Human rights advocates are calling on the Victorian Government to toughen the state's anti-hate laws after a spate of attacks on people of Asian heritage this year.
The Asian Australian Alliance said it has received almost 400 reports of racist attacks against Asian people since the coronavirus pandemic began, including verbal and physical assaults, death threats and property damage.
"Ninety per cent of the respondents have not reported the incidents to the police or a statutory body, as many of them believe that they will not get adequate redressal, or they lack confidence in the authorities," said Molina Swarup Asthana, Victorian State Convener, the Asian Australian Alliance.
"We support the strengthening of laws so that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions and victims of hate crime get justice.”
A Victorian parliamentary committee into the state's anti-vilification legislation is set to meet on Friday, with advocates calling for stronger civil and criminal laws to ensure people are held accountable for hate crimes.
Melbourne has seen several high-profile attacks against Asian Australians since the pandemic began.
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The racist slur spray-painted on the garage door of a Chinese-Australian family in Melbourne. Source: SBS News
Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Monique Hurley said Victoria needed to take a tougher stance urgently to help quell the rising incidents.
"The rise in racially motivated incidents targeted at people from Asian backgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic is shameful," she said.
"Time is long overdue for the Andrews Government to take a stand against intolerance and introduce best practice anti-vilification laws so that everyone in Victoria can live a life free from hate.”
A coalition of union, civil society and faith-based groups are joining the advocates in making a submission to the Parliamentary committee.
They are also calling on the Andrews Government to .
