A Perth university professor has sparked a national conversation after publicly confronting a man making racist remarks about Aboriginal people during a routine haircut.
‘Horrendous’ Comments Overheard at the Barber
Braden Hill, a professor at Edith Cowan University, was getting his hair cut at the Phoenix Shopping Centre in Perth on Monday morning when he overheard a disturbing conversation. The man in the next chair, described as an older visitor from the Wheatbelt region near towns like Wyalkatchem or Cunderdin, began discussing what he called the 'aborigines problem' with the barber.
Professor Hill recounted the man's comments in a now-viral TikTok video. "He said, 'the problem is we’ve mixed with them too much. The full bloods are lovely, but we’ve created a real aboriginal problem'," Hill stated. The man then questioned Aboriginal cultural achievements, asking, "What have they done? Sharpen the spear?"
A Direct and Educated Confrontation
As the barber turned his chair, Hill found himself facing the man directly. He seized the moment to respond. "I happened to be looking directly at him, and so I said to him, no, we’re just off becoming professors now. And I’m a professor. I’m also Aboriginal," Hill explained in the video.
He then challenged the man's behaviour, drawing on a lesson from his mother. "As educated as I am, my mother taught me that if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. And so I suggest you stop saying these horrendous things in public... 'cause I’m trying to get a haircut."
Viral Response and a Call for Education
The powerful video, posted on 29 December 2025, quickly gained traction online, amassing over 160,000 views and 12,800 likes on TikTok. Hill concluded his post by directly addressing the man, urging him to "do some reading, act your age, grow up and just be a decent human being." He even asked viewers who might know the individual to direct him to the video for his education.
Speaking to PerthNow, Professor Hill emphasised that while such views are a deep-seated societal issue, direct correction is necessary for progress. "I know these outdated views have become entrenched in the way some people think about Aboriginal people. It’s not their fault it’s a societal issue. But if we don’t correct people, things won’t change," he said.
The online response was overwhelmingly supportive, with many condemning the 'casual racism' and thanking Hill for his courage. One commenter wrote, "Please don’t think that we are all like that! I have so much respect for the oldest culture in the world." The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of confronting prejudiced attitudes in everyday Australian life.
