Omari Gates
Australia has a long history of racism, with Indigenous Australians facing severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms, and suffering genocide, forced removals, and massacres. Racist attitudes and behaviours continue to be prevalent in Australia, with First Nations peoples, Asian Australians, and other marginalised communities facing discrimination and abuse. Evidence suggests that racism is systemic and entrenched in Australian society, impacting almost every aspect of people's lives. While there have been efforts to address racism, including through legislation and consultations, it remains a significant issue that requires further action and commitment to change.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Racism against Indigenous Australians | Racist government policies and community attitudes |
| Racism against people of African descent | Racial profiling, racial slurs, abuse of authority, over-policing, targeting, and violence |
| Racism against Asian Australians | Physical and verbal harassment, racist attacks, racial abuse, discrimination |
| Racism in sports | Under-representation of Aboriginal and other ethnic groups |
| Racism in media | Use of negative racial stereotypes by politicians and the media |
| Racism in public institutions | Education, healthcare, employment, justice |
| Racism in everyday life | Public transport, schools, workplaces, public spaces |
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What You'll Learn
Racism against Indigenous Australians
Australia has a long history of racism against its Indigenous peoples, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, who have lived in Australia for at least 65,000 years before the First Fleet arrived in 1788. Since then, the colonisation of Australia and its development into a modern nation have resulted in explicit and implicit racial discrimination against Indigenous Australians.
Indigenous Australians have faced severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms, including genocide, forced removals, and massacres. They continue to experience racist government policies and community attitudes, with surveys confirming the persistence of racist attitudes towards Aboriginal people. The intergenerational trauma of colonisation continues to disadvantage First Nations communities, impacting their health, education, and justice outcomes.
In healthcare, for example, First Nations patients often encounter racism and prejudice from providers, resulting in inadequate care and a distrust of the system. Additionally, the Aboriginal Medical Service has been reported to be underfunded and unsupported by the government. The Australian Reconciliation Barometer reported a significant increase in racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, from 39% in 2014 to 54% in 2024, with younger First Nations people facing higher levels of racism.
Racism in Australia is not just historical but continues to shape society. The country has seen a recent rise in racism towards Indigenous people, fuelled by social media and a politically charged climate. This includes negative attitudes, stereotyping, and discrimination, with three out of four people holding negative views of First Nations people, according to Australian National University research.
While there is evidence of racism in Australia, some Australians are reluctant to acknowledge it. However, facing this reality is crucial for implementing truth-telling policies and creating meaningful change towards a more inclusive future.
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Anti-Asian racism
Australia has a history of racism, with Indigenous Australians facing severe restrictions on their political, social, and economic freedoms, genocide, forced removals, and massacres, and continued discrimination. The country also has a history of racist immigration policies, including the infamous White Australia policy, which aimed to limit non-British migration and create a white nation.
During World War II, ethnic Japanese and Taiwanese Australians were interned due to anti-espionage and collaboration policies enforced by the Australian government and its WWII allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
In recent years, there has been a focus on anti-Asian racism in Australia, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been reports of racist vandalism targeting Chinese-Australians, as well as physical attacks and racist abuse. A survey conducted in April 2020 recorded 178 incidents of COVID-19-related racism against Asians and Asian-Australians across the country in just two weeks.
Asian Australian community leaders have expressed concern about the spread of anti-Asian racism online, with lower inhibitions against racism in the online world compared to offline. A report by the Online Hate Prevention Institute in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission and Meta examined 182 items of anti-Asian hate from Facebook and Instagram. The two most common themes were dehumanizing Asians (37%) and attacking Asians because of their culture (37%).
Australia has also faced criticism for its treatment of Indigenous Australians, with police raids on Palm Island in 2016 found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, resulting in a record class action settlement of $30 million awarded to victims in 2018. Surveys and self-disclosure by Australians have confirmed the continued existence of racist community attitudes towards Aboriginal people.
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Racism in the workplace
Racism is prevalent in Australia, with a long history of discrimination against Indigenous Australians and people of colour. This racism permeates all aspects of society, including the workplace.
The consequences of racism in the workplace can be severe, causing psychological and physical harm to those affected. It is important to recognise that racism is not always explicit and can be subtle or unintentional. For example, a person may experience racism through microaggressions or a cumulative pattern of behaviour that creates a hostile work environment.
Australian laws protect employees from racial discrimination and harassment. The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their country of birth, ethnic origin, or skin colour. Additionally, employers can be held legally responsible for discrimination or harassment by their employees under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986. Employees can bring complaints against their employers regarding discrimination based on nationality. It is also illegal to victimise someone for making a complaint about racial discrimination or racial hatred.
Despite these protections, reporting racism in the workplace can be challenging. Employees may not report racism due to a lack of safe and accessible reporting channels, fear of retaliation, or concern that they will not be believed. It is important for organisations to foster an environment where employees feel empowered to speak up and address instances of racism.
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Racial discrimination in the Australian constitution
Australia has a long history of racism, and this has been reflected in its policies and legislation. The country was built on the invasion of stolen land, the denial of First Nations sovereignty, and the ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples.
