Aboriginal activists demand Abbott apology

26 Jan 2012, 9:02 pm   -   Source: AAP
Share This
Ms Gillard stumbled as she was escorted by security guards. (AAP)

Ms Gillard stumbled as she was escorted by security guards. (AAP)

Aboriginal activists have called on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to apologise for comments about the tent embassy that sparked an angry Canberra protest.

RELATED

Aboriginal activists who mobbed Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott in Canberra on Australia Day have accused the opposition leader of inciting racial riots and want him to apologise.

About 200 protesters trapped Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in a Canberra restaurant before police arrived to clear a passage for the pair.

The protesters, from the nearby Aboriginal tent embassy, banged on the three glass sides of The Lobby restaurant chanting "shame" and "racist".

The embassy is celebrating a 40-year milestone with a three-day "Corroboree for Sovereignty" with thousands of indigenous Australians travelling to Canberra for the occasion.

Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott had just spoken at a ceremony for the inaugural national emergency medals.

At least 50 police, including the riot squad, were called to the scene shortly after 2.30pm (AEDT).

The two leaders, protected by police and security officers, escaped out a side door after about 20 minutes.

Protesters chased their car down the road, banging on its roof and bonnet.

Four Aboriginal men set up the Aboriginal tent embassy, opposite Old Parliament House in Canberra, on January 27, 1972, camping underneath a beach umbrella in protest at the McMahon Liberal government's refusal to recognise Aboriginal land rights.

Over the years the issue of sovereignty became central to the embassy's ongoing protest.

Tensions boiled over on Thursday afternoon following comments Mr Abbott made in Sydney earlier in the day.

Mr Abbott said he understood why the tent embassy was set up "all those years ago".

"I think a lot has changed for the better since then," he told reporters.

"I think the indigenous people of Australia can be very proud of the respect in which they are held by every Australian.

"I think a lot has changed since then, and I think it probably is time to move on from that."

For many Aboriginal people Australia Day is considered invasion day.

Activists accused Mr Abbott of "inciting racial riots" with his comments.

Embassy founder Michael Anderson said the opposition leader's comments were disrespectful.

"Abbott said the aboriginal embassy had to go. We heard it on a radio broadcast," he told AAP.

"We thought no way, so we circled around the building."

He said the protesters wanted the leaders to clarify their position and whether Mr Abbott was serious about removing the embassy.

"You've got 1000 people here peacefully protesting and to make a statement about tearing down the embassy - it's just madness on the part of Tony Abbott," Mr Anderson said.

"What he said amounts to inciting racial riots."

He defended the actions of protesters and said police overreacted to the situation.

"They thought it was siege mentality. The police didn't have to rush her out. She could have just walked out peacefully," he said.

Mr Anderson said protesters had not known Ms Gillard was at the function with Mr Abbott. Sergeant Chris Meagher, of ACT Policing, said no one was injured in the scuffles and it was unlikely any arrests would be made.

Police had been liaising with indigenous elders at the tent embassy throughout the day, with a peaceful protest march of about 1500 taking place earlier on Thursday.

Sgt Meagher said the protest had been an opportunistic move by those at the tent embassy to get their point across.

"Basically there was a minor fracas between ourselves and the demonstrators," he told reporters.

"We believe in being quite flexible in our policing actions with these people and they've had a point to prove today and they're having their celebrations.

"We have no intention of arresting anybody for no unreasonable cause."

One of the medal recipients inside the restaurant, Tracy Griggs from Victoria, said she would not let the incident mar her day.

"I still know what I did on the day (during the 2009 Victorian fires) and the role I played," she told AAP.

Isabell Coe, whose late husband Mr Craigie was an embassy founder, said Mr Abbott should apologise.

"They fight like cats and dogs in the parliament but when it comes to Aboriginal people they run like dogs," she told AAP.

"How many Aboriginal people have been upset by what this woman (Ms Gillard) and Abbott is doing.

"We've got nothing left to lose. Our people are dying, deaths in custody, men, women and children."

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube