Peter Dutton (Image: Private Media/Zennie)
Peter Dutton (Image: Private Media/Zennie)

This article is an instalment in a new series, “Peter Dutton is racist”, on Dutton’s history of racism and the role racism has played on both sides of politics since the 1970s.

Racism has two meanings, and it’s important to understand which one we’re using.

One is about belief: in the notion that a person’s attributes — including personality, behaviour and characteristics such as intelligence — can be predicted from their racial or ethnic origin.

The other is about action: acts of prejudice, discrimination or antagonism, because of — rooted in — racist belief.