Victoria’s diverse faith and multicultural communities are extremely concerned and disappointed by the media reporting, unhelpful statements by politicians and public debate surrounding youth crime in Victoria, which appears to target and make scapegoats out of the Victorian African community, and the South Sudanese community in particular.

Our political leaders must understand that language is important and that we are all Australians. To protect the integrity of our multicultural society, communities must not be targeted for political ends, and politicians should communicate responsibly, to not victimize or alienate whole communities. Our leaders must stand up for the values which define our multicultural society not only when it is politically expedient.

No community should be held accountable for the actions of a few, and no community should become a target for racism, hate speech, intolerance and discrimination.

Criminal behaviour, whether by individuals, gangs or groups of perpetrators must be appropriately addressed, including effective policing, bail laws, sentencing and parole procedures.  The safety of our homes and streets should be a top priority for any community, and Victoria is no different.

We acknowledge that there is a youth crime problem, and congratulate Victoria Police for their work in crime prevention, securing our streets and in organising youth crime forums to address the breadth of issues which need tackling to prevent and reduce youth crime.

We support the Australian African community and their leaders’ work in dealing with this problem. We also call on the State and Commonwealth governments to provide financial assistance for programs to integrate newcomers to Australia with effective education, job training and community support. These programs have assisted new communities in the past and were highly successful, as many of our longer established immigrants and refugees can attest.

Clearly, more needs to be done, but making one community a scapegoat is not acceptable in a free, inclusive and democratic society.

This statement is supported by the following organisations:

African Australian Communities Leadership Forum

African-Australian Multicultural Employment and Youth Services (AAMEYS)

Afro-Australian Student Organisation (AASO)

AMAFHH Federation

Bishop Philip Huggins, Vicar – General in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

Asian Australian Democracy Caucus

Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS)

Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council Inc (AGMC)

Australian Intercultural Society (AIS)

B’nai B’rith Victoria

Board of Imams Victoria

Buddhist Council of Victoria (BCV)

Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY)

Council of Christians and Jews Inc Victoria

Eritrean Jeberty Community in Australia

Ethnic Communities’ Council of the South East (ECCOSE Inc)

Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV)

Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV)

Hindu Council of Australia (Victoria)

Incubate Foundation

The Interfaith Centre of Melbourne

Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV)

Islamic Shia Council Victoria

Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV)

Jewish Christian Muslim Association (JCMA)

Melbourne Employment Forum

National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (Victoria) (NCJWA)

National Liaison Council of Chinese Australians

Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI)

Pax Christi

Progressive Judaism Victoria

Sikh Interfaith Council

Stand Up

Team Africa

Emeritus Prof Gary Bouma AM, UNESCO Chair in Interreligious and Intercultural Relations – Asia Pacific

Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

Uniting (Vic/Tas) Limited

Bishop Peter Danaher (President) and Rev Ian Smith (Executive Officer), Victorian Council of Churches (VCC)

Youth Activating Youth (YAY)