Open Letter Requesting an Apology from Senator Jane Hume for Unfair Remarks Targeting Chinese-Australian Volunteers in the 2025 Federal Election
6 May 2025
The Chinese-Australian community is deeply concerned by the unsubstantiated remarks made by Senator Jane Hume referring Chinese-Australians volunteering for a federal candidate as alleged “Chinese spies”. Her remarks, made on Channel 7’s Sunrise program last week, cast unwarranted suspicion on Chinese-Australian volunteers involved in the 2025 federal election campaign.
Senator Hume’s public comments, made without evidence, have fostered negative and unfair perceptions that undermine the legitimacy of Chinese-Australian civic engagement. Many individuals in our community, who were exercising their democratic rights as Australian citizens, have found these implications to be both offensive and unjust.
Suggesting or implying that Chinese-Australians engaging in lawful campaign activity are somehow untrustworthy is not only discriminatory but also detrimental to the principle of equality that is fundamental to the Australian society. Such irresponsible remarks promote racial profiling, undermine the equal status of Chinese-Australians in public life, and discourage civic involvement by fostering an atmosphere of suspicion based solely on cultural background.
These concerns have been widely echoed by thousands across the Chinese-Australian community, reflecting the profound impact of Senator Hume’s comments.
The Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV) and co-signatories request Senator Hume to withdraw her remarks and issue a public apology to the Chinese-Australian community. We believe that it is essential for all political leaders to engage responsibly in public discourse and to uphold the principle that every Australian citizen, irrespective of their background, has the right to participate freely and equally in our nation’s democratic process without fear or prejudice.
Signed: (If you or your organisation would like to co-sign this letter, please send an email to [email protected] with your full name or the name of your organisation)
- Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV)
- Chinese Australians for Peace Association (CAPA)
- Women Support Inc. (WSI)
- June Anderson
- Chinese Australian Multicultural Association (CAMA)
- Meijuan Hua
- Hongyong Zhu
- Kim Wen
- Jane Wei
- Victor Kuan
- Chinese Australian Network Inc. (CAN)
- The Chinese Australian Studies Forum at RMIT
- Fair GO South Australia Inc.
公开信的中文译文：
致简·休姆参议员的公开信:
要求就针对2025年联邦选举中的澳大利亚华裔志愿者的不公正言论公开道歉
2025年5月6日
澳大利亚华人社区对简·休姆参议员发表的毫无根据的言论深感关切。她在上周七号台《Sunrise》节目中，将参与联邦候选人竞选活动的澳大利亚华裔志愿者指控为“中国间谍”，这一言论毫无事实依据，对参与2025年联邦选举的华裔志愿者带来了无端质疑。
休姆参议员在缺乏任何证据的情况下公开发表此类言论，助长了对华人社区负面且不公正的看法，削弱了华裔澳大利亚人积极参与公民事务的正当性。许多在依法行使民主权利的澳大利亚华人，对这些暗示感到既冒犯又不公正。
暗示或影射华裔澳大利亚人在参与合法的选举活动时不值得信任，不仅具有歧视性质，还破坏了澳大利亚社会的平等原则。此类不负责任的言论助长了种族定性，损害了华裔澳大利亚人在公共生活中的平等地位，并通过制造基于族裔背景的怀疑氛围，打击了公民的参与热情。
这一事件在华人社区中引发了强烈反应，成千上万的人对该言论表示愤怒和不满，充分体现了休姆参议员言论所造成的严重负面影响。
维州澳华社区委员会（CCCAV）及其他联署团体和个人要求休姆参议员撤回其不当言论，并向华人社区公开道歉。我们坚信，所有政治领导人应在公共言论中保持审慎，恪守尊重与包容的原则，确保每一位澳大利亚公民——无论其出身背景如何——都能在无惧与无偏见的环境中自由、平等地参与国家的民主进程。
- 维州澳华社区委员会 (CCCAV)
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