There is a lack of support for some Indigenous athletes, a parliamentary inquiry has heard, whilst abuse and racism are rife in community sport.

The Senate inquiry into racism and hate against First Peoples continued in Naarm on Thursday, hearing harrowing evidence about racism in sport and community sporting bodies.

Ngarrindjeri woman Marissa Williamson Pohlman, the first Indigenous female boxer to represent Australia at the Olympics, told the inquiry there was widespread racism and abuse in Boxing Australia, and called for an independent investigation into the sporting body.

She made allegations of assault and inappropriate behaviour within Boxing Australia, arguing the culture was failing vulnerable athletes.

"It's a terrible organisation," she said, "and the only good thing about boxing for them was the amount of blackfellas that I had the honour of training with, and honestly, without them, I would have really struggled."

Sporting organisations in Australia celebrate black excellence when athletes succeed, but abandon them when they need support, Ms Williamson Pohlman said.

In 2024, the National Sports Tribunal (NST) ruled Jamie Pittman — a long-time Boxing Australia employee — should serve a six-month suspension for conduct described in the findings as "disgusting", "offensive" and "inappropriate", with 11 documented counts of behaviour, including "sexual objectification of women that is puerile, infantile and lacking in sensitivity and awareness". Mr Pittman did not contest the findings.

Last year, Boxing Australia split from CombatAus, the national sporting body that initiated the investigation into Mr Pittman.

Ms Williamson Pohlman previously took to social media to say Boxing Australia had "ruined" her life and career because she spoke out about Mr Pittman, and alleged the sporting body had "bullied, re-victimised and discriminated against" her.

Boxing Australia denies the allegations.

Last month, Nine reported Dinah Glykidis had resigned as chief executive of Boxing Australia at the end of June. Whilst high-performance manager (HPM) Jonathan Hall was recently on leave, Mr Pittman was acting HPM, the ABC reported.

@natindigtimes Marissa Williamson-Pohlman, the first Aboriginal woman to represent Australia in Olympic boxing, sat down with Stephanie Williams on Indigenous Insights to share her journey of overcoming obstacles to reach the top. Set to compete in round 16 from 12:15am (EAST) Friday, we can't wait to see Marissa make history. Watch the full episode on Spotify or on the National Indigenous Times YouTube. #indigenousaustralia #aboriginalaustralia #indigenousexcellence #marissawilliamsonpohlman #australianboxing #indigenousaffairs ♬ original sound - National Indigenous Times

When asked what needed to be done about the allegations she made concerning Boxing Australia, Ms Williamson Pohlman argued there "needs to be an independent investigation into that organisation".

"There is something terrible going on there," she told the inquiry.

"The whole board needs to go.

"How many more Four Corners reports have to come out about gymnastics and athletics and ice skating for something to change?

"All these athletes come from the school of hard knocks. So the racism, the sexism, the misogyny, the homophobia, and just the violence is rife in those places. It's in the organisation too."

Community sport dealing with racism

Appearing alongside Ms Williamson Pohlman were Esme Bamblett and Peter Hood from the Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club, which competes in the Northern Football Netball League in Melbourne. Established in 1973 by the local Aboriginal community, the club is still primarily represented by Indigenous members.

Ms Bamblett said her years at the club meant she had seen "a lot of racism".

"It is a constant," she said. "It isn't something that happens now and again — it is a constant.

"It impacts our club, it impacts our players....it has implications on the young people growing up. It's not good for our wellbeing and makes people wonder if they should play for the Fitzroy Stars."

Earlier this year, an opposition player allegedly directed repeated remarks using the phrase "you people" at a Stars netball player, followed by noises and movements imitating a monkey or ape. After umpires referred the incident, an independent tribunal panel found the opposition player not guilty.

The Stars witnesses were asked to re-enact the incident at the hearing, with the opposition player and that player's club representative allowed to remain in the room. An appeal was also unsuccessful.

Both Mr Hood and Ms Bamblett alleged the club frequently received racist abuse and unfair treatment from officials.

"I have seen how disheartened our players are when calls that are made...are unfair," Mr Hood said.

He said appealing decisions cost $400, which went to the football league. The result, he argued, was clubs often chose not to pursue appeals.

"If you wanna challenge racism," Mr Hood said, "you have to pay for it".

Ms Bamblett argued that after the referendum, people feel they've been permitted to be racist

"'You lost the referendum so we can say what we like'...that is the reality," she told the inquiry.

"The racism in Australia is out of hand at the moment and needs to be stopped."

The hearings continue.

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