Racism is "alive and kicking" in Australia, says the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar.
Her comments directly contradict those of her colleague at the Australian Human Rights Commission, the newly-appointed Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan.
But Ms Oscar says it's crucial the issue is confronted.
Since the beginning of the year, June Oscar has been leading the Wiyi Yani UThangani [[wee yan-ee oo DUNG-an-ee]], or Women’s Voices project, an initiative that involves community visits and consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women across Australia.
The project, driven by the Australian Human Rights Commission, aims to document the voices and experiences of the women and girls.
Ms Oscar has told the ABC experiences of racism almost always surface during conversations with the women.
"I’m hearing from woman and girls across the country, as I’ve travelled with the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project that racism is one of the key emerging issues that are coming up in each of the sessions we’ve held in this country. And I know from my own personal experiences that racism is alive and it's kicking."
Ms Oscar says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples regularly express experiences of what they call "racist attitudes" in public spaces.
Last week, Australia appointed its new Race Discrimination Commissioner, Malaysian-born lawyer-turned-academic Chin Tan.
Speaking last Friday about the status of racism in Australia, Mr Tan said it is a misconception to say Australia is a racist country.
"Just because there might some activities, conduct, people might be deemed to have, I suppose, racial conduct in any form or shape, that doesn't transfer across to the whole nation. We have to be careful that we don't overboard,” Mr Tan said.
But Ms Oscar says the conversation should begin with acknowledging that racism does exist, and it's crucial Mr Tan takes that position in his new role and works with those most deeply affected by the issue.
"It’s critical that he, as the new Race Discrimination Commissioner, is aware of the prevalence of racism across the country and it’s experiences of everyday lived realities of women and girls and Indigenous peoples encountering institutional racism and personal experiences of racism at school, in the school yard, in public places so it is alive and it is something that confronts woman and girls and Indigenous peoples on a daily basis."
