hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers or of their politics or culture. (Collins Dictionary 1986)

is about building a new relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and the wider community, one that heals the pain of the past and ensures we all share fairly and equally in our national citizenship. (Commonwealth of Australia 1997)

a generalised set of traits and characteristics attributed to a specific ethnic, national, cultural or racial group which gives rise to false expectations that individual members of the group will conform to these traits.

behaviour that offends, humiliates or intimidates and that targets a person or group because of their race.

a public act based on the race, colour, national or ethnic origin of a person or group of people which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate. It can include racist graffiti, speeches, posters or abuse in public. (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1996)

The term 'race' is an artificial construct used to classify people on the basis of supposed physical and cultural similarities deriving from their common descent. The Runnymede Trust (1993) provides a useful discussion of the word 'race':

1. the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others

a body of unfounded opinions or attitudes relating to an individual or group that represent them in an unfavourable light. (Racism. Stop it! Action 2000, Canada 1999)

A number of different terms are used to describe people who are migrants or the descendants of migrants to Australia and who speak a language other than English as their first language. In this publication, the term 'people from language backgrounds other than English' is preferred to 'non-English speaking background' or 'N [..]

Australian multiculturalism is a term which recognises and celebrates Australia's cultural diversity. It accepts and respects the right of all Australians to express and share their individual cultural heritage within an overriding commitment to Australia and the basic structures and values of Australian democracy. It also refers to the strate [..]