What I saw echoed across consultations and submissions was how pervasive racism is in the lives of many Australians, shaping experiences in educational settings, aspirations in the workplace, access to services and supports, interactions with the justice system, and embedded in what we see, hear, and read daily in the media. The effects of this, not just for those with lived experience of racism but for our society as a whole, are vast and profound. There is also a crucial role for better and more robust data to identify the prevalence, severity, and impact of racism. Data will bring nuance to a collective understanding of racism that is necessary for creating and sustaining anti-racist action. As consultations and submissions identified, taking action is not just about raising awareness, but also looking to what laws, regulations, standards, and mechanisms our country has, or does not have, in place to protect against the harm of racism and to ensure accountability for its elimination. For a national anti-racism framework to be effective it must adapt to time, place, and circumstance. The constant in this is community. Communities are the experts in their own lives, experiences, and ways of living. For a framework to be meaningful and effective, it must reflect and respond to the priorities of communities. Achieving this requires strong adherence to human rights principles of equality, empowerment, and participation. As such, a framework must be a collective and collaborative project. This Report is a product of initial consultations and submissions on a national anti-racism framework. I would like to thank all those who participated in consultations and provided submissions, especially those with lived experience of racism, to inform the development of a framework. Attending a consultation and putting together a submission takes time, energy, and effort. Particularly for those with lived experience of racism, this process can evoke distress, frustration, and anger. I consider it a reflection of the collective commitment of individuals and communities to the work of anti-racism, as well as the importance of anti-racism more broadly, that you took the time and care to share your insights during this scoping phase with us. Your knowledge and expertise, gathered from the wealth of your experiences, is the heart of this document. There remains more work to do in reaching those who are too often left out of decision-making processes that directly affect them. As we enter the next phase of the framework's development, it is my hope that this Report will be a bridge to fostering further relationships with communities, so that we may achieve a truly community-centric framework. At such a pivotal point in this country’s history, it is time that we progress, as a priority, a coordinated approach to anti-racism. When we engage in anti-racism action together, we recognise – as a collective act – the importance of equity and belonging in Australia. It is a matter of fulfilling the basic rights that come with being human. Chin Tan Race Discrimination Commissioner National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report 2022 | 8