A federal parliamentary inquiry in Australia has heard that the rise of the One Nation party is fuelling racism. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
The inquiry is examining racism, hate and violence directed at First Nations people. At hearings in Melbourne, prominent figures and sporting groups shared their experiences.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe asked former AFL employee Tanya Hosch whether the 'rise' of One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was increasing racism. Thorpe referred to Hanson as the 'orange elephant in the room'.
Hosch told the committee she had not personally met the politician but believed her words and rhetoric expressed racism: "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 editor John-Paul Janke said racism and online hate had flourished after the failed Voice referendum in 2023. He noted a steep escalation in online abuse: "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 all Indigenous people he spoke with had witnessed a rise in racism: "Online racism is now becoming in-person violence. They are worried that it is escalating. 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, is being used against my children today. When will it stop?"
Janke, along with Channel 10 journalist Narelda Jacobs and former Channel 9 presenter Brooke Boney, gave detailed evidence. They spoke about the rise of racism, online hatred, and challenges of reporting on First Nations issues in Australian media, recommending cultural awareness training in newsrooms and advocating for respectful coverage.
Jacobs, a Noongar woman from Western Australia, said conservative media can fuel negative perceptions of First Nations people with little regulation: "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."
"It's seen by those media organisations as engagement that fuels their purpose, they continue publishing articles or opinion pieces, because it sells."