Racism remains an insidious and all too common aspect of life for Indigenous people in Australia. This second annual report from the Call It Out project, covering March 2023 to March 2024, includes 453 reports of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It explores the impacts of the Voice to Parliament referendum, the racism that plays out in institutions and systems of governance, and in the everyday places we live, work and play. 

The Call it Out register provides a safe space where racist incidents in all forms can be anonymously called out. The register is distinctive because it allows those who directly experience racism – as well as friends, relatives and bystanders – to report it.

Key findings

• Almost two thirds of reports (62%) were made by a person witnessing racism and a third (31%) by First Nations people directly experiencing it.
• Witness reports were significantly higher in 2023-24, compared to 2022-23. This is likely to be attributable to the increase in racist incidents associated with the referendum on the Voice to Parliament.
• A high proportion of witness reports about online and media related racism are indicative of the significant increase in racism in the public arena associated with the referendum.
• In 2023-24, workplace related racism remained the most common location for racism reported by First Nations people (20% of self-reports), as was the case in the last annual report.
• Types of racism most frequently reported by all groups were stereotyping (23%), discrimination (15%), hate speech (13%) and non-recognition of cultural rights (11%).
• Hate speech and other forms of aggressive racism, including physical and verbal abuse, bullying, threats, intimidation and damage to property, comprised a relatively high 35% of responses. Perpetrators include neighbours, strangers and police officers.