In 1975, the year the Racial Discrimination Act was introduced by the Whitlam Government, Australia's population was just over 13.5 million. Fast forward 40 years and 24 million people now call Australia home, living in relative harmony in a rich and vibrantly multicultural society.

Examining the role of legislation in catalysing and embedding social change, The Whitlam Government and the Racial Discrimination Act by Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane delivers a succinct history of the Racial Discrimination Act, its passage through Parliament, and its impact on Australia today.