Full Story The Race Discrimination Commissioner on the rise of the far right
Sep 24, 2025
Giridharan Sivaraman, Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner and former chair of Multicultural Australia, dives into the troubling rise of far-right movements and racism in Australia. He discusses the brazen escalation of anti-immigration rallies and the challenge of calling out racism at a personal cost. Sivaraman critiques euphemistic language used by politicians while stressing the importance of systemic change and acknowledging white privilege. He reflects on Australia’s unique position regarding anti-racism and shares a cautious optimism for the future despite the current climate.
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Coordinated Rallies Caused Widespread Fear
- Large coordinated marches by white supremacists caused widespread fear among people of colour and migrants.
- Giridharan Sivaraman says these events made many Australians feel unsafe and excluded in public spaces.
Far-Right Groups Acting With New Impunity
- Far-right groups are now acting openly and without masks, signalling escalation and perceived impunity.
- Sivaraman links public violence against First Peoples to a belief these actors face no repercussions.
Euphemisms Prevent Confronting Racism
- Governments and media shape public discourse but often avoid naming racism, using euphemisms like 'social cohesion'.
- Sivaraman argues that not naming racism prevents tackling it at the source and hinders long-term change.