Warren Mundine takes a swipe at the outrage over Sharks coach’s reference to Captain Cook
EXCLUSIVE: TOP indigenous adviser urges people to focus on the real problems facing Aboriginals instead of pointless outrage about references to Captain Cook.
NSW
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THE nation’s top indigenous adviser has urged people to focus on the real problems facing Aboriginal people instead of pointless outrage about references to Captain Cook.
The chair of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, Warren Mundine AO, said he was staggered that on a day when the scourge of domestic violence in indigenous communities was highlighted by the NT coroner, some people were getting upset by an off-the-cuff remark by Sharks coach Shane Flanagan.
Flanagan jokingly described Cronulla’s grand final win as “the biggest thing to happen in the Shire since Captain Cook landed”, which when reported on yesterday’s front page caused some to claim it was offensive.
Mr Mundine said he was flabbergasted. “Here we are talking about Aboriginal women being killed and bashed in domestic violence and some of the intelligentsia want to talk about the front page of the Daily Telegraph? Come on,” he said.
“I just find they’ve lost the plot quite frankly. Every couple of weeks an Aboriginal woman gets murdered and every couple of days an Aboriginal child gets abused. Come on fellas — wake up to yourselves and focus on the real issues.”
Mr Mundine even poked fun at the Shire’s sleepy reputation, notwithstanding the riot at Cronulla in 2005: “I don’t want to insult the Shire but quite frankly not much happens down there. The biggest thing in 250 years probably has been Captain Cook and winning the premiership.”
Linda Burney, the first Indigenous woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, said people had raised concerns about the comment and the coverage with her but also noted that the Sharks had an exemplary record of supporting reconciliation and Indigenous players.
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