Half of Indigenous Aussies report racism

Almost half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have described experiencing racism in a report released on Thursday.

Indigenous dancers during Australia Day celebrations in Sydney

Almost half of indigenous Australians from a survey have reported recently experiencing racism. (AAP)

Almost half of Indigenous Australians have reported recently experiencing racism - a figure two and a half times greater than the general population.

A survey of 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders conducted late last year found 46 per cent of respondents had experienced racism in the past six months - up from 39 per cent in 2014.

Only 18 per cent of about 2300 people surveyed from the general population for the Australian Reconciliation Barometer described experiencing racism over the same period.

The results proved Australia was not moving fast enough to curb racism, said Reconciliation Australia chief executive Justin Mohamed.

Attempts were afoot to weaken race-hate speech laws, the constitution still allowed for racial discrimination, and Australia was yet to implement its obligations under the UN declaration of rights of indigenous people.

"The reality is, that unless goodwill is followed through with significant reform at an institutional level, Australia will continue to fall short of its full potential as a reconciled nation," he said.


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Published 9 February 2017 8:16am
Updated 14 February 2017 12:11pm
Source: AAP


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