Press Conference Outside Australian Embassy

WONGKUMARRA SOLIDARITY IRELAND

PRESS RELEASE

23 June 2010

'Press Conference Outside Australian Embassy this Morning at 11.00am'

Following a meeting yesterday with Don Smith, OAM, First Secretary, Deputy Head of Mission, at the Australian Embassy in Dublin, Wongkumarra Solidarity Ireland (wsi) called off its scheduled protest today.

Instead, a press conmference will be held outide the embassy, at 11.00am this morning, to announce the results of the meeting with Mr Smith, wherein Wongkumarra representatives, and WSI members presented their grievances. It is not yet known if the Australian Embassy will participate in the press conference.

The grievances concern the current treatment of aboriginal peoples in Australia, and a number of specific rememdies were put foreward, including reinstatement of aboriginal lands, recognititon of aboriginal soverignty and a shift in the onus of the burden of proff onto the Australian Government with regards to native title claims. Specific rememdies were also requested with regards to Santos and other mining companies operating on Wongkumarra lands in Queensland.

Hope Ebsworth of the Wongkumarra said:

"We are happy that the Embassy agreed to meet with us, and we hope to establish a positive dialogue with a view to resolving our differences.

"We are still in touch with the Embassy, and awaiting an offical response, which we hope to relate at the briefing this morning.

"If no official response is received, we will be detailing plans for upping our campaign here in Ireland and Australia.

ENDS

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