‘Vein of racism’: race discrimination commissioner accuses One Nation and Coalition of scapegoating immigrants

Australia’s federal race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, says he expects an escalation in ‘the racism that accompanies’ blaming immigrants. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

One Nation and the federal opposition are “dehumanising” and “scapegoating” immigrants while drawing on a “deep vein of racism”, Australia’s federal race discrimination commissioner says.

Giridharan Sivaraman made the comments as part of a panel discussion at a Brisbane seminar on human rights, hosted by the state’s human rights commission.