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robofillet:

timinator232:

thedailywhat:

Scenes From A Protest of the Day: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott had to be rushed out of a restaurant in Canberra today by Australian Federal Police officers after a throng of angry protesters threatened to harm them both.

The pair were attending an Australia Day ceremony at The Lobby restaurant, when protesters from the nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy descended on the establishment to demonstrate their displeasure at Abbott’s remark that it was time for the 40-year-old tent city to “move on.”

Abbott’s comments inflamed tensions already heightened by “Invasion Day” protests organized by indigenous leaders throughout the country.

In the midst of the violence, however, another remarkable scene, as PM Gillard is caught on tape inquiring as to the whereabouts and safety of her political rival. “What about Mr Abbott?” Gillard is heard saying. “Where have you got him? We’d better help him through, hadn’t we?”

The commotion quieted down shortly after Gillard and Abbott cleared out. Protesters are now looking into the possibility of suing Abbott for inciting a riot.

[telegraph / sbs / 9news.]

Now Rohan, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think all leaders should take this prime minister as an example. Stay cool, collected, care about others, and don’t turn a mole hill into a mountain. 

Gah, I mean yes and no. Both Julia and Tony knew they had a camera on them, as their stilted reactions show. Like, Julia does not call Tony, “Mr Abbott”. It’s true that Australians value unflappable people though, so I guess that’s the image they were both trying to convey.

They’re probably trying not to draw too much attention to the protesters too. Australia has some pretty goddamn awful legislation currently that actively discriminates against Aboriginal people based on their race. Like, they literally had to suspend the Racial Discrimination Act in order to make it happen. If the leaders of either major political party drew too much attention to this, it would reignite a really inconvenient political argument about Aboriginal Australians and native title rights. Considering that there is currently a push to recognise the rights of Aboriginal Australians in the constitution (something neither major party really wants), this incident is a major political bother for both of them.

And can I just add, Tony’s comments about it being time to move on from the Tent Embassy are just wildly ignorant. Aboriginal people are still by far the most under-represented and disempowered group in the country. Besides a few token sportspeople, Aboriginal people are almost completely voiceless and have no representation in the Australian democracy. The Tent Embassy was set up to draw attention to the fact that the government only governs for white Australia. There are embassies dotted all over Canberra for foreign powers to have a voice to be heard by the government, but Aboriginal people do not have a voice - they are essentially subjugated. This hasn’t changed in the 40 years the Embassy has been occupying that space. Australia has not moved on from when the protest began, so it is still relevant and Tony has no idea what he’s talking about.

This is why it’s useful to have friends everywhere. Fact checking is so much easier.