A Senate motion condemning an attempted bombing at a January 26 rally in Boorloo/Perth targeting First Peoples and their supporters has passed.
A 31-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in police custody after allegedly throwing an explosive device containing nails and ball bearings into a crowd of about 2,500 people at last week's Invasion Day rally before attempting to flee. The device did not detonate.
The motion, introduced on Tuesday by Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe and supported by Labor Senators Malarndirri McCarthy, Jana Stewart and Dorinda Cox, acknowledged the "serious harm" caused by the incident, stated that Indigenous people in Australia "continue to face entrenched racism, racially-motivated hate and threats of violence, and that any instance of this is unacceptable and must be addressed".
It also affirmed the federal government has a "duty to equally protect all people" in Australia from "racism, discrimination, hate speech and the threat of racially motivated violence".
"Let us be absolutely clear: this should be treated as an act of terror," Senator Thorpe told the Senate. "It was a deliberate act of hate, directly targeting First Peoples on our Day of Mourning."
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The Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman said in the days following the attack, those present, along with First Peoples across the country, "came to understand what had nearly occurred, the trauma deepened".
"That trauma was met with something familiar: silence, minimisation, and indifference," Senator Thorpe said. "Another form of violence."
She argued that while the attack was overtly violent, what followed was a "quieter, insidious thrum of the entrenched, systemic racism that shapes this country".
"Decisions were made — in newsrooms, in ministerial offices, in the daily rhythms of power — about whether this was urgent," the Senator said. "Whether it mattered. Whether our lives mattered."
Speaking to reporters after the motion passed, Senator Thorpe said the limited public outrage was telling.
"Silence is violence, right?" she asked.
"And that's how my people have been feeling since that attack happened. So, to have the parliament today condemn those actions and stand in solidarity for First Peoples...for the Senate to stand in solidarity and condemn this attack, is a step forward."
She added: "Racism is alive in this country, and we have a responsibility as people in this place [Parliament], to stamp it out, to condemn it, to not let it just happen and be silent."
Police initially charged the man with one count of "Unlawful act or omission with intent to harm" and one count of "Making or possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances".
He was denied bail and is scheduled to face court later this month.
Several days later, WA Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) confirmed the incident is being investigated as a potential terrorist act.
Responding to the motion, Senator McCarthy said it was a miracle the device did not explode and cause a mass casualty event. She described it as an attack on the country's social cohesion and said it needed to be recognised as an attack on First Peoples and their allies.
"When our social cohesion is attacked, all of us in this chamber, the government, the opposition, the crossbench, must apply consistent focus and condemnation," she said.
"I'm hearing from First Nations people in Western Australia and around the country and they are deeply concerned. So many are scared. Many are despairing. But First Nations Australians will not be cowed by this violence from exercising their rights, and from being proud of who they are.
"We won't stop in our efforts to protect social cohesion in Australia."
Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Kerrynne Liddle, also condemned the attack, whilst the Greens described the incident as an "escalation" of violence towards Indigenous people, but argued the "brutal truth" was that not all attacks in Australia receive equal media attention.
Asked about the similarity in media responses to the January 26 alleged bombing and attacks on Camp Sovereignty in August last year, Senator Thorpe said it illustrated "why we rally, why we march the streets and call for justice".
"Because," she said, "when something happens to us, no one does anything."
"No one cares. No one has a press conference. You don't hear from the Prime Minister."
