Racism, hate, and violence inquiry

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 3, 22 May 2026, page no.21

On 4 March, the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs announced an inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

The QTU looks forward to a time when there is no need for people and organisations like the QTU to make submissions of this nature to governments. 

However, our First Nations and non-Indigenous members, your workplaces, the students you teach, and the communities in which you live and work bear witness to racism, hate and violence, compelling the QTU and our Australian Education Union comrades to actively engage in these processes. 

In 2025, the Queensland Government’s school workforce included 2,589 employees who identified as an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person, which is 2.6 per cent of the total workforce. The workforce data includes teachers, teacher aides, administrative officers, cleaners, and other employee types. The QTU knows that the Department of Education’s workforce profile includes under-reporting, and that one of the reasons for this is First Nations people’s reluctance to be exposed to racism, hate, and violence in the workplace.

In 2024, there were 82,366 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in Queensland schools, and 65,786 students in this cohort were enrolled in a government school. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students represented 9.3 per cent of all school students in Queensland, and 11.6 per cent of enrolments in government schools.

The QTU deeply understands and appreciates the vital role that the education system — including schools and teachers — plays in the journey toward reconciliation. We wholeheartedly recognise and value the meaningful contributions of First Nations people to our society and economy, acknowledging the rich heritage and perspectives they bring to our collective experience.

The QTU submission recognises the urgency of addressing racism, hate, and violence towards First Nations people, and that it cannot be left to schools alone. This work is the responsibility of all Australians and institutions, including but not limited to unions, Australian businesses, schools, law enforcement, the health sector, other public agencies, elected representatives, responsible media, and community organisations. 

Our submission to the inquiry is consistent with QTU priorities, including:

• advancing our profession and workplaces by enhancing and preserving working conditions, and securing, safe, healthy and properly resourced workplaces
• holding employers to account and addressing the education crisis that manifests as the teacher shortage, occupational violence, and student behaviour
• championing respect and reconciliation, including professional respect, cultural respect, and respect for First Nations peoples and cultures.
   

The QTU’s submission contains forewords by QTU President Cresta Richardson and First Nations Officer, Micheal Beale. The submission addresses five out of the six terms of reference of the inquiry, and it makes 15 recommendations.

The QTU’s submission is available under the submissions tab on the Joint Committee’s website here.

Submissions are usually numbered by the committee, but at the time of writing submissions, the committee secretariat continues to receive and upload submissions. 

Craig Wood
Research Officer
 

National Reconciliation Week

At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people, for the benefit of all Australians. 

Reconciliation can be measured across five domains: race relations; equality and equity; historical acceptance; institution integrity; and unity.

There is a need for all Australians to understand and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous cultures, rights and experiences, resulting in stronger relationships that are based on trust and respect and are free of racism.

On equality and equity, there is a need to recognise that closing the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people requires recognition of the distinctive individual and collective rights and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are self-determining.

As a nation, we need to accept our history and agree that the wrongs of the past will never be repeated — we need truth, justice, healing and historical acceptance. Our political, business and community institutions need to actively support all dimensions of reconciliation. We need to move to a unified Australian society that values and recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.

These changes require Australian people, institutions, and governments to be “All In”, which is the theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week (NRW) from 27 May to 3 June. It is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation —reconciliation is not a spectator sport. All of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change. NRW is a week for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. 

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/