A survey reflecting the views of more than 2,500 people has found that while public sentiment largely backs a Voice to Parliament, Treaty and truth-telling, racism directed at First Nations people is on the rise.
The 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer, Reconciliation Australia's biennial national research study that measures the progress of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, found that 83% of the general population and 87% of First Nations people support the establishment of a national Indigenous representative body, with 79% of Australians believing such a body should be enshrined in the constitution.
More Australians than ever support a Treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, with 72% of non-Indigenous Australians in support of Treaty, a 19% increase since 2020.
The vast majority of Australia's population believe it is important to undertake formal truth-telling processes, with 83% of the general community and 87% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in favour of truth-telling in relation to Australia's shared history.
"This latest survey provides evidence that support for reconciliation and the Uluru Statement from the Heart remains strong," Reconciliation Australia Chief Executive Karen Mundine said.
However, racism endured by Indigenous peoples is on the rise, with 60% of First Nations peoples having experienced at least one form of racial prejudice in the past six months, an increase of 8% since 2020 and up 17% since 2018.
"57% of First Nations people believe that Australia remains a racist country, a view shared by 42% of non-Indigenous respondents," Ms Mundine said.
"As stories of racism in sport and workplaces and the death of a young Noongar man hit our front pages, and amid media reports on the appalling treatment of our children in detention centres, it is clear that as a nation, Australia can do better.
Both 63% of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people surveyed said they trusted non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples that they had not interacted with, with trust levels held by Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples rising to 79% and 86% respectively when considering interactions with familiar people.
Ms Mundine said the steep rise in trust levels held by both Indigenous and non-indigenous groups surveyed reinforced a long-standing strong catalyst for change.
"These rising levels of trust augur well for change, as we head towards the national referendum on The Voice to Parliament," she said.
"This Barometer continues a long-standing trend of overwhelming support for a national representative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander body and the comprehensive telling (and teaching) of Australia's true colonial history.
"The 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer provides clear evidence that Australians are eager for change, and want a more united and cohesive nation."
The survey also found that 70% of the general community support the establishment of a national day of significance that celebrates First Nations histories and cultures, and 80% in favour of ANZAC Day ceremonies that honour both First Nations and non-Indigenous soldiers.
