From the Mayor: A Message of Support

The City of Yarra is home to a vibrant community. Vibrant because we are made up of so many – from our First Peoples community, through to recently arrived migrants from all corners of the world. All of whom are welcome here. All of whom are part of us. 

What we saw on the weekend was the antithesis of this. 

When Nazis address the crowd from the steps of Parliament before gutlessly attacking Camp Sovereignty in Kings Domain, there is no other way to describe it as an event fed by hate. 

And it was an event fueled by lies. The refugee family who lives in a Richmond public housing isn’t pushing up the price of a three-bedroom home in the suburbs. And those who come here seeking a better life are not taking jobs, but instead working in vital roles in our hospitals, our aged care and childcare centres, and our restaurants that would otherwise remain unfilled. They are making our community a better one for all of us. 

In short, the whole enterprise was stained by racism and division, and it has upset – and continues to upset – many in our community. 

To all those who no longer feel safe in our City, we have your back. 

We also want to let you know there are a wide array of services available to help you should you need, and we have included a list of them below. 

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If you wish to report a crime motivated by prejudice – from verbal abuse to physical violence; and harassment in all its forms, please report it to the police. People can report non-urgent crimes or events 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Police Assistance Line, 131 444, or online at https://onlinereporting.police.vic.gov.au 

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or it’s an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).  

Crime Stoppers Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation that works with the community and the media to help police solve crime and keep Victoria safe. To report crime information anonymously, call 1800 333 000, or online at https://report.crimestoppersvic.com.au/.  

If you or someone you know has experienced racism, sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind, you can contact the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. You can contact the Commission via their Community Reporting Tool at Yarra City Reporting Platform – Reducing racism | Yarra City Council