ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENTS IN AUSTRALIA

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the current anti-Asian sentiments in Australia have affected Singaporeans who are there as tourists, pursuing their education, doing business, etc and whether the Singapore Government will seek assurances from the Australian Government to ensure that they provide adequate security protection for these people.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no indication of Singaporeans avoiding Australia for holidays, study or business in significant numbers.

The Australian government has condemned racial harassment. On 30th October 1996, the Australian Parliament unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley denouncing racial intolerance. When the Minister for Trade and Industry and the Minister for the Environment and I went to Canberra for the inaugural meeting of the Singapore-Australia Joint Committee from 30th to 31st October 1996, the Australian Foreign Minister and his colleagues expressed their regrets to us over any racial harassment against Singaporeans. From our discussions with them, we are satisfied with the assurances they have given us that they do not tolerate such incidents and that they will take whatever measures necessary to protect Singaporeans and other foreigners who are visiting or residing there. We welcome these assurances. We hope that Singaporeans visiting Australia will not be affected by the anti-Asian sentiments expressed by a few Australians.