An Australian real estate agent has faced suspension after sending a racist email to a former Indian tenant, wherein she criticized Indian cleanliness habits and expressed concerns about an influx of Indians affecting the country negatively, as reported by the media.
According to a report from the Australian website news.com.au, the email was directed to Sandeep Kumar in May 2021 when he contested a cleaning bill deduction from his security deposit.In the email, Bronwyn Pollitt, the director of Mavin Real Estate, juxtaposed Australian living standards and quality of life with what she described as the "overcrowded, overpopulated, dirty squalor" of several countries, including India.
In the email, she expressed concerns that Indian migrants might potentially change Australia in a way she deemed unfavorable, stating, "I hope that Indian migrants do not transform Australia into what I perceive as the less desirable aspects of India."
The email was presented as evidence in the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia, which subsequently determined that Pollitt was unfit to hold a real estate and business agent license. As a result, she has been suspended for eight months starting September 1.
In the email, Pollitt also conveyed, "I, as a white Australian, believe that you and others choose to come to Australia to enjoy the wonderful quality of life we have here. This includes clean, fresh air, employment opportunities, social support if needed, access to medical care, and a lack of overpopulation."
"It all begins with maintaining cleanliness in rental properties and being aware of what you leave behind. Without a change in attitude, the same issues that exist in India may surface in Perth." Pollitt later apologized to Kumar via email, clarifying that she did not intend to be racist.
"Firstly, I extend my apologies if you perceive my actions as being racist toward you," she stated. "It was never my intention." The tribunal was informed that Pollitt was experiencing significant stress during that period due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory alterations, and heightened rental disputes.
Suresh Rajan, an advocate for ethnic communities, has urged a police inquiry into the incident, denouncing it as one of the most blatant instances of racism he has witnessed in years. He has also suggested that it potentially violated the racial vilification laws outlined in the criminal code.
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