Uprising of the People charged $8000 to hold Invasion Day march in Darwin
Aboriginal leaders have been forced to cough up an $8000 bill five days before a planned Survival Day march, sparking concerns about barriers to protest freedoms.
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Aboriginal leaders protesting on Invasion Day have been slapped with an $8000 fee to hold their Darwin city protest.
Uprising of the People posted an urgent call out to the community seeking donations to pay for the Invasion Day march, after being told it would cost $8000 to host the protest at Civic Park.
The organisation, led by Kulumbirigin Danggalaba Tiwi woman Mililma May, wrote on social media channels that it was charged the hefty fee just five days out from the planned January 26 protest.
“We want to protest safely for Invasion Day. To do this we need to pay for traffic control,” an Instagram post said.
The post said the local council “refuses to pay for traffic control” and the police were not “voluntarily offering their protection to allow this protest to happen safely”.
Within four hours of the call out the group had raised the funds, adding that the situation had raised concerns about barriers facing the right to protest and free speech.
“We hope you hold your concerns around our rights to protest,” Uprising of the People said.
“For now our focus is on bringing the community together.”
A City of Darwin spokeswoman said the bulk of the funds were not from the council, but a result of the group needing a traffic management plan for the event which is expected to bring in up to 2000 people.
“Any event or activity held within the Darwin municipality that is likely to disrupt traffic or pedestrian movements or safety, require traffic management in order to apply for a permit,” she said.
“Traffic management is provided by third-party suppliers, who charge at their own discretion.”
The council representative said the Invasion Day March permit totalled just $245 — including $120 for park hire, $75 for power and $50 to review the traffic management plan.
“City of Darwin received the Invasion Day March permit application on 22 January 2024, and is working expeditiously with the organisers as part of a standard permit application assessment process,” she said.
It is understood that Uprising of the People has gone to a private company in order to prepare its traffic management plan.
The Uprising of the People has released a 10 point call to action for January 26, ranging from Territory-specific demands to save saving Lee Point, stopping the Middle Arm Gas Hub and the Barossa Gas pipeline to condemning the genocide in Palestine and occupation of West Papua.
“Together, we call for … the liberation, freedom and self-determination of all Indigenous and oppressed people. (And) the care, protection and management of all land, sea and skies to be led by Traditional Owners,” it said.
The Civic Park demonstration is one of two planned Invasion Day events in Darwin, with the 10am Civic Park event followed by another protest outside Don Dale Detention Centre, 30 Tivendale Rd Berrimah, to be held at 11am.
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