What 'Reclaim Australia' Really Means

For a nation well known for its multiculturalism and acceptance of all individuals, regardless of race and religion, it’s difficult to confront the reality that Australia still struggles with ongoing issues of racism and religious discrimination.

Last Sunday marked the end of week-long rallies taking place across Australia by Reclaim Australia (and Rally Against Racism, who protested against the discrimination inherent in Reclaim Australia’s core values).

Reclaim Australia only comprises a minority of the Australian community, but its potential impact is significant – especially considering the group justifies their protests against ‘the spread of Islam’ as “[part of] being proud of who you are and to maintain our culture, way of life and laws.” Covertly, Reclaim Australia’s values exploit Australia’s commitment to mateship and patriotism for discriminatory ends.

Though John Farnham and Jimmy Barnes denounced the group’s use of their iconic songs, Reclaim Australia’s initial selection of the Aussie legends’ tracks seemed to emphasise its interest in Australian values in order to develop their cause. Reclaim Australia’s willingness to shape their attempt to discriminate against the Islamic community as an act of patriotism directly contradicts the values of multiculturalism and mateship, discouraging acceptance and tolerance amongst all individuals.

Reclaim Australia not only undermines the value of tolerance and a united community, it is also representative of a greater issue where one individual’s actions define the perception of an entire culture or religion, because of the attention it receives through mainstream media. For example, Islamic ideology has been associated with extremist views, due to the opinions of some high-profile politicians and the recentness of the Lindt Café Siege. This is the core issue of Reclaim Australia, which fails to deal with the greater aspects of their protests – focusing instead on utilising fear as a means of gaining support.

In order to embrace Australia’s national identity to its fullest, Reclaim Australia needs to recognise the purpose of valuing patriotism and mateship – to foster a system where the Australian community is united through mutual experiences, rather than shunned due to religion. Whilst Reclaim Australia has called for ‘calm’ at times, it’s important to recognise the implications of their actions are not simply expressions of opinions, but hinders the potential for acceptance and unity.

Emily Lam is one of Student Edge’s student contributors. Learn more about the contributors program.