Pauline Hanson’s ‘unease’ with Aboriginal flag a sovereignty issue: Euahlayi leader

Prominent rights activist and Euahlayi leader, Ghillar Michael Anderson, has responded to Pauline Hanson’s comments about the Aboriginal flag being ‘divisive’, saying that her ‘unease’ stems from the flag’s connection to sovereignty.

Ghillar Michael Anderson On Aboriginal Flag

Ghillar Michael Anderson believes the Aboriginal flag's display is a recognition of sovereignty and condemns Pauline Hanson's comments. Source: NITV

The national convenor of the and founding Tent Embassy activist, Mr Anderson (Nyoongar Ghurradjong Murri Ghillar) told NITV that he thinks Hanson may not be alone in her views. 

“I don’t think there’s another person in Australia who’d be publicly critical of the Aboriginal flag", he said. "But there are some people who are happy to allow Pauline Hanson to come forward, and say things they don’t have the guts to say themselves.

“Australia placing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on Government buildings is by default recognising our sovereignty and that there are two separate existences; the Indigenous people and the invaders.

“There’s no doubt that Pauline Hanson’s unease in having more than one flag on state buildings, stems from this recognition of our sovereignty.”
Pauline Hanson On Aboriginal Flag
Pauline Hanson says mainstream Australia should have a say on the flying of the Aboriginal flag. Source: Getty Images
On Monday Pauline Hanson told , that she thought the Aboriginal flag was "extremely divise."

"We as Australians have never been asked in a referendum whether we endorse or recognise the Aboriginal flag," she said. "But it is flown everywhere, especially above government buildings ... Flying two Australian flags is extremely divisive ... we should be unified under one flag, the Australian flag."

Mr Anderson said that contrary to be divise, the Aboriginal flag is unifying for disparate nations of First Australians.

"Uniting Aboriginal people together under one flag in the struggle for land rights is something that we’re very proud of, because it created unification. This is something we never had until that point in time. It meant we were able to get ourselves into a position where someone would take notice of us. We’ve made significant impacts and achievements in our own right, as a result of that.”

 


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Published 19 January 2016 11:27am
Updated 20 January 2016 5:04pm
By Jerico Mandybur
Source: NITV


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