Racism Against Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian Communities in Australia Escalates

Sydney - The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released a landmark report detailing a significant escalation in racism and social fragmentation within Australia following the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

The report, titled "The struggle to be seen, the power in being heard", represents the culmination of the "Seen & Heard" project.

Funded by the Australian federal government, the study involved extensive consultations with hundreds of members from Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, Arab, and Israeli communities in the country between February and August 2025.

"The increased fear, anguish and anger that people in these affected communities have been experiencing in the last 3 years has very clearly had an enormous impact on their wellbeing, their personal and professional relationships and his sense of safety and belonging," said Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman.

The findings paint a clear picture of the domestic fallout from Middle Eastern hostilities.

Beyond general sentiment, the report chronicles specific, harrowing accounts of bigotry.

These include reports of a Jewish student finding desks rearranged into a swastika, a dead kangaroo being left at a mosque, and a Palestinian woman being publicly harassed and labeled a sympathiser of extremist groups.

"The people we’ve spoken to, the stories we’ve heard and the experiences and perspectives we’ve chronicled as part of this report paint a sombre, painful and frustrating picture of the impact here in Australia of the 7 October attack and the war in Gaza," Sivaraman said.

A recurring theme throughout the testimony was the dehumanisation of individuals.

The Commissioner noted that while each community’s experience is unique, they are united by a common feeling of being silenced or homogenised by the broader public discourse.

"Failing to recognise suffering, wherever it occurs, strips people of their humanity and that dehumanisation is felt deeply by communities here," Sivaraman added.

The report also serves as a critique of the current policy landscape.

Commissioner Sivaraman pointed out that although the Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework was delivered 18 months ago, the Australian Government has yet to commit to any of its 63 recommendations.

He warned that without structural intervention, rising regional hostilities, including tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, risk further unleashing racist behaviour on Australian soil.

"These personal accounts are compelling because they’re a collective appeal for urgent action to address racism in this country," the Commissioner said.

The Commission noted that the report does not include data following the December 2025 antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, as the consultation period had already concluded.

The AHRC however urged the government to view the published accounts as a catalyst for immediate legislative and social reform to ensure a "better future for everyone."