A parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate, and violence directed at Indigenous Australians has received more than 420 submissions, many describing an increasingly toxic online environment. The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for a digital duty of care to prevent social media algorithms from incentivising racist content.
Impact on Mental Health
First Nations people report that online racism significantly affects their mental health. Kamilaroi man and content creator Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil, known as Your Online Brother, said videos like that of Lisa Jane Spencer 'directly affect the mental health and wellbeing of First Nations people'. He described the experience as 'death by a thousand cuts', where daily exposure to racist comments accumulates like 'carrying a bully in your pocket'.
Submissions to the Inquiry
Guardian Australia reviewed hundreds of submissions. Carl Lymburner and Irene Leard, who run the support group Helping Our Mob Everywhere (HOME) in Townsville, reported a rise in offensive content targeting First Nations organisations and individuals. Leard said she hears stories of racism daily, noting that Indigenous people are 'judged, labelled, and automatically alleged of doing something wrong'. Lymburner criticised social media platforms for failing to remove racist content.
Sam Bennell, who started a social media account to share Noongar culture, gained nearly 10,000 followers but noticed a shift when he posted traditional content. 'All the racists started commenting,' he said, adding that Facebook seemed to push his content to racist audiences, taking a toll on his mental health.
The Viral Video
The inquiry was prompted in part by a video posted by Victorian woman Lisa Jane Spencer, who wore a fur coat with white dot painting and referred to herself as 'Aunty Lisa', claiming Aboriginal identity and sniffing a red jerry can. Spencer defended the video as satire, but it was widely criticised for mocking Indigenous culture and perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Meta removed the video after nine days for violating its hateful conduct policy.
Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil said the timing, at the end of Reconciliation Week, was 'deliberate and harmful'. He noted that Spencer doubled down with another video mocking a welcome to country. Despite the backlash, over $49,000 was raised for Spencer on GiveSendGo, a Christian crowdfunding platform.
Call for Action
The Australian Human Rights Commission recommends a digital duty of care requiring social media companies to identify and mitigate risks from algorithms that amplify racist narratives. Hindmarsh-Keevil used the backlash to fund an online mental health course for Aboriginal people, with over 500 places paid for this month.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact 13YARN on 13 92 76, Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
