Aussie Embassy Agrees to Discuss Indigenous Rights

WONGKUMARRA SOLIDARITY IRELAND

PRESS RELEASE

22 June 2010

'Australian Embassy Agrees to Meeting Today to Discuss Indigenous Rights'

The Australian Embassy has agreed to meet with visiting Australian indigenous Wongkumarra tribal representatives, Hope Ebsworth and Donnie Dixon, along with representatvies of the newly formed Wongkumara Solidarity Ireland group (WSI).

The meeting will take place today at 3.00pm in the Australian Embassy, 7th Floor, Fitzwilton House, Wilton Terrace, Dublin 2.

WSI had scheduled a protest outside the embassy for tomorrow at 11.00am, if a meeting was not granted. Now that a meeting has been agreed, a press briefing will take place instead of the protest, and it is hoped that both WSI and Australian officials will participate, and relate what has been agreed between the parties.

Wongkumarra and WSI will be presenting three basic demands to the Australian authorities today:

1. Reverse the onus of proof in native title disputes, putting the onus on the Government to disprove the native claims.

2. Allow for compensation for Government actions which took place before 1975.

3. Recognize Aboriginal soverignty, which will facilitate return of aboriginal lands or compensation.

It is hoped to open a constructive dialogue beteen the Australian Government and Wongkumarra people, with a view to resolving these matters outside the courts.

Hope Ebsworth of the Wongkumarra said:

"We are happy that the Australian Authorities have agreed to a meeting.

"We hope this will be the beginning of some really constructive dialogue, which will radically change our living conditions in Australia.

Vincent Salafia of WSI said:

"The Wongkumarra have a lot of support here in Ireland, and we are delighted that we have managed to open up a dialogue between the parties.

"Regardless of the outcome of today's meeting, we will be gathering outside the embassy tomorrrow morning, to announce what has transpired.

ENDS

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