Australia is asking for a less severe approach to racism and police brutality in the US.

In an urgent United Nations Human Rights Council meeting, Australia is campaigning against a full-blown inquiry into racism and police brutality against Black Americans in the US. 

African countries requested the urgent debate in a letter following the killing of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police department on May 25.

The letter called for the Human Rights Council to start an inquiry into the police violence and racism against “Africans and of people of African descent” in the US and not just “merely condemn expressions and acts of racism.”
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Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, expressed a similar wish in his address to the UN Human Rights Council. “I hope that you will consider establishing an independent commission of inquiry to investigate police killings of black people in America and the violence used against peaceful protesters,” said Floyd via video link.

Instead of supporting the inquiry, Australia is lobbying for a compromise motion that would recognize the death of George Floyd and ask for a more global investigation of racism.

A representative of Australia said, "The United States is an open liberal democracy governed by the rule of law and we have confidence in their transparent justice systems to address these issues appropriately.”

Australia is joined by other US allies such as South Korea. The US is not a member of the UN Human Rights Council.