By Kaylene Allen
HOBART — The Aboriginal community on May 3 reoccupied Risdon Cove, 12 kilometres from the centre of Hobart, in commemoration of the 1804 massacre of at least 100 Aborigines.
More than 300 Aborigines and supporters attended the ceremony. Afterwards, members of the Aboriginal community voted to reclaim the area and maintain a camp until the government meets their demands on land rights.
The 1804 massacre was described as "the first act of a decided hostility" by the British in what was to become a war of extermination against Aboriginal people in Tasmania. The Moomairremener people, who had travelled to Risdon Cove to hunt kangaroo and for celebration, were killed by drunken soldiers with cannon and muskets. Their bodies were butchered and boiled down so that the bones could be packed in lime and sent to Sydney for scientific collections.
The Labor government's Aboriginal Lands Bill was rejected last year. Months before it was debated in parliament, the Aboriginal community reoccupied 3000 hectares of Rocky Cape on the north-west coast. Rocky Cape's rock shelters and campsites are among evidence of the earliest occupation of Tasmania, but the site was omitted from the bill.
Rocky Saintly, secretary of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, stated, "The Aboriginal community feels that we are getting nowhere with this government. Whilst they rhetorically support the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody, of which land rights is central, the government has taken no action and avoided the whole issue.
"We have no choice but to step up our fight for land rights, take things into our own hands and continue reclaiming land. The Aboriginal community will seek federal government intervention in the granting of land rights in Tasmania and, failing that, our case will be taken to the United Nations."
The state Liberal government has also frozen funding granted to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council under the Labor government.
At the May 3 ceremony, the government refused the Aboriginal community access to the public building (which houses the toilets, water and other facilities) at Risdon Cove.
The area is state reserve administered by the Department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage. Minister John Cleary authorised the closing of the building.
"This shows once again that a different set of rules exists for whites and Aboriginal people", said Saintly. "These are public buildings, open seven days a week, and we have had to bring in toilets to hold our ceremony and meeting. This is typical of the government's attitude in not recognising Aboriginal people.
"It is further insult that this area is being run by National Parks upremacy, upholding the first white settlement with no true indication or documentation of the slaughter of Aboriginal people that took place here. We would like to see this area handed back to the Aboriginal community and the building transformed into a cultural centre which would tell the true story."
The community has sought a meeting with the government, which has not replied but has indicated it might use police to remove the protesters. Cleary has accused them of acting unlawfully by blocking the gate to allow other community members to enter, building a fire and driving vehicles into the reserve. Department officers have been taking photos.
Amendments to the Police Offences Act make it possible for police or public officers to detain any person on crown land whom they suspect is there without lawful excuse. The maximum penalty is a fine of $20,000 or 12 months' imprisonment. Legislation introduced for use against forest protesters may well be tested on the Aboriginal community.
Donations, food and support have come from the public for the protesters, and members of the Aboriginal community have been overwhelmed by the positive response. Letters of support or donations can be sent to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, 198 Elizabeth St, Hobart 7000.