‘Give a damn’: Albanese government lashed as anti-racism framework languishes
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi criticized the Albanian government for its failure to fund the implementation of the anti-racism framework, claiming the government “doesn’t care what people of color are facing”.
The Australian Human Rights Commission launched its National Anti-Racism Framework in November 2024, which includes 63 recommendations to combat racism in the legal, education, health and media sectors in Australia.
However, more than 19 months later, the government still has not provided funds for the implementation of the framework in the 2026-27 budget, Senator Faruqi told the Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
In a heated exchange, Senator Green told Labor Senator Nita Green, “It seems to me, Minister, that the government really doesn’t care about what people of color face in society every day.”
“The Racial Discrimination Commissioner has written to the Attorney-General on numerous occasions imploring action on the National Anti-Racism Framework, yet the only response even the Racial Discrimination Commissioner has received is that it is being considered carefully,” he said.
“But as you think carefully, people are being harmed every day in this country.”
Senator Green said he rejected the “allegation” and said the government was taking a “holistic” approach.
Previously, Senator Green said the government had provided funding to the AHRC to develop the framework and the recommendations were now being “carefully considered”.
“It is not a requirement for the government to respond in the way other reports require a response,” he said.
“But we are considering these recommendations and beyond that, we are absolutely committed to a holistic response to racism.”
Senator Green noted funding for a range of anti-racism programmes, including the AHRC’s Seen and Heard project, as well as recent hate speech reforms.
But Senator Faruqi questioned “how much consideration you should give” to the framework’s recommendations, and officials noted that the recommendations are aimed at federal and state governments as well as the private sector.
“It is therefore not solely for the Commonwealth to implement or take into account the recommendations,” they said.
“In addition to the evaluation of the reports of the Special Representatives on Antisemitism and Islamophobia, studies are continuing.
“So there’s a wide range of connectivity issues that are being considered across government.”
