A racist rant by a 55-year-old woman targeting an Asian passenger on a Sydney train has strengthened the argument against federal plans to dilute racial discrimination laws, the head of the NSW Community Relations Commission says.
The Central Coast woman - who gave the fake name "Sue Wilkins" to media on Thursday - has been charged with offensive behaviour after launching a torrent of abuse on a Sydney-to-Newcastle train on Wednesday.
Her real name is reportedly Karen Bailey.
The incident is the latest in a string of high-profile cases of racial abuse, and NSW Community Relations Commission chairman Vic Alhadeff says it is further evidence Australia must have strong laws against racial vilification.
"It is very much an argument about why we need strong legislation against racial vilification. It is very much an argument about why we must not dilute or change Section 18C," Mr Alhadeff told AAP on Friday.
Attorney-General George Brandis, who concedes he was primarily responsible for drafting changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, wants to remove the prohibition on offending, insulting or humiliating individuals or groups because of their race or ethnicity.
Mr Alhadeff said 18C makes "an unequivocal statement that we as a society will not accept racist conduct and that racist conduct, racist behaviour will have consequences and will have penalties under the law".
There have been more than 5500 submissions on the government's reform plans, although Senator Brandis has refused to make them public.
Wednesday's incident comes after Sydney AFL player Adam Goodes was racially abused by an Essendon fan during a game in Melbourne earlier this year.
Previously Goodes had taken a stand against a young Collingwood supporter and subsequently against Magpies president Eddie McGuire, who made a racial slur against him on radio.
Also last year, ABC News presenter Jeremy Fernandez endured a 15-minute racial spray from another passenger on a Sydney bus.
Mr Alhadeff says it is reassuring that many people want to stamp out such behaviour but it remains "a work in progress".
"It is reassuring that when these issues do come to public attention as we've seen with Adam Goodes and with Jeremy Fernandez, that we've seen in recent times an overwhelming response of condemnation that this is not what we're about and that this taints all of us as a society," he said.
The Central Coast woman, who described her actions as a "brain snap", apologised after video of her verbal attack went viral.
"Who is this little jerk-off? He can only get a gook - he can't even get a regular girlfriend. It is so sad," she said, as other passengers groaned in offence.
She faces a $500 fine if found guilty of offensive behaviour when she appears in court later this month.
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