RACISM is a fire. Once lit, it spreads, igniting more hate in its path.
Two weeks have passed since anti-migration rallies were held across the country.
In that time, the long-burning flame of racism in Australia has flared into something more dangerous. And more rallies are coming, including in Melbourne this weekend.
When times are tough, it is not uncommon to look for someone or something to blame. Take housing. Some people are deliberately manipulating this complex issue to attack certain - aka, non-European migrants, for reasons that have nothing to do with improving housing affordability.
Many of us face disadvantage, but it is important to understand the unique burdens faced by different communities.
Being a migrant in Australia is often a precarious position to be in.
Just this week, the federal government stripped non-citizens of basic rights to procedural fairness.
To say migrants are the problem is a calculated and callous misdirect.
This misdirect was fuel to the racist fire fed by some news outlets and politicians, which spread to our streets, social media, and the halls of power.
This fire emboldened white supremacists and neo-Nazis - dozens of whom, in Melbourne, violently stormed and desecrated Camp Sovereignty - a sacred place of culture, protest, memory and resistance for First Peoples in Victoria.
In the last week, we have seen politicians across all major parties condemn senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who has since been removed from the Liberal frontbench, over her inappropriate comments about Australia's Indian communities.
The values my Indian mother instilled in me remain strong in the diaspora - the values of hard work, a commitment to learning, and helping others. Knowing that my community has made these shores more vibrant for 200 years, I'm deeply concerned and unsettled by these attacks.
In the last month, my team and I have been inundated with messages of concern from migrant communities.
There have been disturbing reports of racist abuse of people colour - in schools, in hospitals. Communities feel targeted, hurt, unsafe, unseen.
Chants on the street and on social platforms like X, used language about "taking back" this country.
And there lies the glaring truth. White supremacists want Australia's systems and institutions to reflect colonial foundations, not the diverse, modern nation we are today. They seek to preserve a status quo built on exclusion, inequality and division. A status quo that only benefits them.
It's a status quo built on a lie - the lie that no one was here before. Yet, we know First Peoples have been on this continent 80,000 years, and migrants of colour also helped build Australia, contributing labour since colonisation.
Now more than ever we must confront this lie and face some uncomfortable truths.
Truth-telling is not just about history, it's about healing and justice. The Yoorrook Justice Commission's report reminds us of the strength and beauty of Aboriginal resistance. When we honour that truth, we create space for all communities to feel seen and valued.
The truth strengthens us. It builds a society where everyone, regardless of background, is safe, respected, and free to thrive.
This is the foundation of the National Anti-Racism Framework, a roadmap for a fairer Australia. A key recommendation is for the government to establish a National Anti-Racism Taskforce with senior government, the Australian Human Rights Commission and - crucially - community members.
The taskforce would advise government on swift responses to racist incidents, while also developing longer-term solutions to emerging threats.
It would engage governments, media and the community to ensure people are informed - challenging the mis- and disinformation that underpins much racist rhetoric in society.
It's been one year since we delivered the framework to Parliament. It is crucial governments finally endorse it and act.
By listening to the stories of the violent erasure of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, culture and custom, we learn about what was here before.
Acknowledging the truths of our past and present is the most powerful force we have to build unity. Look at Victoria, where this week landmark treaty laws - the first ever were introduced to parliament, likely passed by month's end.
At a time of great tension and hurt, Victoria's Treaty process shows us what is possible when we hear the truth and work to extinguish racism together.
Shared progress, built on truth, accountability and respect.
Now, we must take the next step - by endorsing the National Anti-Racism Framework and building an honest future where all Australians are safe, equal and seen.
"The long-burning flame of racism in Australia has flared into something more dangerous"
■ This piece was originally published in the Canberra Times.
