‘Racism is like a cancer’: Lidia Thorpe joins growing calls for royal commission
The Djab Wurrung, Gunnai, and Gunditjmara senator Lidia Thorpe has joined lobbying efforts to hold a national royal commission into racism.
“A royal commission will bring more scrutiny. It’ll have more power, and it can hold everyone to account,” she told SBS News.
Speaking on racism being an issue not just for Aboriginal people, but for the wider Australian community, the independent senator questioned ‘why aren’t we addressing all hate, racism and violence.
“There’s racism against Black and brown people in this country that’s actually killing us.”
Thorpe is a member of the parliamentary committee hearing from First Nations people about their experiences of racism.
Her biggest concern is that the parliamentary inquiry will touch on the key issues, but end with a report and recommendations that aren’t implemented.
“Racism kills. Racism makes people sick. Racism is like a cancer, and if you subscribe to that, then you’ve got a problem, and you need to have a look at that problem in detail … a royal commission will certainly expose that.”
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