Australia's federal parliamentary inquiry is examining racism, hate, and violence against First Nations people. During hearings, high-profile journalists warned that 1970s-style racism has returned, as reported by infohub.kz.
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe asked Tanya Hosch, former AFL inclusion manager, whether One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's rise was increasing racism, calling her the "orange elephant in the room." Hosch said she had not met Hanson personally but believed her rhetoric expressed racism. "I believe many of the things that she says have racist intent and express racism. I do believe that it does encourage people to use similar behavior, and I think that is pretty well-documented," she said.
John-Paul Janke, editor at National Indigenous Television, told the inquiry that online racism and violence had surged after the failed 2023 Voice referendum. He noted improvements over his 40-year career but said, "I have witnessed an alarming escalation of online racial slurs, of delegitimising First Nations history and expertise, coordinated online pile ons, and sustained abuse aimed at First Nations voices."
Janke, a Torres Strait Islander, said Indigenous people in remote, regional, and urban areas all reported increased racism. "Online racism is now becoming in-person violence. They are worried that it is escalating," he said. "I am a father of four boys, and the racism that I grew up with in the 1970s is back. The names that I was called in the 1970s are being used against my children today. When will it stop?"
Journalists Narelda Jacobs and Brooke Boney also testified, highlighting challenges in reporting on Indigenous issues and recommending cultural awareness training in newsrooms. Jacobs said conservative media can fuel negative perceptions with little accountability. "There is very little accountability when it comes to media outlets sprouting hate and racism, there are no consequences if you do lodge a complaint," she said. "It's seen by those media organisations as engagement that fuels their purpose, they continue publishing articles or opinion pieces, because it sells."