University of Melbourne academic Louisa Lim argues Australia has long overlooked its Chinese history, and that this silence has lasting costs. She describes persistent racism, including a 2023 Lowy Institute finding that one in five Chinese Australians reported being called offensive names in the past year. Lim points to the Bendigo dragon tradition, which began in 1892, and to the work of poets and artists who are recovering lost stories. She says Australia must reckon with its Asian past to engage fully with the region.
Former Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has revealed he lived with rheumatoid arthritis throughout his 88-Test career, keeping the condition secret from teammates. Diagnosed at 22 while playing for New South Wales, he initially feared he had a terminal illness after doctors struggled to identify the cause of severe knee pain. He manages the condition with regular injections of a drug he describes as a godsend. Khawaja, who retired after Australia's Ashes win in January, hopes his story will encourage others living with autoimmune diseases.
Labor MP Bisma Asif has visited Gurmat Vidyala Brisbane, where students are learning Punjabi and keeping their mother tongue alive. Asif spoke to students about her path into Parliament and the value of kindness. She met Anmol, a student who wants to become a space scientist and work at NASA. Asif said society must guard against hatred and division, and that families, schools and communities all have a role in teaching children respect and acceptance. She described Australia's diversity as one of its greatest strengths.
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Complaints to the ACT Human Rights Commission rose 21 per cent last financial year, with 2,068 lodged in 2025-2026. Complaints from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rose by 50 per cent, and complaints about abuse and neglect of older people and people with a disability rose by a third. Commissioner Karen Toohey said some community narratives about vilification and racism were encouraging more complaints. Winnunga Nimmityjah CEO Julie Tongs said many people remain reluctant to report. Commissioner Penelope Mathew warned that staffing levels cannot meet demand.
Monash Council is inviting residents to register interest in STAND Project Australia, an initiative examining community narratives that affect migrant and multicultural groups. Two community workshops will be held, with the first on Thursday 12 November 2026 at Monash Youth Services in Glen Waverley. The second workshop is planned for February 2027, with the date yet to be confirmed. Attendance at both workshops is required. Participants will help develop positive alternative narratives and co-design initiatives that foster inclusion and belonging. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Monday 2 November.
Small Business Minister Anne Aly has accused Liberal MP Angie Bell of racist and misogynistic comments made in parliament. During a speech opposing the tax office's ban on credit card payments, Ms Bell said the minister and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should be shamed and stoned in the square. Ms Bell later withdrew the remarks after Leader of the House Tony Burke raised concerns about violent imagery. Ms Aly said she had received 19 death threats in a week and that the comments went against Australian values. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor's office said the withdrawal was appropriate.
One Nation's Victorian deputy leader Colleen Harkin has defended an AI-generated campaign video, denying it is racist. The video, shown at the party's campaign launch in Melbourne, features a young man of African appearance with a machete and a suicide bomber who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent. Speaking to ABC Melbourne, Harkin said the video addressed big issues, including crime and social cohesion. She also said climate change was irrelevant to the economy and that One Nation would not work with the Liberals but would preference them over Labor.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has told multicultural media that Australia will never be a monoculture. He promised to call out racism as the Coalition pursues deep cuts to migration. Taylor said the Coalition would exclude migrants who did not accept core civic values, but rejected discrimination based on race or religion. He said the cuts were a temporary correction to give housing and infrastructure time to catch up. Taylor criticised comments by Pauline Hanson questioning whether there were good Muslims, which police found did not meet the threshold for prosecution.
Local election candidates in Victoria report increased vandalism, theft, and online attacks. Ajay Mishra, a candidate in the City of Greater Bendigo's Lockwood by-election, said his campaign signs were defaced and a local business was threatened. Fellow candidates reported racist comments and suspicious behaviour. University of Melbourne associate professor Aaron Martin noted a rise in 'outgroup hostility' in Australian politics, partly driven by social media. Police are investigating incidents, including a stolen election sign and drone loitering.
Coco Gauff says she received racist abuse on social media after her win over Sun Xinran at the China Open. The American challenged a point during the match due to a flickering advertising board, which was replayed after a video review. Gauff won the match 7-5, 6-1 and said she apologised to her opponent for the situation. The WTA has introduced an AI system to monitor online abuse against players.
