Three hundred people including Federal Opposition Leader Mark Latham
have joined former AFL star Michael Long in his walk through Canberra
today, while more than 100 people rallied in the Northern Territory to
support the march.
Long left Melbourne two weeks ago planning to walk to Canberra to raise
awareness about Indigenous issues.
He abandoned the trek in Albury after Prime Minister John Howard agreed
to a meeting in Canberra tomorrow.
Mr Latham joined today's march early but was reluctant to criticise the
lack of Coalition members taking part.
"I don't exactly know what notice they've got of it," Mr Latham said.
"I'm not here to say it's terrible that others aren't here.
"I'm happy to give Michael encouragement and congratulate him and be
part of the walk myself."
Prime Minister John Howard says Long could have had a place on the
Government's new Indigenous Advisory Committee if he had wanted one.
Mr Howard says he is not willing to revisit the Government's decision to
abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).
But he says he is interested in Long's views.
"Michael Long could have had a meeting with me without commencing the
walk," Mr Howard said.
"I respect the fact that he wanted to demonstrate something by that but
I last saw Michael Long at the AFL grand final in Melbourne and we
chatted amiably and I'm very happy to have a talk with him.
"We did invite him to join the committee but he felt unable to accept
that invitation."
Long says he refused to take up the offer because some prominent elders
advised him not to touch the committee "with a 10-foot pole".
Lament
In Darwin, Aboriginal leaders have marched through the CBD to Parliament
House to lament the current state of Indigenous affairs in Australia.
In a show of solidarity with Long, more than 100 people turned out for
the rally.
Prominent Northern Territory Aboriginal leader Tracker Tilmouth says the
Indigenous community must take some responsibility for allowing its
representative bodies to be destroyed.
"To a certain extent the Aboriginal community is guilty by association
because we allowed the big organisations to collapse," he said.
"We've allowed us to go quiet for political expediency. The Northern and
Central Land Councils are actually roadkill on the road to Aboriginal
development, that's how bad it is."
Long's father, Stephen Long, was part of today's march. He says it is
important to show the Federal Government that people all over Australia
care about Indigenous affairs, and to encourage politicians to find out
more about the lives of Indigenous people.
"I don't think they know what really goes on in the Top End, especially
out in the communities," Mr Long said. "It's a totally different lifestyle."
Yilli Rreung Regional Council's Kimberley Hunter thanked Michael Long
for reminding Australia about the dire state of many Aboriginal communities.
"We're becoming the forgotten people in Australia and it's important
that we actually do get ourselves together and take some responsibility
for that," she said.
In Alice Springs, about 30 people have also rallied to support Long's march.
Veteran rights campaigner Vince Forrester told the crowd to mobilise
their people for their own protests to Canberra.
"You've got to get off your black bums and organise your people," he said.
Protesters were also invited to write messages on a canvass to be sent
to Prime Minister John Howard. |
