Australian Parliamentary Inquiry to Investigate Systemic Racism Against Indigenous People
The Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has opened a major inquiry into racism and violence. Chaired by Senator Jana Stewart, the inquiry will examine systemic racism, the impact of online hate, and the threats posed by ideologically motivated extremism. The committee is seeking public submissions until May 2026 to inform a national strategy for community safety and harm reduction for First Nations people.
Harry Taruva 
Canberra - The Australian Parliament has launched a formal inquiry into the prevalence of racism, hate, and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a specific mandate to examine the role of online platforms and ideologically motivated extremism.
The Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs commenced the proceedings following a referral from the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy.
The investigation aims to identify systemic failures and recommend practical actions to reduce both individual and collective harm within First Nations communities.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people deserve to live free from racism, hate and violence," Committee Chair Senator Jana Stewart said.
In an expansion of typical social policy oversight, the committee will evaluate the threat posed by ideologically motivated extremism.
This includes assessing the effectiveness of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in protecting Indigenous communities from targeted violence.
The inquiry is also set to scrutinize the digital landscape, investigating how online platforms facilitate the spread of hate speech and racial vitriol.
"If we are serious about community safety, we must confront the environment in which hatred grows," Stewart said.
Senator Stewart, a Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman, emphasized that the inquiry represents a critical opportunity to understand the lived impact of racism.
The committee has invited submissions from a broad spectrum of the public, including community organizations and individuals, with an emphasis on creating safer, more respectful environments.
In an effort to ensure accessibility, the committee is accepting submissions in diverse formats, including written statements, video, photography, and artwork.
"This inquiry is an important opportunity to understand the nature, prevalence and impact of racism in our communities and to identify practical actions for combatting racism and reducing individual and collective harm," Stewart also said.
The committee has set a deadline of May 1, 2026, for all submissions.
While the inquiry focuses on policy and legislative recommendations, officials noted that the secretariat is not a counseling body and urged those affected by the subject matter to utilize dedicated First Nations support services such as 13YARN and Brother to Brother.
The launch of the inquiry follows long-standing calls from human rights advocates for a coordinated national strategy to dismantle systemic barriers and address the rise of extremist rhetoric in the public sphere.
