The federal government must implement the recommendations of the National Anti-Racism Framework and expand the Bondi Royal Commission to examine all forms of racism and hate, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe says, following the attempted bombing at a January 26 rally in Boorloo/Perth.
Senator Thorpe's comments come as the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, criticised the federal opposition's response to the incident, which is now being investigated as a potential terrorist act.
A 31-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in police custody after allegedly throwing an explosive device containing nails and ball bearings into a crowd of about 2,500 people during the Invasion Day rally on Monday before attempting to flee. The device did not detonate.
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In a statement on Friday, Senator Thorpe said the attack could have resulted in mass casualties, stating, "Our people are rightly asking why this attack has not been met with the same urgency and leadership we see in other cases of violence and terrorism."
"First Peoples need to know that the government is taking this seriously and that real action will be taken to prevent it happening again," she said.
The Victorian Senator called on the government to immediately implement the National Anti-Racism Framework, delivered by the Australian Human Rights Commission in November 2024.
"The government has still failed to formally respond, let alone begin implementing its recommendations," Senator Thorpe said. "At a time of escalating racial hatred and violence, that inaction is indefensible."
Among the framework's 63 recommendations are calls to incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into domestic law, adopt a nationally recognised definition of First Nations cultural safety, and develop strategies to address racism experienced by First Nations people in workplaces.
At the time of its release, the Human Rights Commission said: "First Nations peoples and non-Indigenous people have consistently told the Commission that the experiences of First Nations peoples must be central to all anti-racism action and inform all strategies across national outcome areas."
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Senator Thorpe said she would move a motion when parliament reconvenes next week to condemn the attack and "commit to real action to address racism and hate against First Peoples". She argued there had been no "substantial response" from the federal government.
"When attacks have occurred against other communities, the government has spoken out strongly and acted quickly," she said. "We saw this after the horrific Bondi attack. First Peoples are asking why this attack against us is being treated so differently."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident on Tuesday, saying authorities should "throw the book" at the accused. Senator McCarthy has also described the attempted bombing as horrific and confirmed she has spoken with families who attended the rally.
Speaking on Noongar Radio on Thursday, the Minister said she was using careful language given the ongoing legal process, but described it as "completely outrageous to even contemplate that a peaceful rally could be so seriously disrupted in such a way".
Responding to Senator Thorpe's comments, Senator McCarthy said, "I certainly appreciate the passion of fellow senators like Senator Thorpe. This incident that has occurred and is being investigated is incredibly serious.
"I'm certainly going to be working with my colleagues in the Parliament when we return on Monday... This is something we are taking seriously."
After police charged the man with one count of "Unlawful act or omission with intent to harm (endangering life, health or safety of any person)" and one count of "Making or possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances," WA Police, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) issued a statement on Wednesday evening confirming the attack is being investigated as a potential terrorist act.
Both Senators highlighted the limited response from the opposition. While Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Senator Kerrynne Liddle this week told National Indigenous Times the alleged attack was "completely unacceptable" and should be "condemned unequivocally", other Coalition figures have not commented publicly.
"It's really telling, isn't it," Senator McCarthy said, "that we certainly don't even hear from people like the potential aspirant for leadership in Andrew Hastie — someone who speaks, supposedly, about wanting to see a safe Australia — make no comment..."
Senator Thorpe agreed, saying, "We have also heard nothing from the Coalition and others who were front and centre after Bondi. Their silence in the face of this attack speaks to the emptiness of their words."
She called on the government to expand the Bondi Royal Commission to cover all forms of racism and hate, arguing that whilst it is "essential to confront antisemitism," it is also just as vital to "confront the rising racism faced by First Peoples and other communities".
"The attempted bombing of First Peoples on Invasion Day shows how urgent this is. No one is safe until we are all safe from racial hatred," she said.
