4.1.1 Desktop review summary In conducting a desktop review of anti-racism and associated policies, programs and investment by the federal government, approximately 130 pieces of information were identified through a search of publicly available information and deemed in scope. Workplace equity, not anti-racism A significant number of Federal Government policies and programs identified through the desktop review are internal functioning diversity, inclusion and equity strategies. Agencies with Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) are explicitly committed to addressing racism within the workplace due to the required clause inserted by Reconciliation Australia in recent years. Legislation supporting work on anti-racism There are some key pieces of federal legislation that, while not grounded in addressing racism, are supporting work on anti-racism. These include: • The Aged Care Act (1997) Cth which provides commitment at 2-1 (e) for the facilitation of access to aged care services regardless of race, culture, language and gender.12 • The Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth) (HESA), an object of which is to support a higher education system that is characterised by quality, diversity and equity of access.13 • The Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) which established the eSafety Commissioner and their office as the main point of contact for the public on online safety with a mission to work to promote safer, more positive online experiences, and with powers to protect all Australians from serious online abuse.14 Delivering core business without discriminating As with state and territory government outlined at 4.2 below, a large number of policies and programs aimed at community fell short of actively addressing racism and racist behaviour and were instead focused on supporting staff to engage with First Nations and/or CALD communities and ensuring departmental work is not discriminatory. Blaming the victims, encouraging assimilation The bulk of work within the scope of anti-racism approaches is focused into those communities who experience racism and not those cohorts or individual, or structures, systems and policies that perpetrate such behaviour. This is the case for work with CALD communities under multicultural affairs and settlement services; with First Nations communities in Indigenous affairs, health, social services delivery and 12 Australian Government | Federal Register of Legislation (2024) Aged Care Act 1997, accessed 15 January 2024 13 Australian Government | Department of Education (2024) Higher Education Support Act 2003 and Guidelines, accessed 12 January 2024 14 Australian Government | eSafety Commissioner (2024) How the Online Safety Act supports those most at risk, accessed15 January 2024 12