Ex-PM's nephew makes Aussie Day protest

26 Jan 2011, 2:16 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Artist Van Thanh Rudd demonstrates against Australia's treatment of indigenous people and refugees.

Last Australia Day he donned Ku Klux Klan gear to demonstrate outside the Australian Open tennis tournament.

This year, former prime minister Kevin Rudd's nephew took to Brighton Beach to protest against Australia's treatment of Aborigines and refugees.

As swimmers crossed the finish line for the Great Australia Day Swim at the Middle Brighton Pier, artist Van Thanh Rudd and his small crew held up a banner nearby which read: "Where indigenous people and refugees finish last."

Under the banner, a mannequin of a dark-skinned girl was partly submerged in the sand, surrounded by barbed wire and Australian flags.

Mr Rudd, the son of the prime minister's brother Malcolm and his wife Tuoi, said he hoped to raise awareness of Australia's poor treatment of indigenous people and refugees.

"Australia Day is not a celebration of democracy, nor is it a celebration of freedom," he said.

"Right from the beginning on Invasion Day in 1788, we have a prison system basically for the Aboriginals since then and it's carried on to this day. We also have a prison-like system for asylum seekers and refugees. Those who do get to make it to this country are imprisoned for no wrongdoing whatsoever.

"The government also takes part in wars that exacerbate these problems overseas.

"That's what we're celebrating this Australia Day. It's not what we're led to believe it's about.

"What we hope to achieve generally out of this is, number one, more awareness of what should be called invasion day instead of Australia Day."

On Australia Day last year, Mr Rudd walked into the Australian Open precinct wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit in protest against racism in Australia and attacks on Indians.

Rudd is a member of the Revolutionary Socialist Party and ran against new prime minister Julia Gillard in her safe Labor seat of Lalor.

In 2008, the City of Melbourne rejected one of Mr Rudd's paintings that depicted Ronald McDonald setting fire to an image of outspoken Buddhist monk Thich Quang Durc with the Olympic torch.

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