Tony Abbott criticises token acknowledgment of Aborigines.
Tony Abbott, the Australian federal opposition leader, courted controversy again today by claiming that government acknowledgments of Indigenous people were mere political correctness.
Since the election of current Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, whenever a government function or meeting is held, the traditional Indigenous owners of the land are first acknowledged. The Indigenous people welcome the gesture, saying it recognises the history and sacrifices made by the Aborigines.
However Tony Abbott said that the gesture was inappropriate in many instances: “I guess this is the kind of genuflection to political correctness that these guys feel they have to make.” He stated in an interview with the Adelaide Advertiser. “Sometimes it’s appropriate to do those things, but certainly I think in many contexts, it seems like out-of-place tokenism.”
Liberal backbencher Wilson Tuckey agrees with Mr Abbott, saying that the acknowledgments were a “farce”. “I have never thanked anyone for the right to be on the soil that is Australian,” he stated.
Mr Tuckey further attacked Indigenous people, claiming that since the 1967 referendum in which Indigenous people were given the same voting rights as white Australians and enabled them to be governed by the same laws, things have gone “downhill” for Aborigines. “I have said publicly that 1967, when the Australian people voted to give this Parliament an opportunity to assist Aboriginal people, was the worst thing that’s happened for Aboriginal people in history – it’s been downhill ever since.”
But Aboriginal people and their supporters hit back saying that to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land was respectful. Glen Kelly, a spokesman for the South West Aboriginal Land stated: “In Nyoongah culture, I dare say Aboriginal culture across Australia, it’s very important that when you visit someone else’s county you recognise that.”
However some Aboriginal groups claim that the acknowledgment is not heartfelt and means little to the politician making the statement.
What do you think about this issue? Should politicians acknowledge the traditional owners of the land as a matter of respect and courtesy or do you agree that it has now become little more than a fad? Fill out the comments box below and let us know your views.
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One Response to “Abbott Dismisses Aboriginal Acknowledgement As Tokenism”
Comment by Susie — May 19, 2010 @ 1:53 am
Of course, the time has more than come for the rights and traditional ownership of the indigenous of Australia be recognised. Mr Abbott needs to realise that he is most definitely not a spokesperson for the indigenous people so whatever he believes to be tokenism is irrelevant.
Mr Tuckey is right, this soil is Australian – but we can’t ignore the history behind that. In particular, those that were here before Australia was even defined. Acknowledgement of land is just one more necessary step paving the way for future reconciliation.