50 Years of Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act – What Does It Really Mean Today?

The 50th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 is one of the highlight events in Australia’s human rights history. The RDA was introduced at the instigation of Attorney General Kep Enderby, during the prime ministership of Gough Whitlam, on 11 June 1975. For the first time, the RDA made unlawful racial discrimination a matter of Commonwealth law. The RDA brought national legislation into compliance with international obligations set out in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

A Landmark for Equality

For over fifty years, the RDA has enabled individuals to achieve justice, established significant legal precedents and created pathways for additional protections such as the Sex Discrimination Act and the Disability Discrimination Act. It is a legal and moral commitment to equality in Australia.

Celebrating Progress, Confronting Reality

The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, said that the Act is important, but the fight against racism is ongoing. “We know that systemic racism still exists,” he said. “We see inequalities across health, education, employment and justice all showing the persistent discrepancies.” Mr Sivaraman urged all Australians to take up the challenge of confronting the structures that perpetuate racism and inequality and recommit to the objectives of the RDA: to be a nation where racial equality is a lived experience and not just enshrined in law.

This significant milestone has been represented by key activities such as the Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture and the address by Commissioner Sivaraman at the sold-out Whitlam Institute event on 17 June, 2025. The video of this address will be released to the public.

The Commission has also released the National Anti-Racism Framework and is calling for legislation to achieve reforms, including a “positive duty” to legally impose obligations to counter discrimination for organisations.

As Australia reflects on 50 years of the RDA, the clear message is that equality is a continuous effort – now is the time to act!