The Mapping Government Anti-Racism Programs and Policies report, published in July 2024 by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), provides a comprehensive review of anti-racism initiatives across federal, state/territory, and local governments. Developed by PwC Indigenous Consulting and the Jumbunna Institute at UTS, the report supports the development of a National Anti-Racism Framework by identifying existing programs, assessing gaps, and recommending strategic improvements.
The report highlights that government efforts often avoid using the term “racism”, favouring broader concepts like “social cohesion” or “diversity and inclusion”. This tendency has diluted the effectiveness of anti-racism work. Many initiatives are internally focused, targeting workplace equity rather than addressing racism in the broader community. There is also a lack of consistent monitoring and evaluation, making it difficult to assess the impact of existing programs.
A key concern raised is the over-reliance on communities experiencing racism—particularly First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups—to lead solutions, while insufficient attention is given to addressing the behaviours and systems that perpetuate racism. The report also notes that anti-racism efforts are often fragmented, reactive, and siloed across different levels of government and sectors. Victoria is cited as a positive example of cross-sector collaboration.
Despite these challenges, the report identifies several good practice examples, such as the Online Safety Act 2021 and initiatives by Reconciliation Australia, All Together Now, and the Scanlon Institute. However, political inconsistency and lack of bipartisan support have hindered long-term progress, with recent conservative governments stepping back from anti-racism leadership.
To address these issues, the report recommends establishing a National Anti-Racism Council comprising First Nations and CALD leaders, developing a nationally recognised definition of racism, and implementing a whole-of-government strategy. It also calls for formal monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, targeted anti-racism education in schools, and the creation of a national clearinghouse for anti-racism policies, programs, and research.
