Racism confined to 'minority of people' in Australia: Minister

Melbourne, May 31 (PTI) Against the backdrop of a series
of attacks on Indian students here, Australia's first
Asia-born Cabinet minister Sunday said that racism in this
country was confined to "a minority of people" with extreme
views.

"On the whole I think Australians are tolerant,"
Malaysia-born Penny Wong, Federal Climate Change Minister, was
quoted as saying by AAP.

"It is a minority of people in Australia who hold those
sort of extreme and intolerant views," Wong said. "By and
large our political leaders, our community leaders, church
leaders do continue to advocate for inclusion, for respect,
for tolerance, for acceptance."

Her comments follow recent assaults on Indian students.
However, Wong had previously recounted her "pretty difficult"
childhood facing racist remarks while growing up in Adelaide.

India's High Commissioner to Australia Sujata Singh also
said recently that there had been "a racist element" to the
attacks on Indian students in Melbourne.

Former Telstra boss Sol Trujillo also recently took a
swipe at Australia describing the nation he called home for
four years as racist, backward and like "stepping back in
time". PTI NC
RKM