Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has condemned the neo-Nazi rally held in regional New South Wales on the weekend, warning it is further proof of the urgent need for a national strategy to combat racism.
Roughly 50 masked people, all dressed in black and brandishing a neo-Nazi banner, gathered and marched on Saturday in the small town of Corowa - which sits on the NSW-Victoria border. NSW Police said it is investigating the incident, with the rally widely condemned by local, state and federal leaders.
"The neo-Nazi rally in Corowa was a shock to many, particularly residents. But to those of us who have been following the rise of the far-right in the last few years, it sadly wasn't that surprising," said Commissioner Sivaraman.
"This is what happens when we refuse to properly name and confront the extent of racism that is ingrained across our society. These rallies are a horrific manifestation of what happens when racism is normalised - to the extent that neo-Nazis are emboldened to be on the streets as a threatening force.
"As I have repeatedly stated, race and power are interlinked. If you are white in Australia, you have power and privilege to know that institutions and systems were built by people like you, for people like you. But for far-right groups, as we are seeing both in Australia and globally, any challenge to that is met with vile hate and acts of violence.
"White supremacy is a threat that must be taken seriously. We should never forget that the worst mass murder in recent history committed by an Australian was a white supremacist in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2019. Politicians need to be careful their language does not denigrate one community over another or embolden neo-Nazis to openly march on our streets. Australian media also needs to be careful about which ideologies it platforms.
"If we really want to target these and other similar threats, the only way forward is national anti-racism action that addresses the roots of white supremacy and all forms of racism in Australia. It is the ultimate antidote to racism and its violence. By taking anti-racism action, equality, dignity and respect may one day be a reality for everyone in Australia - no matter a person's racial, cultural or religious background."
On 26 November, the Australian Human Rights Commission will release its National Anti-Racism Framework - calling on the Commonwealth to lead national, urgent action on anti-racism. This Thursday, the Commission will also release the findings of nationwide consultations with people with lived experience of racism. Those findings will help inform the development of the Framework.
