In the study, 40 per cent of respondents
believed that there were cultural or ethnic
groups that did not belong in Australian
society.
image: iStockphoto

Research lead by the University of Western Sydney has revealed that most South Australians are tolerant of cultural diversity, but accept that racist attitudes do exist within the state.

Professor Kevin Dunn, from the School of Social Sciences at UWS, has completed a ten year study of the geographic spread of racism in Australia, as part of the 'Challenging Racism Project'.

On Friday 19th March, 2010, the first state-specific findings of the project will be released. The report, on the attitudes toward cultural diversity and racism in South Australia, reveals that:

• 85 percent of South Australian residents believe all races are equal.
• 82 percent are not opposed to people of different races marrying each other.
• 40 percent believe there are cultural or ethnic groups that do not belong in Australian society.
• 12 percent identify themselves as being racist.
• 88 percent recognise that racial prejudice is present in Australia.

"The findings of the 'Challenging Racism Project' indicate that South Australians are generally tolerant people, who are accepting of cultural and racial difference," says Professor Dunn.

"However there is still a small pocket of South Australia that continues to hold racist views."

Professor Dunn says this knowledge of the cultural beliefs of South Australians will be used to develop programs that directly tackle intolerance and racism in the state.

The 'Challenging Racism Project' is a collaborative research venture by the University of Western Sydney, Murdoch University, Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, University of South Australia and Victoria University.