Senator calls for action on ‘hateful’ white supremacy
Decisive action is needed to tackle growing racist hatred towards Indigenous Australians, a senator has said after an attempted bombing at an Invasion Day rally was declared an act of terrorism.
On January 26, thousands of people were evacuated from Forrest Place in Perth city center after a 31-year-old man allegedly threw explosives into a crowd of Indigenous people, families and supporters.
This has plunged First Nations Australians into fear and anger as they face a targeted attack allegedly planned to cause mass casualties.
On Thursday, authorities confirmed that the incident was an act of terrorism motivated by racist, pro-white nationalist ideology and that the defendant faces life behind bars if convicted.
Independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s response in federal parliament after the declaration was made.
“His assertion that these racist or white supremacist views live only in corners of the internet belittles reality,” he said.
“First Peoples encounter these hateful views every day… It’s everywhere and growing.”
The charges against the detained suspect were upgraded to the charge of committing a terrorist act.
Police will allege the incident was a nationalist and racially motivated attack targeting First Nations people who attended the protest.
Authorities were criticized after the alleged attack for not immediately declaring it an act of terrorism and not taking it seriously amid cries of double standards and racism.
Police defended their actions, saying a thorough investigation was necessary to gather the facts.
Home Secretary Tony Burke said on Thursday that a joint counter-terrorism team was activated within 40 minutes of the incident.
Senator Thorpe also called on the prime minister to speak frankly about the prevalence of white supremacist ideology in Australia.
“White supremacy is a growing threat to First Peoples and black and brown communities in this country,” he said.
“The Albanian government must now begin serious work to address systemic racism, dismantle white supremacy, and protect our communities.”
This should start by implementing the following: National Anti-Racism FrameworkThe senator said it was handed down by the Australian Human Rights Commission more than a year ago.
The plan proposes reforms in law, justice, health, education, workplaces, media, arts and data collection to combat all forms of racism, including antisemitism.
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