“I am flabbergasted and dismayed to read on the front page of the Daily Telegraph today, that one of Sydney’s best known pubs instructed staff to refuse entry to patrons of Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander origin on the grounds of an alleged bid to cut crime on the premises," said the President of the Anti-Discrimination Board, Stepan Kerkyasharian, today.

Under various anti-discrimination laws in all states and territories and within the Commonwealth jurisdiction in Australia, it is illegal to discriminate in such circumstances against any individual on the basis of their race.

“It is appalling, unreasonable and were it not serious, virtually meaningless to presume that only people of a particular racial background behave in a particular way,” said Mr Kerkyasharian.

Mr Kerkyasharian called on all licencees to obey the law themselves and not look for scapegoats on the basis of ethnic stereotyping to overcome what may be management shortcomings.

Mr Kerkyasharian called on anyone who has been disallowed on to licensed premises on the basis of not only their race, but also any other attributes, such as disability, gender etc, to contact the Anti-Discrimination Board on 02 9268 5544, or if outside of Sydney on 1800 670 812.