Rock singer Gary 'Angry' Anderson has sparked criticism over claims that Lebanese, Pacific Islander and "Indochinese" cultures have introduced weapons to Australian youth.
Anderson told a federal parliamentary committee hearing that "Aussies use their fists" and there were racial and cultural reasons behind increases in weapon assaults.
The former lead singer of hard rock band Rose Tattoo said he was not racist and that politically correct bureaucrats were failing to acknowledge the impact of youths from some migrant groups on school culture.
"We have to acknowledge that they have a different view about how they deal with each other," he said.
"It's not untoward for them to turn up to a fight with a hatchet."
Outside the hearing, Anderson said that when he grew up, "Aussie kids didn't use weapons".
"We've got to tell Lebanese kids and Indochinese kids that it might be all right where you come from but it's not all right here," he said.
But Australia's race discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes said Anderson's comments were oversimplified and stereotypical.
"There's no doubt that some violence in Australia has a racist motivation but to suggest that different racial groups come with weapons where Anglo-Australians don't is oversimplifying and stereotypical," he said.
"To suggest Anglo-Australians haven't used weapons in the past is a bit of a nonsense."
Mr Innes said any type of violence — whether with a knife or with fists — is not acceptable.
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