As the dust settles on the alleged attempted terror attack at Perth's Invasion Day rally, questions are being raised about how authorities responded – or didn't respond – to the threat. Indigenous community members are testifying before a federal inquiry that they felt ignored and dismissed by authorities in the aftermath of the incident, which saw a homemade device allegedly thrown into a crowd of 2,000 people.
Renae Isaacs-Guthridge, an academic from Curtin University and a Noongar-Yamatji woman, was among those who narrowly escaped harm when the device landed just inches from her family. She recalled: "I shouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you today. I and my girls, and mum and my sister, we should be dead because it landed right in front of us." Isaacs-Guthridge believes that the community's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity may have contributed to the attack not being taken as seriously as other incidents – a perception she thinks is fuelled by the lack of urgency shown compared to the Bondi mass casualty event, which occurred just a month prior.
Fabian Yarran, an organiser of the Invasion Day rally, told the inquiry that community members had warned organisers about potential threats from far-right individuals before the event. Despite this, police and state MPs were informed but failed to meet with organisers beforehand. Yarran also expressed frustration at the communication breakdown during the evacuation of Forrest Place, where organisers were not immediately briefed on the bomb discovery – leading to widespread fear and confusion.
Liam Alexander Hall remains in custody, charged with terrorism offences related to the incident. His lawyers have indicated an intention to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. The device was described as containing ball bearings, screws, and other projectiles, and it's alleged that a woman in the crowd picked it up and handed it over to police – leading to the evacuation.
Former Indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt has added his voice to the inquiry, suggesting that the defeat of the 2023 referendum on a constitutional voice for parliament may have emboldened racist commentary online. While many who voted 'no' still support First Nations people, Wyatt argued that the outcome normalised racism and led to a rise in social media trolls and discriminatory behaviours – highlighting the need for significant recommendations and adequate funding to implement them nationally.