Get a Job Doleys or Misunderstood Activists?
January 27th 2012 12:45
The tent embassy was erected forty years ago in Canberra as a protest to the McMahon government's lack of recognition of Indigenous rights. The annerversary was marked with peaceful protests until late afternoon on Australia Day, which some call Invasion Day. A small group of protesters broke away after hearing the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader were at a cafe 100 metres down the road recognising emergency service workers contribution to the nation. The protesters banged clapping sticks and chanted and the Federal Police looking out for Ms. Gillard and Mr. Abbott got them out of the cafe into waiting cars. Ms. Gillard lost a shoe in the scuffle and was manhandled by her body guard as he threw her in the car.
It's our land you're sharing so if you don't like it, leave
Members of the Tent Embassy protest group claim that they represent disenfranchised and angry Aboriginal communities, many who come from highly dysfunctional communities. They say that Australia is theirs, and they should be recognised at the First People and that a two-way culture of learning should be introduced whereby non-Aboriginal Australians learn Aboriginal culture. They also complained about deaths in custody and a list of injustices against them. They say they have been treated like boat people but it is their country and if people don't like it, they should leave.
Ms. Barbara Shaw, one of the spokeswomen said that members of the Tent Embassy group had been told by a "member of the public" that Mr. Abbott and Ms. Gillard were at the nearby cafe and many Aboriginals were upset with Abbott's words on morning talkback radio. Mr Abbott words that were inflammatory to some said Aboriginal rights had improved in Australia in the past 40 years and "it is probably time to move on from that".
"I can understand why the tent embassy was established all those years ago. I think a lot has changed for the better since then," he said.
The majority of comments on online newspapers and radio talkback shows were angry at the mob for a lack of respect for the Office of Prime Minister. Most Australians seem to consider the matter a disgrace and not the sort of channel to gain sympathy for a cause. The fact that the Prime Minister was in the middle of a ceremony honouring Emergency Service workers, which are held in very high esteem in the eyes of the public further damaged their cause. If Ms. Gillard were to address the protesters and stop the medal function, it would be akin to giving into a tantrum throwing two year old.
Media beat up about level of security
The hype by journalists quizzing AFP assistant commissioner Michael Outram suggesting that they should have known about the protest or had control over which venue the government chose for their services suggests they just wanted to beat up the story more than it was and blame someone. It is rare for this sort of event to happen in Australia and the Federal police had been very respectful of the protesters and rightly acted when it escalated as the security of the Prime Minister was their primary responsibility at the time.
It's our land you're sharing so if you don't like it, leave
Members of the Tent Embassy protest group claim that they represent disenfranchised and angry Aboriginal communities, many who come from highly dysfunctional communities. They say that Australia is theirs, and they should be recognised at the First People and that a two-way culture of learning should be introduced whereby non-Aboriginal Australians learn Aboriginal culture. They also complained about deaths in custody and a list of injustices against them. They say they have been treated like boat people but it is their country and if people don't like it, they should leave.
Ms. Barbara Shaw, one of the spokeswomen said that members of the Tent Embassy group had been told by a "member of the public" that Mr. Abbott and Ms. Gillard were at the nearby cafe and many Aboriginals were upset with Abbott's words on morning talkback radio. Mr Abbott words that were inflammatory to some said Aboriginal rights had improved in Australia in the past 40 years and "it is probably time to move on from that".
"I can understand why the tent embassy was established all those years ago. I think a lot has changed for the better since then," he said.
The majority of comments on online newspapers and radio talkback shows were angry at the mob for a lack of respect for the Office of Prime Minister. Most Australians seem to consider the matter a disgrace and not the sort of channel to gain sympathy for a cause. The fact that the Prime Minister was in the middle of a ceremony honouring Emergency Service workers, which are held in very high esteem in the eyes of the public further damaged their cause. If Ms. Gillard were to address the protesters and stop the medal function, it would be akin to giving into a tantrum throwing two year old.
Media beat up about level of security
The hype by journalists quizzing AFP assistant commissioner Michael Outram suggesting that they should have known about the protest or had control over which venue the government chose for their services suggests they just wanted to beat up the story more than it was and blame someone. It is rare for this sort of event to happen in Australia and the Federal police had been very respectful of the protesters and rightly acted when it escalated as the security of the Prime Minister was their primary responsibility at the time.
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