Dozens of protesters have set up camp on Parliament Lawns in Hobart, insisting that Premier Jeremy Rockliff move forward with legislation for a treaty process.
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign co-ordinator Nala Mansell says they won’t be leaving until the Premier meets with the Aboriginal-elected treaty group to discuss the next steps.
Mansell told the crowd gathered on Tuesday that, 220 years after colonisation, non-Aboriginal Tasmanians ‘haven’t asked permission’ to be on their ancestral land.
“We demand a treaty,” she said. “We will be setting up our tents and will stay to demand a treaty from the Premier.”
“We are here on our land and we will not move until the Premier comes out, speaks to the people and agrees to legislate for a treaty.”
“Some of you have already planned to camp out here overnight and into the future.”
Mansell said the state government hasn’t responded to a draft treaty-process bill her group provided last year, but she believes the government could legislate a treaty process in the coming months.
A government spokesperson said they are ‘always willing’ to engage with Tasmanian Aboriginal people and they have set up an Aboriginal Advisory Group to lead the efforts towards truth-telling and treaty.
“The Premier and Aboriginal Affairs Minister have previously met with members of the TAC-nominated group, who were present on the Parliament lawns today and have encouraged them to participate in the Advisory Group process,” the spokesperson said.
“The Aboriginal advisory group has also invited the TAC members to attend advisory group meetings, but to date they have declined to do so.”
