A federal inquiry into racism has heard damning evidence from some of Australia’s most prominent First Nations public figures, who described being driven from their careers by relentless online abuse, physical threats, and systemic failures in both the media and sporting sectors.

Appearing before the committee hearings in Melbourne, former television presenter Brooke Boney revealed that a torrent of “menacing” threats—including the doxxing of her home address and personal email—ultimately forced her to walk away from the media industry earlier this year.

Ms. Boney explained that the severe backlash she faced for sharing her perspective on changing the date of Australia Day was a key catalyst in her 2024 departure, though she noted the cumulative toll of enduring racism over many years.

“I wasn’t trying to impose my view on anyone else, I was just offering another perspective,” Ms. Boney told the inquiry. “I received threats, physical threats... Sometimes that extends to showing up physically where you are and sometimes it means that your account details get doxxed.”

She warned that the hostile environment is forcing First Nations people to self-censor, leading to a poorer public debate. “That withdrawal is in and of itself a public harm,” she said. “Silence should not be the price of participation.”

Media Stereotypes and a Lack of Accountability

The inquiry also heard from Network Ten journalist Narelda Jacobs, who argued that mainstream Australian news coverage routinely perpetuates damaging racial stereotypes. She pointed to coverage that heavily relies on imagery of squalid living conditions or Aboriginal people in handcuffs, calling such framing evidence of “entrenched racism” in media rooms.

Ms. Jacobs stated that the toxicity peaked during the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, where media mandates for balance—often referred to as “both sides-ism”—forced journalists to platform outright disinformation. She criticized the lack of regulatory consequences for outlets that peddle hate, stating that existing watchdogs offer virtually no accountability.

“Networks make it a priority to train reporters and producers on their legal obligations, but they don’t undertake anti-racism training,” Ms. Jacobs said.

Representatives from National Indigenous Television (NITV) and SBS echoed these concerns. John Paul Janke, NITV’s national Indigenous affairs editor, described an “alarming escalation” of coordinated online pile-ons and abuse, which ultimately forced the network to leave the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to protect its staff.

NITV’s director for First Nations, Tanya Denning-Orman, revealed the broadcaster saw a 300 percent spike in negative and racist comments on its social media pages between January 2024 and April 2026. She urged the federal government to hold social media platforms legally accountable for failing to remove hate speech.

Meanwhile, Kelly Williams, a senior executive at the national public broadcaster, testified that steps are being taken to address systemic racism internally following a landmark independent review. The broadcaster has accepted all 15 recommendations of the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly report, which includes rolling out mandatory anti-racism training.

Elite Sport 'Not Culturally Safe'

The inquiry’s focus shifted to the sporting arena later in the day, with claims that national athletic bodies are failing to support First Nations athletes.

Marissa Williamson Pohlman, the first Aboriginal woman to represent Australia in Olympic boxing, testified that she has spent more energy fighting for basic fairness than refining her athletic craft.

Ms. Williamson Pohlman alleged she was frequently subjected to racial slurs and claimed a Boxing Australia official once threatened “repercussions” if she carried the Aboriginal flag at an Olympic qualifying event in the Solomon Islands.

“Institutions celebrate Blak excellence when it is convenient, but abandon us when it matters most,” she said. “So it’s all good when I put some deadly artwork on the uniform, but cultural safety and practice is another thing.”

She also highlighted significant roadblocks when trying to pursue complaints within current sporting frameworks, pointing out that bodies like Sport Integrity Australia are limited to investigating individuals rather than systemic organizational failures.

Representatives from the Fitzroy Stars, a Melbourne-based Aboriginal football and netball club, also testified, stating they regularly experience racism from opposing teams and officials with little to no avenue for genuine recourse.

The parliamentary committee, chaired by Senator Jana Stewart, continues its hearings. Major commercial networks, including Nine, Seven, Ten, Sky News, and News Corp, were invited to give evidence but declined to appear.