Liberals move to divide Aboriginal Community to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
by Belle b Saturday February 19, 2005 at 04:48 PM

The Liberal government is seeking to divide the Aboriginal community to persue its agenda to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Now more than ever we need the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as the grassroots platform for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

The Liberal government announced its plans to attempt to use members of the Aboriginal Community in Canberra to legitimise their longstanding agenda to get rid of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. And it wouldnt be the first time that the Liberal party had sought to divide the Aboriginal community to carry out its own agenda. Quoting Senator Gary Humphries, Liberal Party Senator "The embassy as it stands is doing more harm than good to the reconciliation process. It has gone beyond the role an embassy serves, becoming an unattractive and intimidating camping ground. This is not appropriate for the Parliamentary Triangle".

But what could be more appropriate then a constant vigil that for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia the reconciliation process has not brought peace from the genocidal war which started when Captain Cook illegally claimed Australia to be Commonwealth Land. For many the reconciliation process was just a white wash, a feel good exercise in PR - and did little to better the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If the Aboriginal Tent Embassy may not attractive enough for the parliamentary triangle perhaps though it is a constant reminder to politicans and senior bureaucrats in Canberra of the living conditions of Aboriginal people everywhere. Its these living conditions that the Liberal party should be addressing, its the disproportionate rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody and deaths in custody, its the apartheid style living conditions for Aboriginal people in Port Augusta, the poor health conditions and the low life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, these are the issues that the Liberal party should be seeking input from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community about.

The Liberal government is whittling away our rights, and the final blow will be to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. Now more than ever we need the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as the grassroots platform for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices for Land rights and sovereignty, an end to black deaths in custody, an end to the genocidal war against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for peace and for JUSTICE.
Write to Sen Gary Humphries info@canberraliberals.org.au to show your support to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
Below is his media release



> Date : Tue, 15 Feb 2005 Subject : COMMUNITY
> INPUT SOUGHT ON TENT EMBASSY Author : Sen.
> Gary Humphries ACT Liberal Senator Gary
> Humphries is seeking the input of local residents over
> the future of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
> Senator Humphries said a consultation process with Aboriginal leaders
> would commence shortly under the auspices of Territories Minister Jim
> Lloyd.
> "It is appropriate that Aboriginal leaders largely determine the future
> of the embassy but I am also interested in hearing the views of the wider
> community," Senator Humphries said.
> "Consequently I will soon be commencing my own consultation exercise with
> the broader ACT community.
> "The embassy as it stands is doing more harm than good to the
> reconciliation process. It has gone beyond the role an embassy serves,
> becoming an unattractive and intimidating camping ground. This is not
> appropriate for the Parliamentary Triangle.
> "When it makes news today, it is usually for the wrong reasons. Rather
> than aiding the reconciliation process, it now hinders it.
> "The Territories Minister would like an educational interpretative centre
> on the site. There is some merit in this. A modern, well resourced
> interpretive centre with amenities would do a much better job conveying
> the history and struggle of the Aboriginal people.
> "But what do other people think?
> "Resolving the Tent Embassy issue is a high priority for the Territories
> Minister. I believe a successful outcome is more likely to be reached if
> he and indigenous leaders have as much community input in this as
> possible," Senator Humphries said.
> ACT residents can express their view on this issue by emailing Senator
> Humphries at senator.humphries@aph.gov.au
>
>

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