Reporting racism and the complaints process

As Senator Thorpe is a Federal Senator for Victoria, this page will focus on making complaints in Victoria as well as through national platforms. There is also some high-level information for reporting crimes to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission; reporting crimes to the police and lastly, accessing victims of crime support as redress.

Incidents of racism can be reported in the following ways (in Victoria)

1. To the police (depending on where you are, and what happened, the police may not report that a crime took place. It is unlikely the police will consider it a crime unless the racist incident involved violence or threats of violence. Find your local police station.
   
   
2. Your state Human Rights Commission, for example Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. 
   1. Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission - Reporting racism in Victoria | vic.gov.au.
      1. Calling 1300 292 153 weekdays from 10.00am–2.00pm
      2. Email an enquiry to [email protected] 
      3. Completing an online complaint form
      4. Sending a letter detailing your complaint to Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Level 3, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053
         
         
3. Accessing Victims of Crime support please see here.
   
   

People in Victoria can also make complaints of racism through national platforms as outlined below.

Incidents of racism can be reported in the following ways (Nationally)

1. Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (in depth process and details below).
   
   
2. Acts of racism (experienced or witnessed) against First Peoples can be reported on using the Call it Out Register (details below).

It is important to note that none of the above steps need to be taken. We highly recommend speaking with friends and family about what happened or what was witnessed. If you are worried about reporting an incident, please note that you are under no obligation to report anything and that it is also possible for you to ask friends and family to make a complaint with the AHRC or to report the racism via the Call it Out Register, on your behalf. 

From the Call it Out Register: Making a report can be distressing and traumatic, please take care and if you need support you can contact:

– 13YARN: Call 13 92 76 or visit www.13yarn.org.au  

– Lifeline: Call 13 11 14 or visit https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 

Registering Racist incidents/racism against First Peoples with the Call it Out Register

Making a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)