‘We should be dead’: Perth’s Indigenous community felt ignored after alleged Invasion Day bombing attempt, inquiry told

# Perth Indigenous Community Says Police Failed to Act on Bombing Threat Before Australia Day Rally

Police in Perth received advance warning of unspecified threats before an Australia Day rally on 26 January but did not meet with event organisers until after the incident occurred, according to testimony heard by a parliamentary inquiry into racism. The failure to engage with organisers beforehand has prompted Indigenous community members to express concerns about being overlooked in security planning.

Members of Perth's Indigenous community told the inquiry they felt ignored following the alleged bombing attempt connected to the rally. The community's sense of exclusion from the security response process has raised questions about police protocols for protecting Indigenous gatherings and whether marginalized groups receive adequate warning and coordination before potential threats materialise.

The incident and subsequent inquiry reflect broader concerns about how law enforcement communicates with and protects Indigenous communities during significant public events. The timing of police engagement—after rather than before the rally—suggests potential gaps in threat assessment and community consultation procedures.