Building Solidarity Against Racism: RAC’s 2026 Campaigning Strategy

Australia faces a critical moment. The rise of far-right racism, unprecedented support for One Nation, and a Coalition determined to weaponize immigration policy have created a hostile political landscape for refugees and asylum seekers. But within this darkness lies an opportunity—and a moral imperative.

The Refugee Action Campaign is evolving its strategy for 2026. Rather than retreating in the face of rising anti-immigrant sentiment, we’re doubling down on refugee rights by anchoring our work in a broader anti-racist movement.

The Political Crisis We Face

Since August 2025, Australia has witnessed alarming shifts in its political culture:

• Massive racist mobilizations: The “March for Australia” rallies have been the largest racist demonstrations in years—exceeding even the “Reclaim Australia” protests of a decade ago.
• One Nation’s surge: Support for One Nation is now polling only 3% below Labor, with favorable ratings for Pauline Hanson higher than any other party leader. Recent South Australian election results suggest these polls reflect real electoral strength, not mere protest votes.
• The Coalition’s strategic pivot: Immigration has become the Coalition’s central campaign issue. But this isn’t about numbers—it’s about culture wars. Senior Coalition figures speak of “good” and “bad” migrants, demand that migrants sign up to “Australian values,” and use explicitly Islamophobic rhetoric.
• Islamophobic escalation: The Bondi massacre triggered another wave of Islamophobia, with political leaders and media fueling fear and prejudice.

The implications for refugees are severe. Coalition immigration spokesperson Angus Taylor’s recent Menzies Institute speech made this crystal clear, with calls for “enhanced screening” including mandatory social media account disclosure—Trumpian tactics imported directly into Australian politics.

Why This Creates Opportunities for Anti-Racist Solidarity

Yet here’s what the political establishment underestimates: Australia has a strong anti-racist current. This isn’t confined to immigrant communities or Muslim populations. Millions of Australians have been shaped by half a century of anti-racist social progress and genuinely reject the racism now being weaponized.

Research shows something revealing. When surveys on Islamophobia are conducted with human interviewers, roughly 21-25% report negative views of Muslims. When the same surveys are self-completed anonymously, the figure nearly doubles to 40%. The gap tells us something crucial: many Australians who hold prejudiced views know they shouldn’t—they’re uncomfortable with racism even within themselves.

This creates political space. Publicly naming racism and Islamophobia as such causes some to back off. The declining attendance at successive “March for Australia” rallies suggests that explicit, overt racism alienates even those with prejudiced views.

Our Strategy: Refugee Rights Through Anti-Racism

For 2026, RAC is proposing a strategic shift that doesn’t abandon refugee rights—it amplifies them through anti-racist solidarity:

• We remain a refugee rights campaign. We will continue highlighting how Australian policy affects refugees and asylum seekers. Nothing changes here.
• We reframe the conversation. We explicitly connect refugee issues to the broader racism epidemic in Australian politics and society.
• We build alliances. We mobilize the anti-racist majority—those who oppose racism and want to fight for a more inclusive Australia.
• We keep our name. “Refugee Action Campaign” remains our identity, keeping refugee issues front and center.

Concrete Initiatives for 2026

We’re planning several concrete actions:

Rock Against Racism: A festival or concert series combining entertainment with activism, highlighting both refugee rights and broader anti-racism. This is ambitious and will require significant organizing, but it could tap into latent anti-racist sentiment.

Merchandise: T-shirts, badges, and stickers with slogans like “No Room for Racism—Refugee Action Campaign” that carry our message into everyday spaces.

Public Meeting: A forum examining how different political parties have shifted on asylum seekers and migrants—connecting the dots between the Coalition’s Trumpian pivot, Labor’s cowardice, and what genuine refugee-positive policy could look like.

Video Series: We’re already producing short videos on refugee issues. Now we’ll ensure they engage with the anti-racist framing and speak to people’s desire for a more inclusive Australia.

The Weariness Factor

We acknowledge that years of witnessing genocidal violence in Palestine and Lebanon, and ongoing US-Israeli aggression, have created a kind of compassion fatigue. The horror is so immense that some people want to look away. This may have affected turnout at our Palm Sunday rally.

But the rise of One Nation and the Coalition’s explicit racism may also spark people to action. We won’t know until we try to mobilize them. This is where anti-racist solidarity becomes essential—it gives people a local, immediate way to fight back against the racism they’re witnessing.

The Moment We’re In

The political moment is dangerous. But it’s also clarifying. The mask is off. One Nation and the Coalition are no longer dog-whistling—they’re openly calling for racist policies. This directness, while alarming, creates an opportunity.

People who care about refugee rights, who oppose racism, who believe in an inclusive Australia, and who want their country to live up to its international obligations—they need to know that the fight for refugees is part of the broader fight against racism.

That’s what RAC’s 2026 campaign is about: connecting these struggles, building solidarity, and making clear that there’s no room for racism in Australia—and there’s definitely room for refugees.

Refugee Action Campaign is calling on activists, artists, musicians, and community members to get involved in our 2026 campaign. Whether it’s helping organize Rock Against Racism, designing merchandise, or spreading the word, we need your energy. The time to act is now.

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Full Strategy Document: