Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has urged Australians to confront online hate and strengthen support for communities after a man was charged with a terrorism offence over an alleged attack at Perth’s Invasion Day rally.
The Western Australian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (involving WA Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO) has charged a 31-year-old man with “engaging in a terrorist act” in relation to the incident. The matter is before the courts and the accused has not been found guilty.
In a statement, the AFP alleges the man removed a “home-made improvised explosive device” from a backpack and threw it into the crowd at the Perth CBD rally on 26 January. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said he was detained and arrested within minutes, and the joint team took charge of the investigation the same day. The AFP said court‑ordered non‑publication orders apply, and warned against sharing identifying information about the accused online.
Speaking to Noongar Radio host Jeff Michael on Thursday, McCarthy said she met Noongar Elders and community members at Forrest Place and later met with Noongar leaders and rally organisers alongside the WA Premier. She said people were “still quite in shock and traumatised” and that support would be needed “for some time”.
McCarthy said “Words matter” and argued “everyone should feel safe, even online”. Michael told listeners WA Police would allege the man accessed “pro‑white material online”, and McCarthy said the day’s meetings had focused on “racism and hate” and the need to “deal with the online hate”.
She encouraged community members to report racist and hateful content to authorities (not only to social media platforms) and said communities also have a role in recognising escalating behaviour in family, friends or colleagues. During the interview, Michael raised reports of Aboriginal organisations tightening security after the alleged attack; McCarthy said First Nations people “deserve to feel safe like anyone else”, including when wearing Aboriginal colours or the Aboriginal flag.
The interview comes amid wider debates about the meaning of January 26, which many First Nations people refer to as Invasion Day. Indigenous journalist Dean Foley has written that for many First Nations people the date is a protest day linked to invasion and dispossession, while others see it as a national day of celebration.
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