Victoria’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2024-2029): A Welcome Line-in-the-Sand
David Reid
Senior Consultant Associate
Karabena Group commends the Victorian Government on the recent release of its Anti-Racism Strategy (2024-2029). Racism has no place in Victoria, and the launch of the Strategy marks a decisive step in securing a more inclusive society for all. It is a bold, but much needed, line-in-the-sand against the swelling tide of far-right, populist figures and viewpoints that are infecting our daily lives with noxious rhetoric and abhorrent behaviour. Equally, it targets the more insidious elements of racism and discrimination that wade in the undercurrents of our institutions and community.
At the time of writing, Peter Dutton has announced he will not stand in front of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags during formal engagements if elected Prime Minister, clearly riding on the curtails of his divisive and disingenuous ‘No’ Campaign and his long history of racist stances. Of course, this can easily be dismissed as a cheap dog-whistle to rile his supporter base (the timing, Human Rights Day, is no accident). However, that it is even considered an effective political maneuver to garner more votes in our modern society points to a present problem. At Karabena, we are grateful to live in a state that is choosing to prioritise good values and human decency over political point-scoring, and sits at the forefront of improving race relations, evident in its Anti-Racism stance, and Treaty and Truth-Telling processes.
As the first of its kind in Australia, the Strategy sends a clear message that racism in any form (i.e. interpersonal, interethnic, intercultural, institutional, structural, internalised), and on any platform (i.e. in the community, in the media, online, in government and community services, and in institutions) is not tolerated, and rightly calls out this behaviour as antithetical to who we are as Victorians. Most importantly, though, it signals to the vibrant Victorian multicultural community that we value cohesion over division, and equal opportunity for all. Through this opportunity we can rise above the tide of division and exclusion that threatens our social fabric.
The Strategy’s vision - A Victoria free from racism and discrimination, where all Victorians enjoy equal rights, freedoms and protections, and thrive in safe, healthy and supportive communities - is especially welcome. It is pleasing to see the State’s multidimensional approach, achieved through priority goals, actions, and principles, that not only directly address incidents of racism through tangible actions (e.g. the Nazi salute ban) and the associated barriers to equity across life domains (e.g. health, justice, employment, education), but also promotes the aspirations of all Victorians.
By striving for a Victoria where everyone can live a full and equal life and has equal opportunities to thrive, the Strategy moves beyond simply tut-tutting poor behaviour. Instead, it is an aspirant document - one that positions the opportunity for, and responsibility of, all Victorians at its core. This, to us, is its strength - in a social and structural environment free from racism, everyone benefits. And, as the Strategy highlights, anti-racism is an investment in our future.
In this way, the Strategy is more than an academic or theoretical exercise. It celebrates our diversity. It connects Victoria’s rich past of over 250 Aboriginal ancestry groups with its vibrant present made up of over 300 multicultural ancestries. Further, its vision sets a clear pathway toward creating a safer and more inclusive society for everyone where anti-racism is a continuous practice and everyone’s responsibility.
This is a timely initiative - especially in relation to the experiences and opportunities of;. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria. Outcomes from the 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer survey, referenced in the Strategy, indicate that 60% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experienced racial prejudice in the previous 6 months. The Australian Human Rights Commission paints an even starker picture, finding that 97% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians surveyed had experienced an incidence of racism in the past year, while 66% experienced eight or more incidences. While there has been progress in Victoria, these alarming statistics, alongside Dutton’s dirty politicking, show there is still a long way to go to overcome structural and cultural racism.
This is central to our focus at Karabena. Through our work we consistently aim to enhance cultural safety and accessibility, and drive systemic progress to ensure inclusion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For instance, we have undertaken cultural safety audits with multiple organisations to help identify and dismantle practices that perpetuate systemic inequities; we have led research in emerging fields, identifying accessibility barriers in areas such as road safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and we have helped improve systems and processes in healthcare so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients feel seen, heard, and respected. We are encouraged, therefore, that the State’s action brings wholescale alignment to this work. We are also uplifted by the direct inclusion of voices from a diverse range of multicultural and multifaith peoples within the document - a feature central to our methodology.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria, in particular, we applaud the State’s commitment to:
Developing local solutions guided by lived experiences, and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure their voices inform the design and delivery of policies and services that affect them,
Supporting Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to design and provide services that respond to community needs and goals,
Creating a more inclusive education system,
Reducing systemic bias and racism in policing,
Improving the capacity of workplaces to apply anti-racist best practices, and therefore improve recruitment, retention, progression, and workplace health and safety,
Providing access to appropriate support services for those who experience racism and discrimination.
While this Strategy sets a clear vision and roadmap, its success will rely on effective implementation. This requires sustained funding and resourcing, effective accountability measures, and genuine co-design with communities and organisations. We note that a detailed monitoring and evaluation framework is planned to be developed in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, multicultural, and multifaith communities and organisations. We view this as an opportunity to further strengthen advocacy and partnerships, build mutual respect and trust, and subsequently advance systemic change.
Victoria’s Anti-Racism Strategy is an important step toward creating and safeguarding an inclusive and prosperous State for every Victorian citizen and visitor. Karabena firmly believes that common decency and respect, which underpins the document, will prevail over the pernicious alternative. After all, it is in the best interest of all Victorians.
You can read more about Victoria’s Anti-Racism Strategy here.
References
Polity Research and Consulting, 2022, Australian Reconciliation Barometer, Reconciliation Australia, accessed 9 December at: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/publication/2022-australian-reconciliation-barometer/
Australian Human Rights Commission n.d, Who experiences racism?, accessed 9 December 2024 at: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/who-experiences-racism#:~:text=A%20survey%20of%20Aboriginal%20and,or%20more%20incidences%20a%20year.