Politics Now Tackling racism 'not a priority' for Govt, says Race Discrimination Commissioner
Dec 5, 2025
Kiri Siviraman, Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, is at the forefront of anti-racism efforts, having developed the National Anti-Racism Framework. She discusses the alarming rise in racism, highlighting neo-Nazi activities and the systemic failures that fuel such movements. Kiri reviews how targets of racism have shifted over time and expresses frustration with the government's minimal response to her framework. She advocates for a positive duty in workplaces and calls for informed discussions on immigration to prevent scapegoating migrants for broader societal issues.
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Mainstreaming Of Bold Racism
- Racism has become bolder and more mainstream in Australia, exemplified by attempts to register the White Australia Party.
- Kiri Siviraman warns this visibility shows systemic shifts rather than isolated acts.
Targets Change, Problem Persists
- Racist targets shift over time, from Asian communities during COVID to First Peoples and more recently to Jewish, Muslim and Indian communities.
- The changing target masks a persistent systemic problem that requires systemic solutions, Kiri says.
Treat Racism As A Systemic Issue
- Tackle racism as systemic, not just interpersonal, by reforming institutions across employment, health, education and media.
- Kiri recommends a whole-of-government, whole-of-society roadmap with a taskforce to prioritise actions.