By Nick Wilson and Aaron Bunch in Perth

A senior politician has warned against a “blame game” in the wake of a failed Invasion Day bombing as First Nations leaders claim elected officials have turned a blind eye to the rising threat of racism. 

Thousands of people were evacuated from Forrest Place in Perth’s city centre on January 26 after a 31-year-old man allegedly threw an explosive device at a crowd of Indigenous people, families and supporters.

Authorities on Thursday confirmed the incident was an act of terror motivated by racist, pro-white nationalist ideology.

It followed repeated calls by First Nations Australians for the incident to be taken more seriously and prompted some community leaders to ask why it did not receive more attention sooner.

Human rights advocate Pat Anderson AO said the “sluggish, inert response” of elected leaders served as a reminder of how Aboriginal people are viewed in Australia.

“The silence was overwhelming,” Ms Anderson said in a statement on Friday.

“Our people live in a reality knowing that it has never been our government’s priority to keep us safe.”

Independent Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe described the silence as another form of violence during an address to parliament.

“The attempted bombing was an act of horrific, overt hate and racism,” she said.

“What followed was the quieter, insidious thrum of the entrenched, systemic racism that shapes this country.”

Asked whether politicians failed to give the incident due attention, Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy said the barb was better tossed at other political parties.

“Initially it certainly could have received far more attention in terms of media coverage and expression from other political leaders from other political parties,” Ms McCarthy told ABC Radio National on Friday.

She added, however, the matter “not about a blame game anymore”.

Confronted with Ms Thorpe’s comments, Ms McCarthy said her focus was on supporting First Nations families.

It echoed calls for “peaceful, civil debate” by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley in responding to Western Australia’s first terror charge.

“These are fragile times for our society, and it is incumbent upon all of us in this place to nurture peaceful civil debate and guard our great democracy against hate and violence,” she said.

“Australia is defined by tolerance and respect, and we can never accept a situation where we turn to violence to settle our political differences.”

Charges against the accused man, who remains in custody, have been upgraded to engaging in a terrorist act, with the accused facing life behind bars if he is found guilty.

Police will allege the incident was a nationalist and racially motivated attack targeting First Nations people at the protest.

Authorities were criticised in the wake of the alleged attack for not immediately declaring it a terrorist act and not taking it seriously amid cries of double standards and racism.

Police have defended their actions, saying a comprehensive investigation was required to gather the facts.

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke on Thursday said a joint counter terrorism team was engaged within 40 minutes of the incident.

Ms Thorpe, who introduced a motion condemning the attack to parliament on Tuesday, called for it to be treated as a terror attack days before authorities made the announcement.

“Let us be absolutely clear: this should be treated as an act of terror,” she said.

“It was a deliberate act of hate directly targeting First Peoples on our day of mourning.”

Senator Thorpe also called on the prime minister to talk honestly about the prevalence of white supremacist ideology in Australia.

“White supremacy is a growing threat to First Peoples, and to black and brown communities across this country,” she said.

“The Albanese government must now begin the serious work to address systemic racism, to stamp out white supremacy and to protect our communities.”

News all day, every day at CityNews.com.au.