We need to do more to make sure that African Australians, and people from all backgrounds and faiths, have the opportunities in life that we all deserve.

It can be hard to find work in Melbourne at the best of times. But it's downright unfair if you can't get a foot in the door because of your religion or the colour of your skin.

Many of Melbourne's public housing residents, and especially qualified members of the African community, want to work, but face discrimination that their peers do not.

In one of many academic studies, 50% of African Australians reported experiencing discrimination while trying to find work.

A jobs program was recently announced for residents of the Flemington Public Housing estate, but many see it as an attempt to minimise the damage of Labor's unpopular plan to sell public housing land from under the feet of residents.

Jobs should be available for all who want and need them.

We call on the Government to extend this employment program with African community leadership across all the public housing estates of inner Melbourne.