What you Say Matters

The What you Say Matters project aims to increase understanding of racism among young people (14-17 years) and help them to respond safely to racism through youth-targeted resources.

The resources include a video clip for the song, ‘What You Say Matters’, performed by Indigenous hip-hop artist Brothablack and a series of downloadable fact sheets. The fact sheets address topics such as what racism is; why people are racist; who experiences racism; where it happens; why it’s a problem; what we can do about it and the laws that address it.

The Moveable Feast – Australia and race hate as experienced in the lifetime as an observer

Tuesday 19 May, 2020

Speech given by Thomas Keneally AO at the 5th Annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture

19 October 2019

Introductory remarks at the 5th Annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture

Tuesday 19 May, 2020

Speech given at the 5th Annual Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture

Where’s all the data on COVID-19 racism?

The absence of data illustrating the increase in racial abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic shows Australia needs to do better at recording and monitoring racism.

Sharing the stories of Australian Muslims: Interim findings

Advancing Community Cohesion Conference

I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Dharawal people. I would like to recognise Dharawal elders – past, present and future – and to express my on-going commitment to the protection and promotion of their culture, language and lore. Dharawal people cared for and inhabited land from Botany Bay to the Shoalhaven River and Nowra and inland to Camden and I am privileged to be here on their land and near their waters.

Melbourne youth lead anti-racism campaign

Majak Daw and Jamie Macmillan from the North Melbourne Football Club have helped launch Be Brave, Speak Up, a youth-led campaign to encourage young people to take a stand against racism.

A small group of young people from the not-for-profit youth group, The Huddle, took the opportunity to create a campaign they felt strongly about. Racism was the subject they wanted to discuss.

Canberra forum tackles institutional racism

Leaders from Commonwealth, State and Territory government departments and agencies met in Canberra on 14 June to discuss institutional racism.

The Australian Human Rights Commission hosted the event as part of its National Anti-Racism Strategy, in partnership with the University of Sydney’s National Centre for Cultural Competence (NCCC).

Prof. Marcia Langton delivers Kep Enderby lecture

Leading public intellectual Professor Marcia Langton AM delivered the 4th Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture to a full house at the State Library of NSW on 12 June, saying the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA) has worked well since it became law and should not be amended or repealed.

The Australian Human Rights Commission hosts the annual lecture in honour of Kep Enderby QC, who was Federal Attorney-General when the RDA became law in 1975.

Stopping racism is everyone's responsibility

Racism can get ugly. Think of the incidents of racist abuse on public transport that frequently attract media coverage.

It's an unpleasant experience to witness racist vitriol or confrontation. It's even worse when you're on the receiving end of it. Those who have copped a racist spray or attack often say it makes them feel like a lesser being.

Not all racism takes such dramatic form. Sometimes it can be silent or subtle. But even relatively mundane acts of racism have an impact on those who experience them.

Maribyrnong College Address

Speech given at Maribyrnong College Assembly

Good morning.

To Principal Scott, staff, your new school captains, your Year 11 leaders: congratulations on your appointments, I hope this year is a very fulfilling one for you. You certainly have a big responsibility in leading this school. Looking out today at your leaders and looking at you, I can see that Maribyrnong College is an embodiment of modern Australia.