First Nations children are paying the price for online racism in "increasingly organised, coordinated and deliberate attacks", the peak body for Indigenous children and families says.
As the Senate inquiry into hate directed at First Peoples continues to hear first-hand and expert accounts of racism, trauma, violence and hate, data shows almost a third of reported incidents of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people occur online or through other media.
In its submission to the inquiry, SNAICC - National Voice for our Children said what First Nations children are experiencing "goes beyond random trolling". Instead, chief executive Catherine Liddle argued it is "increasingly organised, coordinated and deliberate".
"What we are seeing more and more, particularly with state and federal election cycles is our politicians using issues about our children as political fodder, that rhetoric is setting headlines and those headlines are setting off the trolls," Ms Liddle said.
"Those trolls follow our children into their home, into their feeds and into their schoolyards and that's having a huge impact."
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Her comments echo submissions from children's commissioners across the country, who argue racism should be recognised as both a child rights issue and a public health concern, citing evidence from consultations with First Nations children and national reporting.
National Indigenous Times reported last month that submissions from multiple commissioners to the inquiry found racism continued to contribute to disproportionately poor outcomes for Aboriginal children.
"Children and young people consistently described racism as causing sadness, anger, shame, fear, exclusion and disengagement," the now former Northern Territory Child Commissioner Shahleena Musk said. "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in particular described racism as damaging their sense of belonging, identity and future aspirations."
According to the latest Call It Out Annual Report, more than a quarter of reported incidents of racism targeting Indigenous Australians involved children and young people.
Reported experiences included racist and derogatory language, neglectful or dismissive treatment by public services, and incidents of physical assault.
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In his submission before he appeared at the inquiry in Perth, former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt said racism had become increasingly visible since the 2023 Voice referendum, noting Aboriginal people had experienced increased abuse, misinformation and harassment, particularly online.
SNAICC submitted that "coordinated groups" have been using "coded language to evade moderation and intensifying activity around election periods," with Ms Liddle arguing the "damage has lifelong consequences".
"Our children deserve to grow up safe, strong and proud of who they are, not to have their safety and identity debated," Ms Liddle said.
"Governments need to name racism for what it is, and act. Before it's too late. Because closing the gap starts with our children."
Last week, the inquiry in Alice Springs heard social media comments read aloud by Barb Shaw from the Central Land Council, including posts urging authorities to "bring back public flogging," whilst Graeme Smith from Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation said people "follow us around at two or three in the morning with their phones just waiting for an incident to capture us and put it up live".
The Northern Land Council urged governments to criminalise racial vilification against Aboriginal people and recognise racial hatred as an aggravating factor in all relevant offences.
Multiple organisations have told of being forced to close the comment sections on their social media pages due to racist abuse.
Research shows 68 per cent of First Nations children have experienced hurtful or nasty treatment online, compared with a national average of 45 per cent.
First Nations children are also almost three times more likely to experience online hate speech, while around three in 10 have received offensive comments because of their personal characteristics, compared with one in 10 children overall.
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