The Australian Constitution, in Section 51(xxvi), grants the Australian Commonwealth the power to make special laws for people of any race. This subsection, commonly referred to as the "race power", initially empowered the Federal Parliament to make laws regarding:
> "The people of any race, other than the aboriginal race in any State, for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws."
This provision was intended to enable the Commonwealth to pass laws restricting migrant labourers of certain races, such as the Chinese and Kanakas. The explicit exclusion of the "aboriginal race" from this section implied that they were not considered on the same level as other races, and this exclusion was justified by the belief that they were of an inferior race.
In 1967, a referendum amended Section 51(xxvi) by removing the exclusion of the "aboriginal race", allowing the Commonwealth to make laws regarding Aboriginal peoples. While this was seen as a positive change at the time, the continued existence of the "race power" in the Constitution has been a subject of controversy.
In the Kartinyeri v Commonwealth case of 1998, the High Court was divided on whether Section 51(xxvi) could be used to enact laws that discriminated adversely based on race. Justices Gummow and Hayne argued that using race as a basis for parliamentary power was inherently discriminatory, while Justice Kirby disagreed, stating that the section did not permit laws detrimental to any race. Justice Gaudron found it challenging to conceive of circumstances where a law disadvantaging a racial minority would be valid.
The persistence of Section 51(xxvi) in its current form enables the potential for racially discriminatory legislation, as seen in the Northern Territory National Emergency Response of 2007-2011, which disproportionately impacted Indigenous communities. Despite legal protections like the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Australia continues to grapple with the legacy of racism in its history and the ongoing discrimination faced by Indigenous Australians and other racial minorities.
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Racism against Muslim Australians
Australia has a long history of racism towards its Indigenous peoples, as well as other minority groups, including those of European, African, Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and North American descent. While there is evidence to suggest that Australia is a racist country, the extent and manifestation of racism vary across different communities. Muslim Australians, in particular, have faced significant discrimination and Islamophobia.
Islamophobia in Australia refers to the distrust and hostility directed towards Muslims, Islam, and those perceived to be following the religion. This social aversion is often perpetuated by the media, which stereotypes Muslims as violent and uncivilized. This stereotyping has contributed to the marginalization, discrimination, and exclusion of the Muslim community in Australia. For instance, during the First Gulf War, there were racist attacks, including violence and property damage, targeting Arabs and Muslims. Additionally, Islamic institutions received bomb threats, and people with the surname "Hussein" were harassed.
Muslim Australians have also faced stigmatization due to counterterrorism efforts. In the aftermath of terrorist attacks on Jewish institutions, Muslims were initially blamed, despite a lack of evidence. ASIO's anti-terror efforts, which included visits and wiretaps targeting Arab and Muslim Australians, further contributed to the stigmatization of the community. Moreover, anti-Islam groups have campaigned against the certification of halal food products, arguing that the costs increase prices for all consumers and that the fees fund terrorism. These campaigns have led some companies to stop producing halal products.
Muslim Australians have experienced racism and discrimination in various aspects of their lives. According to a survey, 67% of Muslims reported experiencing racism on the street, compared to 27% of non-Muslims. Women experienced higher rates of street racism, with 62% of Muslim women reporting such incidents. The media was also cited as a significant source of racism, with 47% of Muslim respondents experiencing racism in the media, including negative stereotypes and representations.
Muslim Australians have faced discrimination in institutional settings as well. Zahra, for instance, recounted how her younger brother was unlawfully detained by police during protests against the Iraq War, attributing this to his race. Ameera, a European-background Muslim woman, described experiencing ethno-religious profiling by Australian customs and immigration officials upon returning from a trip to Indonesia. Schools have also been sites of racism, with students and teachers turning against Muslim classmates following the September 11 attacks.
Overall, while racism in Australia is not limited to any particular group, Muslim Australians have faced unique challenges due to Islamophobia and negative stereotypes perpetuated by the media and influential figures. These challenges have resulted in discrimination, exclusion, and violence, impacting the daily lives and well-being of Muslim individuals and communities in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia is a racist country. Racism is commonplace and normalised in Australia, affecting almost every part of a person's daily life.
Racism in Australia has manifested in various ways, including segregation, racist immigration and naturalisation laws, and internment camps. For example, during World War II, ethnic Japanese and Taiwanese Australians were interned as a result of anti-espionage/collaboration policies enforced by the Australian government. More recently, in 2016, police raids on Palm Island were found to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, with a record class action settlement of $30 million awarded to victims in May 2018.
Indigenous Australians, comprising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have faced severe restrictions on their freedoms and continue to experience racist government policies and community attitudes. Additionally, people of African descent, Asian Australians, and migrants from Middle Eastern and African countries also face racial discrimination, xenophobia, and systemic racism in Australia.
Racism in Australia creates barriers to ensuring all Australians have equal opportunities, dignity, and respect. It affects people's access to basic needs, services, and justice. It is often experienced alongside other forms of discrimination, such as disability or sex discrimination.
