THE world has watched in horror at the unravelling of events in Ferguson, Missouri - a situation sparked by a white police officer shooting an unarmed black teen dead.
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Geographically, Missouri is incredibly distant. But Australia can claim no moral high ground when it comes to racial equality.
Australia fails its indigenous population on practically every level.
From birth, Aborigines are a step behind.
Aboriginal babies are twice as likely to be of low birth weight as the rest of the Australian population and 80 per cent of indigenous children report hearing difficulties, in turn leading to learning difficulties.
Almost half of Aboriginal men and more than a third of Aboriginal women die before the age of 45. Life expectancy is 10 years behind that of the average non-indigenous Australian.
Just last week hundreds of people stormed Brisbane's Parklands in protest against Aboriginal deaths in custody - there have been 340 since a 1992 Royal Commission into the issue.
And the list goes on: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women comprise 33 per cent of the total women's prison population, they are 61 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese, and less than 2 per cent of the Aboriginal population attends university.
"It is wrong - and insulting - to say that children born to white parents have exactly the same opportunities and choices as children born to indigenous parents when considering the multitude of alarming statistics available."
Arguments that these statistics would be reversed if only Aborigines wanted to change, hold no water.
It is instead a horrific reflection on white Australia.
Choices are limited when you start metres and metres backwards in life.
It is wrong - and insulting - to say that children born to white parents have exactly the same opportunities and choices as children born to indigenous parents when considering the multitude of alarming statistics available.
Clearly, the more than $25 billion Australia spends annually on indigenous programs is not working.
Travel writer Bill Bryson put it best.
He wrote while travelling Australia for novel Down Under: "If I were contacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to advise on Aboriginal issues all I could write would be: 'Do more. Try harder. Start now'. "
Racial inequality does not end with Aborigines.
Islamophobia is inarguably on the rise.
Ignorance and racism has Muslims being attacked on Australian streets.
These incidents are not confined to certain regions of the nation - there have been anecdotal reports of women in hijab being physically threatened and too scared to leave their homes in Launceston, too.
And there is no question that our treatment of asylum seekers is inhumane and in complete defiance of international law.
Isolating entire segments of the population does nothing but breed resentment.
This reaction is understandable.
Australia is isolated - girt by sea, as our national anthem tells us.
But in a world of interconnectedness, where we can watch the horrific events of Ferguson in real time, there is no excuse.
Yes, Ferguson is a long way from home, but the issues wrought by racial inequality are far too close for comfort.
