Aboriginal activists pack up protest camp on Parliament Lawns after meeting Premier over treaty

Activitsts who had pitched tents on Parliament Lawns in Hobart to protest lack of progress towards a treaty, have packed up. Here’s what happened. >>>

Update: The Aboriginal encampment on Parliament Lawns is packing up on day three after garnering a meeting between Tasmanian Aboriginal delegates and the Premier.

Nala Mansell from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said she was confident the Premier Jeremy Rockliff heard the groups concerns about progressing treaty.

The group met Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday afternoon to discuss their concerns.

Ms Mansell said Mr Rockliff was open to consulting with her community, and they would be organising a meeting to discuss the next steps.

Earlier: A growing community of frustrated Tasmanian Aboriginals and supporters are calling for the premier to visit the encampment where more than 30 protesters slept on Parliament Lawns on the second day of an Aboriginal rights protest asserting their “sovereign rights” and demanding action on treaty.

Ms Mansell from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said Premier Jeremy Rockliff did not come out and talk to them on day two of the unauthorised protest.

“He is right inside the building so the least he could do is just come out and speak with us and have a chat about how we can move forward with this treaty,” Ms Mansell said.

Nala Mansell from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and Krystelle Jordan from Limlinaturi/Devonport. Members and supporters of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community have begun a camp out on parliament lawns to push for a treaty. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said Mr Rockliff made it clear that he had backed away from treaty and truth-telling as a priority of his government and was now choosing himself what the priorities were for Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

Mr Rockliff repeatedly called for “unity” when asked in parliament if he would meet the growing Aboriginal embassy set up on Parliament Lawns.

He said his government was focused on the “more pressing issue” of closing the gaps in incarceration rates, educational outcomes and other areas.

Mr Rockliff said he had been willing to engage with Tasmanian Aboriginal people “irrespective of their communities” over the past few years.

“That is my focus going forward regarding supporting Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and ensuring that we close the gap, literally, on all that unfortunate data,” Mr Rockliff said.

Dr Woodruff was again calling on Mr Rockliff to take over the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio from Braddon’s Roger Jaensch and said there had been no progress on land rights or returns, on Aboriginal protections or a path to treaty under Mr Jaensch.

Neither Mr Jaensch or Mr Rockliff visited the group on day two of their protest.

“How can he have full confidence [in the minister] when we’ve got a group of Aboriginal people outraged here on the lawns of parliament and when we’ve got a respected Elder like

Theresa Sainty who has stepped down from the committee in disgust,” Dr Woodruff said.

Ms Sainty was elected to the government’s treaty and truth telling advisory group in 2022 but has since resigned, saying she joined against her better judgement.

Theresa Sainty and Rosalie Woodruff speak to the media at treaty encampment after Ms Sainty resigned from government led treaty and truth telling group. Picture: Elise Kaine

She said the government had “dropped the ball” on treaty negotiations and that her community was being used as a “scapegoat”.

“It’s not about the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre or other organisations it is about the community’s, the Aboriginal community’s aspirations, and we want that treaty,” she said.

“I am aligned with the TAC but I am also aligned with other bona fide Aboriginal community organisations.

“Most importantly I am aligned with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, the palawa community.

“What you see behind me is the community’s response to government inaction,” she said.

Speaker Michelle O’Byrne said she was advised the encampment would hold their embassy until they can meet the Premier.

“We will monitor it from a safety perspective for both the participants in the protest and people using the lawns into the future,” Ms O’Byrne said.

Opposition Aboriginal affairs spokesman Josh Willie said the issue was hurting Tasmanian Aboriginal people and the changing language around the government’s priorities was problematic.

“He is saying that closing the gap is his priority, absolutely that work is very important but it should fit alongside truth telling and treaty.

“It’s not one or the other,” Mr Willie said.

Mr Willie, independent MPs Kirstie Johnstone and David O’Byrne, federal MP Andrew Wilkie and members of the Greens visited the encampment following parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Mansell said the group would not leave until the Premier “speaks to the people” and agrees to legislate for a treaty.