ABORIGINES CLAIM FORMER PARLT HOUSE AS EMBASSY.
by Greg Austin and AAP
Canberra: About 40 Aborigines occupied the old Parliament House
yesterday, claiming it as an Aboriginal embassy.
A spokeman, Mr Bill Cragie, said they had transferred their
embassy from the lawns across the road and would stay
"indefinitely, until we can work out our own Australian Government
and maybe fill up the rest of the building with elected members
from our own indigenous sovereign nation from around Australia".
The group was in Canberra to mark the 20th anniversary of a tent
embassy set up by Aborigines on Australia Day 1972, on the lawns
opposite the old Parliament House, as part of a protest against
the McMahon Government's rejection of land rights claims. Mr
Cragie was part of the original tent embassy.
He said the action was "a sovereign land claim on behalf of the
indigenous people of this country".
He said they would petition the United Nations for recognition and
presented police and journalists with a declaration calling for
self-government and self-determination.
Another spokesman, Mr Bindi Williams, who was also part of the
1972 tent embassy, said the occupation was to show displeasure
with the lack of advance in Aboriginal rights.
Superintendent Graham Taylor of the Australian Federal Police said
it was a stand-off as far as they were concerned and they would
allow the group to stay inside as long as no damage was done.
Some of the group brought in food and water in preparation for a
long stay.
They hoisted the Aboriginal flag on the main flagpole above the
entrance to the building.
Among the group was the first Aborigine to head the Department of
Aboriginal Affairs, Mr Charles Perkins.
They were admitted into the building by a security guard about 5
pm yesterday.
Superintendent Taylor said no action would be taken against the
security guard who allowed the group in unchallenged.
A spokewoman for the Minister for Adminsitrative Services, Mr
Bolkus, whose department has jurisdiction over the old Parliament
House, supported comments by Superintendent Taylor that the group
could stay provided they adhered to their assurances there would
be no damage.
She said Senator Bolkus wanted to avoid any confrontation and
would consult fellow ministers on the situation.
ends.