Classroom informer

A Quadrant Online reader comments on contributor John Izzard’s open letter to George Brandis:

“I recently taught a class on risk management. During the class I made the factual statement that the majority of the people using the casino are Asian, yet they are a minority in the city I live in. I said, ‘It appears they love to gamble despite the odds of winning being against them.’

The next day I received an email from my employer saying a formal complaint that I was a racist had been lodged. Despite giving the class every opportunity nobody said to my face they had complained. Although I should not have to answer such stupidity these days it is necessary to take it seriously because of the consequences – as [Izzard’s] article  points out. Here is my reply:

‘I did say that. I sometimes walk through the casino, so tell me if the following factually correct statement is wrong because it is politically incorrect to state a true fact: For cultural reasons Asians love to gamble. I know, because I own an Asian restaurant and have a lot to do with the Asian community, so the statement is correct.’

Section 18C is just plain dangerous to good people. An anonymous complaint could have cost me my job!”

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