‘Very distressed’: Actor Tasma Walton, family threatened amid land claim court case

Aussie actor Tasma Walton – who claims Indigenous heritage – has sought to withdraw from a land claim court case, saying she and her children have been subjected to threats.

Actor Tasma Walton with her TV personality husband Rove McManus. Picture: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Actor Tasma Walton received threats to herself and her family after giving evidence in a dispute between Victorian Aboriginal groups, a court has been told.

Ms Walton’s barrister Chris Athanasiou told the Federal Court today that the “very distressed” actor, who claims Indigenous heritage, had been put up as “poster girl” of the No case for the upcoming Voice to parliament referendum.

“She fears for herself and her family, she fears that this will impact considerably on her work as an actor and her livelihood,” he said.

Ms Walton is among several people linked to the Bunurong Land Council who are responding to a big land claim by rival group the Boon Wurrung Land and Sea Council.

Ms Walton, who is married to TV personality Rove McManus, told the court on Monday that she “gradually realised” about her Aboriginal ancestry after moving to Melbourne to film Blue Heelers TV series in 1996.

Her Nanna had shared “unusual stories” about parts of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, including a theory on what happened to prime minister Harold Holt who drowned off Portsea in 1967.

“She said he shouldn’t have been swimming there, that it was mermaid country,” Ms Walton said.

Tasma Walton and husband Rove McManus

Mr Athanasiou said Ms Walton was currently overseas, but had asked to withdraw from the court case.

“The position of Tasma Walton is that she has been the subject of a concerted campaign in the commercial and on social media, she has received threats to the family, to her children, some as young as nine,” he said.

Lawyer representing the Wurundjeri people Anne Sheehan said it had been brought to her attention that Ms Walton’s evidence had been “seized upon by numerous people and perhaps groups in terms of a political agenda in relation to the No campaign”.

Justice Bernard Murphy said he had been concerned about some of the mainstream media commentary on the case, but “I did not see anything. which I would have described as misleading”.

The actor, pictured with friends, claims she had been ‘the subject of a concerted campaign’ and threats.

“I’m not on social media so I haven’t seen anything that's been said,” he said.

“I found Ms Walton a truthful and a persuasive witness … I’m sorry that those things have happened to her, but as you know I have no control whatsoever over it.”

Justice Murphy said he wasn’t inclined to agree to a withdrawal application as “we are mid trial, the issues that Ms Walton raised are still going to be dealt with by this court”.

Earlier, the judge criticised Mr Athanasiou and the Bunurong case when pointing out that most Bunurong witnesses had recognised Boon Wurrung Council elder Carolyn Briggs and her family as descended from Bunurong ancestors.

“So I don’t know how you say that you had clear instructions when the witnesses you called said something expressly different to what was being put in your submissions,” he said.

Justice Murphy also criticised Mr Athanasiou for being late to court.

“Enough is enough, there will be no more indulgences, a court does not revolve around you and your clients.”

“The court expects more care, more accountability and more timeliness from the Bunurong respondents in the way they run their case,” he said.

The case continues.