Soaps like Neighbours and Home and Away don't show racial diversity, says academic

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

TV PRODUCERS have been accused of operating a "White Australia" policy when it comes to casting actors for top-rated soap operas.

Neighbours and Home and Away have been branded racist for consistently failing to feature families from ethnic minorities.

Now academics and politicians fear that international viewers could get the "wrong impression" about Australia.

University of Queensland Aboriginal studies lecturer Sam Watson said the dramas were operating an "exclusive white family club" that didn't reflect Australia's true demographic.

"The producers and directors of these shows are very sadly harking back to the White Australia policy of the '40s and '50s," he said. "Instead of embracing the rich diversities of our country, they are shunning it."

In contrast, British soaps such as EastEnders and Coronation Street, and New Zealand's Shortland Street have been successfully casting actors from ethnic minorities for years.

It's a huge concern for actors' union the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which will discuss the problems at a conference in Sydney next month.

The union's national director of actors' equity, Simon Whipp, said he had been campaigning on the issue for 20 years and still little improvement had been made.

"Our members are missing out on roles for no other reason than the fact that they are not white," he said.

The White Australia policy began in 1901 to restrict non-white immigration to the country.

While it was scrapped in 1973, viewers of Neighbours and Home and Away might be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

In Neighbours, white Ramsay Street residents Susan and Karl Kennedy regularly laugh over the fence with their equally white neighbours Steve and Miranda Parker - even though the soap is set in the culturally diverse city of Melbourne.

In Home and Away, the residents of Summer Bay, just north of multi-cultural Sydney, are also white Australians, with the exception of Jai Fernandez - an Asian character who lost his parents in the Boxing Day tsunami.

The discrimination has not gone unnoticed in Britain either, where Neighbours was recently dubbed "too white" by black and Asian viewers.

Aboriginal MP Marion Scrymgour, who is Arts Minister for the Northern Territory, said people in indigenous communities needed greater representation on television.

"It's important that young Aboriginal people are able to see there are opportunities for interesting and rewarding employment," she said.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24652634-421,00.html

[Jenn! 918]

Reverse discrimination!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I could be wrong - but I don't recall any black characters in Neighbours. Period.

Even the criminals were white.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Ruh roh... hubster's favorite soaps.....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ruh roh... hubster's favorite soaps.....

Ask him if "loveable rogue" Lou Carpenter is still in it.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Ruh roh... hubster's favorite soaps.....

Ask him if "loveable rogue" Lou Carpenter is still in it.

Well, I don't know all of the characters, so I Googled the character and I KNOW I've seen him on Neighbours... LOL

Jesus, now I've got the theme tune running through my head...

"Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours

With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend

Neighbours, should be there for one another

That's when good Neighbours become good friends"

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ruh roh... hubster's favorite soaps.....

Ask him if "loveable rogue" Lou Carpenter is still in it.

Well, I don't know all of the characters, so I Googled the character and I KNOW I've seen him on Neighbours... LOL

Jesus, now I've got the theme tune running through my head...

"Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours

With a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend

Neighbours, should be there for one another

That's when good Neighbours become good friends"

I guess the theme song assumes new relevance, given the article.

"the perfect blend" of whiteness

"should be there for one-another" ... but only if you're white

[Sister Fracas 5]

I guess the theme song assumes new relevance, given the article.

"the perfect blend" of whiteness

"should be there for one-another" ... but only if you're white

really... LOL

[Mononoke28 137]

I watch "The Young and the Restless" and they have one set of black people.

Australians are so behind the times.

Diana

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I remember when Russell Crowe was in it as a skinhead thug...

[mawilson 2,133]

I could be wrong - but I don't recall any black characters in Neighbours. Period.

Even the criminals were white.

I don't recall any black characters in Friends, either - and New York is slightly more diverse than Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I could be wrong - but I don't recall any black characters in Neighbours. Period.

Even the criminals were white.

I don't recall any black characters in Friends, either - and New York is slightly more diverse than Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia.

Or Seinfeld for that matter.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I could be wrong - but I don't recall any black characters in Neighbours. Period.

Even the criminals were white.

I don't recall any black characters in Friends, either - and New York is slightly more diverse than Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia.

There was the Asian lady Ross almost married....until he called her by Rachel's name at their wedding...

[Heracles 417]

Well unlike the US, Australia does not feel the need to pretend to be PC correct by including a minority in every screen shot or commercial. It would be like BET throwing in a white guy to be perceived as being diverse.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well unlike the US, Australia does not feel the need to pretend to be PC correct by including a minority in every screen shot or commercial. It would be like BET throwing in a white guy to be perceived as being diverse.

You don't think that the content of the show reflects the biases of the program makers?