In the aftermath of an alleged terror attack at the Invasion Day rally in Perth, the Indigenous community's experience of being ignored and dismissed by authorities has come to light. This incident, involving a suspected homemade bomb, has sparked a federal inquiry into racism and hate directed at First Nations people, shedding light on a troubling pattern of neglect.
One witness, Renae Isaacs-Guthridge, a Curtin University academic, shared her harrowing experience of seeing the device land right in front of her. She expressed the belief that the community's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity contributed to the lack of urgency and understanding in the response.
The contrast with the Bondi massacre, where 15 people died and 40 were injured, is stark. Isaacs-Guthridge noted the absence of consistent treatment and the lack of condemnation from politicians and non-Indigenous leaders. This silence, she believes, is indicative of an underlying hate and a failure to take the community's concerns seriously.
The rally organizer, Fabian Yarran, revealed that they had received warnings about far-right individuals planning to target the event. Despite informing the police and state MPs, no preventive measures were taken, and the police's lack of communication during the evacuation added to the community's trauma.
Former Indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt also testified, linking the defeat of the 2023 referendum on a constitutional voice to parliament to the normalization of racism and online hate. He observed a disturbing trend where some councils are no longer conducting Welcome to Country ceremonies or flying the Aboriginal flag, emboldened by the referendum's outcome.
This inquiry highlights the urgent need for action and funding to address the deep-rooted issues of racism and hate directed at Indigenous communities. As Wyatt stated, the inquiry's recommendations should be matched with adequate resources to ensure a comprehensive and effective response, akin to the support expected for the royal commission into antisemitism.
