WONGKUMARRA SOLIDARITY IRELAND

PRESS RELEASE

23 June 2010

'Australian Embassy Dublin Condemned for Refusing to Support Indigenous Rights'

Members of Wongkumarra Solidarity Ireland (WSI) put handprints on a banner outside the Australian embasssy in Dublin, using paints in the Australian natinal colours of red, yellow and black, to protest Australia's continued mistreatment of indigenous peoples, and the Embassy's refusal to make a public statement.

At a press briefing Hope Ebsworth and Donnie Dixon of the indigenous Wongkarra nation in Australia condemned the Government's refusal to make a public commitment to help them, after they had met with Embassy officials yesterday, and spelt out their grievances.

Yesterday, Hope and Donnie, along with representatvies of Wongkamarra Solidarity Ireland (WSI) met with Don Smith, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy. He listened to their grievances, but said he had to talk to officals with the Federal Government in Canberra, before he could make any commitment to address them.

In the meeting yesterday, Mr Smith pointed to the Formal Apology that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made to indigenous Australians on February 12, 2008, as evidence of his country's commitment to respecting indigenous rights.

Mr Smith said that the Federal Government is doing a lot for indigenous people.

However, Hope Ebsworth said:

"Well, it must be keeping it a big secret because we haven't heard anything about what the Federal Government is doing for us.

"We are a lost people in our own country, and treated like fourth class citizens.

"The apology made no difference to our lives whatsoever; we still have no rights to our lands and racial discrimination is worse than ever.

Vincent Salafia of WSI said:

"We called off a protest in good faith, on the basis that the Embassy would make a public statement.

"Now we are going to up our campaign, and force them to the bargaining table via the European Union and the United Nations.

ENDS