An Aboriginal elder from Tasmania’s west coast has refused to attend court over a trespass charge, saying the ‘white legal system’ has ‘no jurisdiction’ over him.
Jim Everett is accused of obstructing a public servant during a protest against logging in the Styx Valley of the Giants earlier this year.
But he says the charges should be dropped because he does not identify as an Australian citizen.
“I don’t recognise or belong to the Australian state,” he said.
“There has never been true conciliation between first nations people and the colonial nation of Australia and any notion that first nations peoples are citizens of Australia is an historic political lie being maintained by governments and institutions alike.”
Everett says the legal system is a tool used to avoid responsibility for negotiating a treaty with Aboriginal people.
“It’s a trickery throughout its history to evade any responsibility to negotiate a treaty with our first nations,” he said.
Everett is facing fines of up to $45,000 or a significant prison sentence.
He says fully expects to be rearrested and charged with failing to appear on the trespass charges at some stage.
Aboriginal Centre Tasmania Campaign Manager Nala Mansell backed Everett’s calls, saying the charges against him were a “witch hunt”.
“With everything that’s been done to us a people and everything that has been taken from us, why on earth would the state follow through with these charges against an Aboriginal elder who is fulfilling his obligation to protect Aboriginal lands?” she said.
“The power that white people have over Aborigines, our lives, culture and cultural responsibilities has to have some flexibility.”
“White people can govern and manage themselves, but their laws shouldn’t apply to Aboriginal people.”
She said the Aboriginal community in Tasmania and across the country supported Everett and demanded the charges be dropped.
“Uncle Jim has the backing of the Aboriginal community here in Lutruwita and right across the country and we demand any charges against Uncle Jim are dropped,” she said.
