depth research that built on past work on anti-Asian racism in Australia and added the lens of racism in social media. The 2022 Anti-Asian Racism in Australia Social Media report highlighted how mainstream and social media played a significant role in Asian Australians’ experiences of racism during the pandemic, finding that the internet enabled racism to spread further and faster, and be facilitated by anonymity.31 ‘The Asian Australians experiences of racism during the COVID 19 pandemic research… fed into… the Association of Independent Schools New South Wales community cohesion project. The New South Wales Law Society used the findings … to increase their capacity to respond effectively to… that and also other underreported harms.’32 At the national level, the annual Harmony Week aligned with the International Day for the Elimination of Racism sees government funding provided to community organisations, local councils, schools, and others for local celebrations and events. Opportunities The current review of the national Multicultural Framework, the work being undertaken by the Commission on the National Anti-Racism Framework and the inclusion of Priority Reform 3: Transforming Government organisations to decrease the proportion of First Nations people who have experiences of racism provide the most significant opportunities in recent years to address racism. Many stakeholders view the Multicultural Framework Review as a significant opportunity for substantive changes in how government addresses key themes of discrimination, harassment and racism. However, the point must be made that this work is focussed on CALD communities and not First Nations communities, although advice provided to this research team is that those conducting the review are aware of the shared experiences of racist behaviour between the cohorts. The National Anti-Racism Framework and Multicultural Framework review also provide opportunities to consider a more coordinated effort around research and data management concerning racism and anti-racism. The Closing the Gap priority is considered further below. What is racism? Australia has a significant advantage in its diverse population and a high level of community support for a more equal society, which extends to support for addressing racism – although the general population is more passively supportive of, rather than actively involved in, anti-racism efforts. 31 Online Hate Prevention Institute (2022) Anti-Asian Racism in Australian Social Media, accessed 15 February 2024 32 Federal Stakeholder interview (Community) 22