Description

In March 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission released a proposal for a national antiracism framework. This was in response to community calls for national action after heightened
experiences of racism and racial inequality in recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal contained guiding principles, outcomes, and strategies to begin a national conversation about how to tackle racism.
From March 2021 to April 2022, the Commission consulted with the public, peak and community organisations, experts, service providers, human rights agencies, and government at all levels on
the scope and vision for a framework. In total, more than 100 consultations were undertaken with over 300 organisations. Submissions from individuals made up more than a third of the 164 total public submissions received.

The leading piece of feedback that the Commission received from participants, including First Nations and non-Indigenous organisations and individuals, was that the experiences of First Nations peoples must be central to the Framework and inform all strategies across national outcome areas. Many shared their strong view that a Framework must acknowledge the experience of colonisation and its ongoing impacts on First Nations peoples.

This report outlines the key findings and next steps to facilitate further development of a framework drawing on the groundwork provided by these findings, with the aim of securing formal commitment from governments to implementing a national anti-racism framework.