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