Racism confined to 'minority of people' in Australia: Minister

Against the backdrop of a series of attacks on Indian students in Australia, Australia's first Asia-born Cabinet minister on Sunday said that racism in this country was confined to "a minority of people" with extreme views.

Against the backdrop of a series of attacks on Indian students in Australia, Australia's first Asia-born Cabinet minister on Sunday said that racism in this country was confined to "a minority of people" with extreme views.

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"On the whole I think Australians are tolerant," Malaysia-born Penny Wong, Federal Climate Change Minister, was quoted as saying by AAP.

"It is a minority of people in Australia who hold those sort of extreme and intolerant views," Wong said. "By and large our political leaders, our community leaders, church leaders do continue to advocate for inclusion, for respect, for tolerance, for acceptance."

Her comments follow recent assaults on Indian students. However, Wong had previously recounted her "pretty difficult" childhood facing racist remarks while growing up in Adelaide.

India's High Commissioner to Australia Sujata Singh also said recently that there had been "a racist element" to the attacks on Indian students in Melbourne.

Former Telstra boss Sol Trujillo also recently took a swipe at Australia describing the nation he called home for four years as racist, backward and like "stepping back in time".