State Opposition leader Ted Baillieu accuses Victorian Premier Brumby of inaction on racism

 Stephen McMahon From: Herald Sun February 09, 2010 12:00AM

 UPDATE 10.51am: THE State Government has lashed Opposition leader Ted Baillieu for "playing cheap politics'' after he said Victoria has serious racism problems.

Mr Baillieu is taking the fight to Premier John Brumby who denies that racism is a widespread problem in Victoria.

Mr Baillieu said the Brumby government's verbal assault is about attacking him and not the problem of racism.

"They have allowed a minority to dictate the interpretation of Victoria and that's not good enough,'' he said.

He admits there will always be some violence but the Brumby government's failure to act is driving away international students with enrolments from India down 45 per cent.

"We have a problem with violence in this state and we have a problem with a minority of people who are behaving in a racist way that is damaging lives and damaging families and damaging reputations,'' he said.

If elected at the state election in November, the Opposition has committed to get rid of suspended sentences, toughen hoon laws and increase late-night security on train platforms in high-risk areas.

Mr Baillieu also accuses Victoria Police of sending out "mixed messages'' on the issue of racial crimes.

But the Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, James Merlino, slammed the Opposition for fanning race issues.

"Mr Baillieu has cynically cultivated race politics and sought to manipulate the issue for his own political gain. Now he is fanning race issues again by calling Victorian mums and dads racist,'' Mr Merlino said.

The battlelines between Mr Baillieu and Mr Brumby were drawn when Mr Baillieu gave a hard-hitting speech to the Australia India Business Council, in which he said racist Victorians are creating a climate of fear and terror on the streets of Melbourne.

"We have a law and order problem with record levels of violence. And we have a problem with racist behaviour and racial violence," he said.

This follows a virulent anti-Australian campaign in the Indian media after a rise in the number of reported assaults on Indian students and cab drivers.

In a move aimed to wedge the Brumby Government on its record on law and order, Mr Baillieu said racist attacks had been increasing for four years, especially against international students.

"We have a minority of individuals whose racist behaviour is creating fear and terror for many who live in our community," Mr Baillieu said.

Mr Brumby will not concede there is a racism problem and says Victoria Police is winning the war against racism.

Link : http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/state-opposition-leader-ted-baillieu-ac...