In light of recent media reports and an ongoing AEC investigation regarding a video, that I, the founder of COMPELL recorded featuring Chinese-Australian volunteers, I have issued a public statement.
This press release outlines the original intent behind the video — to encourage civic participation among migrants — and addresses the broader implications of how multicultural political engagement is often unfairly scrutinised.
We must hold space for investigation while also ensuring migrant communities are not silenced or stigmatised.
Embedded PDF attached further down:
Full Press Release:
In recent days, media reports have raised allegations concerning Chinese-Australian community members who appeared in a video I recorded and published as part of a civic engagement effort for COMPELL.
The video was filmed to encourage political participation among multicultural Australians, particularly first-generation migrants who are often excluded from mainstream political discourse. The two volunteers featured in the video spoke in Mandarin about why they chose to support Dr Monique Ryan’s federal election campaign. The purpose was not partisan — it was about showcasing diverse civic engagement in action.
However, parts of that video have since been weaponised in the media, resulting in disproportionate scrutiny and harmful speculation. I am aware that the Australian Electoral Commission has referred the matter to the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce. I support this referral and welcome a fair and transparent investigation.
But let’s be clear: we must not allow one incident to fuel hysteria or racialised suspicion.
Many migrants — particularly from countries like China — come from authoritarian systems where political participation is discouraged or even punished. Of course they maintain ties to their country of origin: family, business, and cultural bonds do not disappear upon migration. But to suggest that such connections automatically compromise their intentions or actions here in Australia is both dangerous and deeply unjust.
This moment calls for discernment, not panic.
The video I recorded has sparked a broader conversation — one that must be handled with care. We must protect the integrity of our elections without stigmatising culturally diverse Australians who are still learning to navigate democratic systems.
I urge the media and public to let the investigation take its course. At the same time, I call on all sectors — political, media, and civil — to resist the impulse to criminalise participation, particularly when it comes from migrant communities who are engaging in good faith.
This is not just about one video or one campaign. It’s about whether multicultural Australians will be welcomed into public life — or warned off by scandal and suspicion.
– Tharini Rouwette
Founder, Allies in Colour and COMPELL