outside London are very multi cultural ?

Re: race relations
 

Absolutely, most in fact.

Re: race relations
 

Yes of course, Birmingham springs to mind.

Re: race relations
 

Birmingham amongst many others yes.

Re: race relations
 

The issue I have with British cities is that they are white, and then West Indian and Muslim, whereas Australian cities have a more equal spread of a wider number of groups, although lately more and more Chinese. British cities that are half white and half Pakistani are not multicultural.

Re: race relations
 

Certainly not my experience of big cities, every nationality under the sun.