Senator Lidia Thorpe has urged the federal government to respond as decisively to the rising threats against First Peoples as it did to the antisemitic attack at Bondi.
The Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent senator has called for a full investigation of the attempted bombing at the Day of Mourning rally in Boorloo/Perth,
The Victorian senator said attack was a serious act of violence against First Peoples.
"What happened in Perth was not a minor incident. An explosive device was thrown into a crowd of First Peoples and supporters on our Day of Mourning. It was intended to detonate but thankfully failed," she said on Wednesday.
"This was a serious act of violence that could very easily have become a mass-casualty event, and it must be treated as such.
"When violence is linked to Muslims, the word 'terrorism' appears in headlines almost immediately. But when First Peoples are targeted by white supremacists, the response is silence, minimisation and delay."
'Violence against our people is treated as less serious'
Senator Thorpe the "double standard" is "glaring and deeply dangerous", and "reflects the entrenched racism embedded across so many of this country's institutions".
"This attempted bombing follows a clear pattern. The ideologically driven neo-Nazi attack on First Peoples at Camp Sovereignty last year was also downplayed, with authorities refusing to recognise it as a hate crime or an act of terror. Time and again, violence against our people is treated as less serious," she said.
"We need a comprehensive investigation - not only into the alleged perpetrator, but into the policing and intelligence failures that allowed First Peoples to be placed at risk of serious injury and death."
The independent senator said almost no information about the motivation or ideology behind the attack has been made public, and noted identity of the alleged perpetrator has been suppressed.
"Police must do better in how they communicate with our people. Transparency, accountability and clear communication are essential to community safety, particularly at a time when far-right extremism is an escalating threat," she said.
"On its face, this appears to be a targeted, racist terror attack against First Peoples on our Day of Mourning. That possibility must be taken extremely seriously, not avoided or downplayed."
Senator Thorpe stressed that "all forms of hate and political violence must be called out consistently".
"First Peoples should not be treated as expendable or lesser than, and violence against us must never be normalised or ignored," she said.
"The federal government must lead a comprehensive response. Their response following the horrific Bondi attack showed that strong leadership on violence and racism is possible when there is political will. We need the same seriousness and urgency applied to tackling the rising racism and violence against First Peoples across the continent."
Police investigating whether attack should be classified as an act of terror
A 31-year-old Warwick man appeared in court Tuesday facing one charge of 'Unlawful act or omission with intent to harm (endangering life, health or safety of any person)', and one charge of 'Making or possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances', and will appear in court again next month. He has been refused bail.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has said police are investigating whether the allegation should be classified as an act of terror.
Prime Minister Albanese told media the court system should "throw the book" at the alleged offender.
"This was an incident that is quite shocking and he's been charged with two serious offences and I look forward to him being prosecuted to the full force of the law," he said.
"As always, the Australian Federal Police remain available for supporting their state based colleagues. As the matter is now before the courts, I can't comment any further."
