Lexi Webster
Racism and prejudice against Aboriginal people in Australia have been prevalent since the arrival of European settlers in 1788. While the country has made strides towards reconciliation, recent surveys and reports indicate a dramatic rise in discrimination against Indigenous Australians, with young Aboriginal people reporting the most discrimination. This increase in intolerance has been attributed to the Black Lives Matter movement, which brought global attention to issues of police brutality, over-incarceration, and injustice experienced by Aboriginal communities. Despite progress, Australia continues to grapple with the legacy of its colonial past, and Aboriginal Australians still face systemic racism and prejudice in various aspects of society, including healthcare, education, and the justice system.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Aboriginal people who experienced racial prejudice with local shop owners or staff in the past year | 16% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal people who experienced racial prejudice with police | 16% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal people who experienced racial prejudice with doctors, nurses or medical staff | 14% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reported experiencing at least one form of major discrimination in 2019 | 52.1% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reported experiencing at least one form of major discrimination in 2021 | 49.7% |
| Percentage of people who unconsciously hold a negative prejudice against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples | 75% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal Australians who think Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians are prejudiced against each other | Not specified |
| Percentage of non-Aboriginal Australians who think Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians are prejudiced against each other | Not specified |
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What You'll Learn
Australian police prejudice and brutality
Aboriginal Australians have long been the victims of police prejudice and brutality. This has manifested in various ways, including racial profiling, excessive use of force, and a disproportionate number of deaths in custody. These issues have resulted in widespread protests and calls for justice and accountability.
One of the most pressing issues regarding police prejudice against Aboriginal Australians is the high number of deaths in custody. Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCADIC) in 1991, there have been an estimated 432 Indigenous deaths in police custody, with no convictions held responsible for these deaths. This has sparked protests and led to calls for a federal Royal Commission to investigate these deaths and address the systemic racism within the Australian justice system.
Aboriginal activists and their supporters have also raised concerns about police brutality and excessive use of force. There have been several notable cases of Aboriginal Australians dying in police custody due to "positional asphyxia," with multiple officers aggressively restraining them and ignoring their pleas for help. These cases have sparked outrage and brought attention to the issue of oppressive policing and high incarceration rates within the Aboriginal community.
Racial profiling is another prevalent issue within Australian police forces. Officers frequently associate First Nations people, particularly men, with crime and "suspicious" behaviour, leading to a bias in attention and higher arrest rates. This has resulted in Aboriginal youth being overrepresented in jails and a cycle of violence and incarceration that needs to be addressed.
The media and politicians have also been accused of perpetuating harmful narratives about "dysfunctional" and "lawless" Aboriginal communities, which further justifies police violence and racism. This has led to a lack of public outrage and accountability for Aboriginal deaths in custody and has hindered progress in addressing systemic racism within policing.
While there have been some efforts towards reconciliation, such as the Western Australian police commissioner's apology in 2018 and the raising of the Aboriginal flag at police stations, much more needs to be done to address the prejudice and brutality faced by Aboriginal Australians at the hands of the police.
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Aboriginal Australians' health and socioeconomic outcomes
Aboriginal Australians experience a higher prevalence of chronic conditions and associated risk factors compared to non-Aboriginal people, and at younger ages. They also face significant barriers in accessing health services. Social determinants, such as dispossession, intergenerational trauma, fewer opportunities for education and employment, inadequate housing, and racism, contribute to these disparities.
Aboriginal children are 2.1 times more likely to die before the age of five than non-Aboriginal children, reflecting poor health equity in Aboriginal communities. This early disadvantage has lasting effects, impacting health, development, learning, and behaviours throughout life.
The Closing the Gap strategy has aimed to reduce Aboriginal disadvantage in health, education, and employment. While there have been some successes, such as reductions in overall mortality rates and smoking prevalence, the gap in health status remains significant.
The social determinants of health play a crucial role in the disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. Low socioeconomic status (SES) adversely affects health, as it limits access to healthy foods, physical activities, safe housing, and healthcare. Lower educational attainment further exacerbates these issues, impacting employment opportunities and health literacy.
Additionally, behavioural risk factors, such as tobacco and alcohol use, dietary factors, and physical inactivity, contribute significantly to the health gap.
Recent surveys have revealed a dramatic increase in reported discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with 49.7% experiencing at least one form of major discrimination. This rise has been attributed to the exacerbating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, which brought issues of prejudice and tribalism to the forefront.
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The Stolen Generations
The children were placed in institutions, foster homes, orphanages, reserves, or white adoptive families. Many suffered harsh treatment, sexual abuse, and were indoctrinated to believe that their culture was inferior. The Bringing Them Home Royal Commission report (1997) described the Australian policies of removing Aboriginal children as genocide.
