20/08/2026
With a significant rise in racism experienced by First Peoples since the Voice Referendum, the violent attacks at Camp Sovereignty and the alleged terror attack at Boorloo on 26 January 2026, we hoped the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion (RCASC) announced in response to the horrific Bondi Attack in December 2025 would provide an opportunity to address racism more broadly.
A group of us met with the RC early to see if this was an option. Commissioner Bell advised of her intention to stay within the terms of reference - antisemitism and social cohesion.
Since the establishment of the RC, we have also seen the enactment of the Parliamentary Inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people creating a space for First Peoples to talk to their experience of racism.
This week saw the final block of hearings for the RCASC - focused on social cohesion. Professor Marcia Langton and myself were invited to appear at the RCASC.
Professor Langton and myself, along with the Race Discrimination Commissioner Giri Sivaraman, provided statements and oral evidence to the RC highlighting the need to address the fundamental attitudes and values towards First Peoples stemming from colonialisation - in order to lay the foundation for social cohesion in Australia.
To fully understand racism in Australia today requires an understanding of our colonial history and of the inequitable governance arrangements and institutions that emerged from it. Racism is not confined to individual acts of prejudice. It is systemic and structural and embedded in institutions, laws, policies and practices.
Unless and until Australia addresses racism against First Peoples, we will struggle to create a culture capable of effectively addressing racism more broadly.
Social cohesion must be about acceptance, inclusion, respect, dignity, unity. It cannot be about cultural erasure, denial of identity, assimilation and integration, racism, or monoculturalism.
It cannot be achieved by ignoring injustice, by avoiding difficult conversations or pretending it into being - it takes work, action, and ongoing vigilance.
The relationship between social cohesion and racism is direct. The 1991 National Inquiry into Racist Violence warned that not addressing racism would result in future escalation, harm, and social unrest. We are dealing with the consequences of not dealing with it!
We acknowledged that racism against different communities manifests and is experienced differently. But the foundations of racism are the same.
We stressed that dealing with racism on a case-by-case basis will not eliminate racism - you can call one person/agency/journalist/politician/social media platform out - it doesn’t stop others - and addressing one form of racism without addressing racism generally and for all who experience it won’t change anything - change must be systemic - we must have boundaries and social and legal standards that inform society on what is unacceptable. We also talked to the importance of education and particularly civics education and truth-telling to promote understanding of history, difference and the evolution of policies, laws and practices where racism is embedded.
We stressed the need for strengthened human rights protections, including the need for a Human Rights Act, and implementation of the UNDRIP, and the National Anti-Racism Framework.
Trust in our communities, institutions, and authorities responsible for protecting those who are subjected to racism is critical.
A society that is serious about social cohesion must be serious about addressing all forms of racism, with equal weight and tenacity.
I thank Commissioner Bell for providing the opportunity to present 🙏🏽
We hope that both processes will result in the social and systemic change needed to eliminate all forms of racism in Australia.
