Australia's first Indigenous lower house MP says racism directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is systemic and structural, warning it has become more visible since the 2023 Voice referendum.
Former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt, who served as a Minister in the Morrison and Turnbull Liberal governments — becoming Australia's first Indigenous cabinet minister — submitted to the Senate inquiry into Racism, Hate and Violence Directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples that, for Indigenous Australians, "racism is not episodic but persistent and cumulative, experienced across multiple life domains including education, healthcare, employment, and public spaces".
It leads to "intergenerational trauma, reduced trust in institutions, governments, and diminished social and economic participation," he said in his submission ahead of appearing before the inquiry in Perth on Monday.
"Racism also operates structurally, reflected in persistent disparities across key systems. High rates of incarceration, overrepresentation in child protection, and ongoing housing stress are not isolated outcomes; they are indicators of systemic inequality."
Mr Wyatt, who left the Liberal Party after its opposition to the 2023 Voice referendum, said racism had become increasingly visible following the vote, with Aboriginal leaders experiencing increased abuse, misinformation and harassment, particularly online.
"For many, the referendum process did not simply reflect differing views on constitutional change; it also created a platform in which narratives questioning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people['s] rights, legitimacy, and recognition were amplified," he said.
"Positions that may previously have remained implicit or marginal became more overt and normalised within mainstream debate.
"This has contributed to a sense that racism has become more openly expressed, particularly in public and digital spaces, where commentary has at times moved beyond policy disagreement into forms of rhetoric that undermine the dignity and standing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
Inquiry examines racism and extremism
View this post on Instagram
The federal government established the inquiry to examine the continued racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and identify practical responses across workplaces, institutions and the broader community.
It follows a series of high-profile racist incidents, including the alleged terror attack in Boorloo on January 26, the alleged attacks on Camp Sovereignty by neo-Nazis last year, and the booing of Elders delivering a Welcome to Country on Anzac Day.
"There is a growing presence of ideologically motivated extremism targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People," Mr Wyatt submitted.
He argued the alleged terror attack in Boorloo was "not isolated in its implications". Rather, "It reflects a broader pattern of ideologically motivated hostility, where public expressions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People['s] culture and leadership are increasingly targeted".
"The fact that such an event required disruption by authorities reinforces concerns about the escalation from harmful rhetoric and online radicalisation into potential acts of violence," Mr Wyatt said.
Calls for structural reform
View this post on Instagram
Chaired by Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman Senator Jana Stewart, the inquiry has received hundreds of submissions from government agencies, academics, legal groups and Indigenous organisations.
Despite the volume of evidence presented to the inquiry, racism remains politically contested, with culture war arguments often dominating public debate.
Some conservative politicians and media commentators have questioned the prevalence of racism experienced by Indigenous Australians, compared it with racism directed at other groups, or argued incidents are isolated rather than systemic.
However, everyday racism — including harassment, discriminatory policies, over-policing and public dog whistles — continues to be documented by community organisations and oversight bodies.
"A key feature is the proliferation of historical denialism—efforts to distort or dismiss the realities of colonisation, dispossession, and their ongoing impacts," Mr Wyatt submitted.
"These narratives are often reinforced through conspiracy theories that seek to delegitimise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People['s] rights, undermine truth-telling processes, and erode public understanding."
Mr Wyatt made six recommendations, arguing for a coordinated national response to racism, including stronger legal and institutional accountability, improved reporting systems, tighter regulation of online hate, recognition of racism as a key driver of poor outcomes, greater alignment with Indigenous rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and structural reforms to address inequality across justice, child protection and housing.
"The path forward is clear. The evidence is established. The frameworks exist. What remains is the resolve to act. Without that, this inquiry risks becoming part of the same pattern it seeks to address," he submitted.
"With it, there is a genuine opportunity to deliver structural change—change that is measurable, accountable, and enduring—and to build a system that reflects not only Australia's legal obligations, but its commitment to justice, dignity, and equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