The policies were part of Australia's assimilation laws, which aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into white society. The intergenerational impact of these policies has been significant, with children living in households with members of the Stolen Generations more likely to experience adverse outcomes, including poor health and mental health issues, missing school, and living in poverty. High incidences of anxiety, depression, PTSD, suicide, and alcohol abuse have been observed among the Stolen Generations, impacting parenting and family situations.
In 1995, the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission commenced a National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families. In 1997, Prime Minister Howard expressed that Australians should not be blamed for past policies, but he later drafted a Motion of Reconciliation, expressing "deep and sincere regret" over the removal of Aboriginal children, which was passed by federal parliament in 1999. In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a national apology to the Stolen Generations, but there has been criticism over the lack of systematic response to the needs of survivors and their descendants.
Some attempts at redress have been made, with ex gratia payments provided to survivors in New South Wales and similar schemes in other states. However, domestic remedies have been deemed insufficient, and there have been discussions about bringing claims before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for violations of the Genocide Convention.
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The Australian Reconciliation Barometer 2022 report
One key finding from the 2022 report is the increase in reported racism and prejudice against Indigenous Australians compared to 2020. This indicates a concerning trend, with previous surveys also showing a dramatic rise in discrimination experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples between 2018 and 2019. The 2022 report reinforces the need for Australians to confront their racism and acknowledge the wrongs of the past, including historical injustices perpetrated against Indigenous communities.
The report also sheds light on the mixed progress towards reconciliation. While support for a Voice to parliament and treaty-making processes remains strong, indicating a growing recognition of the need for structural change, the increase in reported racism underscores the persistent challenges faced by Indigenous Australians in their daily lives. This includes discrimination in accessing employment and education opportunities, as well as unfair treatment in interactions with local businesses, police, and healthcare providers.
Furthermore, the 2022 report highlights generational differences in attitudes towards reconciliation. Younger Australians aged 18–34 exhibit more positive attitudes towards unity, cultural understanding, and truth-telling than older generations. This offers a glimmer of hope that as younger, more open-minded leaders emerge, they will actively advance reconciliation and foster more inclusive societies.
Despite some positive signs, the overall picture presented by the 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer is one of ongoing prejudice and racism. It serves as a stark reminder that while legislative changes and policies may have improved the position of Indigenous Australians, deep-seated cultural biases and structural inequalities persist. Addressing these issues requires a collective effort to build stronger relationships based on trust, respect, and a shared commitment to a more equitable future for all Australians.
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Voting rights and representation in parliament
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia have had a long history of exclusion and discrimination when it comes to voting rights and political representation. From the first federal electoral Act in 1902 until 1965, tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were prohibited from voting in federal and state elections.
In 1949, a small change was made, allowing Aboriginal people to vote at the federal level if they were enfranchised under a state law or were a current or former member of the defence forces. In 1961, the Australian Government set up a select committee to investigate Aboriginal voting rights, and in 1962, the Menzies government amended the Commonwealth Electoral Act to enable all Indigenous Australians to enrol to vote in federal elections. However, voting was not compulsory for them, and full voting rights were not granted federally until 1984, when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were required to register on the electoral roll.
In 1967, a referendum was held, resulting in the Constitution being altered to remove discriminatory references to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This change allowed them to be counted as part of the national population, and for the Commonwealth government to make laws for them. However, this did not grant them the right to vote, as that had already been achieved through earlier Commonwealth legislation.
Despite these changes, it was not until the 1992 high court decision, Mabo (no 2), that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were recognised as the First Peoples of Australia, overturning the notion of 'terra nullius' and acknowledging their past and continuing relationship with the land.
More recently, in 2023, Australians voted against a proposal to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. This advisory body would have included Indigenous representatives from each of Australia's states and territories, voted for by their local Indigenous communities. The proposal was rejected by a majority of voters, with only 39.6% of the public supporting the alteration.
While there have been some improvements over time, the ongoing exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the Australian Constitution and the failure of the 2023 referendum highlight the continued struggle for equal rights and representation in parliament for these communities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. A survey conducted by Monash University found that the percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reported experiencing at least one form of major discrimination increased from 28.6% in 2019 to 49.7% in 2021.
Aboriginal people in Australia have faced unfair treatment in employment, education, healthcare, and the justice system.
Since the European invasion in 1788, racism has been foundational to the logic of Australian settler colonialism. The Stolen Generations refer to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families by the Australian government between 1905 and the 1970s.
In 1967, a referendum removed a discriminatory clause in the Australian Constitution that excluded Aboriginal Australians from being counted in the census. The Menzies Government also abolished restrictions on voting rights for Aboriginal people. Currently, there is a push for a national referendum to change the Australian Constitution to include a democratically elected Aboriginal voice in parliament.
Racism is a key determinant of the health of Indigenous Australians and has been linked to the gap in health and socioeconomic outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
