While one in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have experienced racism in the last six months, one in five members of the general community experienced racism over the same period. The elimination of racism is therefore fundamental to progressing reconciliation and is dependent on all sectors of Australian society taking action to address both structural and institutional racism as well as continuing to bolster measures to address interpersonal racism. — submission from Reconciliation Australia, NARF project, May 2021 – April 2022 The policy gap There is currently no national anti-racism policy in Australia. The Closing the Gap Agreement and the Multicultural Access and Equity Policy (MAEP) recognise the need to address racial inequality. The MAEP is directed at strengthening internal operations in government departments to meet the cultural needs of those accessing public services. Closing the Gap acknowledges the strength and resilience of First Nations people and aims to transform how governments work alongside them to achieve improved life outcomes. Closing the Gap has identified four priority reforms. These priority reforms include formal partnerships and shared decision making, building the community-controlled sector, transforming government organisations, and shared access to data and information at a regional level. Internationally, Australia’s obligations include reporting to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) about how Australia addresses racial discrimination. Under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), endorsed by Australia in 2009, the nation has committed to take action to implement the Declaration and promote First Nations people’s enjoyment of rights on an equal basis.7 However, the implementation of UNDRIP in law, policy and practice has not yet progressed, the auditing of existing laws and policy for compliance with the Declaration has not been undertaken, and negotiation with First Nations peoples on how to achieve its implementation has not commenced. 8 The engagement process for developing Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 201922 highlighted the lack of consistent data collection, the need for disaggregated data relating to racism, and the limited sharing of data between government institutions and with communities. Australia has the opportunity to learn from other nations. — submission from Western Sydney Community Forum, NARF project, May 2021 – April 2022 National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report 2022 | 21