The rise of One Nation is fuelling racism, a federal parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at First Nations people has been told, with high‑profile Indigenous journalists warning the inquiry that 1970s‑style racism “is back”.
The inquiry is holding public hearings in Melbourne this week, hearing evidence from prominent personalities and sporting groups about their experiences of racism, discrimination, violence and harm across Australia.
Independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe asked Tanya Hosch, former inclusion and social policy manager at the AFL and senior consultation with Kind Enterprises, if Hanson’s “rise was increasing racism”, referring to the One Nation leader as the “orange elephant in the room”.
Hosch told the committee that while she had not personally met the politician, she believed the rise of One Nation and the controversial senator “expressed racism” through her public speech and rhetoric.
“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 behaviour and words and actions and I think that is pretty well documented.”
National Indigenous Television’s national Indigenous editor and host of current affairs program The Point, John-Paul Janke, told the inquiry that racism, online hate and discrimination had flourished after the failed voice to parliament referendum in 2023.
Janke said that while he had seen improvements over his nearly 40-year professional career, he had also noticed a steep escalation in online abuse and violence targeting Indigenous peoples.
“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 Wuthathi and Meriam man from the Torres Strait Islands, said in his work speaking with Indigenous people from remote, regional and metropolitan areas – all had witnessed a rise in racism and hate.
“Online racism is now becoming in-person violence. They are worried that it is escalating. Janke 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 in far-north Queensland, sadly, [are] being used against my children today. When will it stop?”
after newsletter promotion
Janke, along with Channel 10 journalist and presenter Narelda Jacobs and former Channel 9 morning presenter Brooke Boney, also gave detailed evidence to the inquiry.
They spoke about the increasingly virulent rise of racism, online hatred and the challenges of reporting on First Nations issues in the Australian mainstream media landscape, including recommending cultural awareness training in newsrooms and ensuring and advocating for respectful coverage.
Jacobs, a Noongar woman from Western Australia said that conservative media can also fuel negative perceptions of First Nations people with very little regulation within the sector to address concerns.
“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,” Jacobs told the inquiry.
“It’s seen by those media organisations as engagement that fuels their purpose; they continue publishing articles or opinion pieces, because it sells.”
