Indigenous activists have protested outside parliament house in Canberra, saying that Aboriginal people have no friends in politics.
Extra federal police officers were deployed to the capital’s most important building after being caught off guard by the 200-strong protest, which was originally planned for Australia Day.
Demonstrators marched from the Aboriginal tent embassy to the front doors of parliament house which was locked for the duration of the protest.
They aired a number of grievances relating to Indigenous rights, including deaths in custody and cuts to funding.
One of the protesters who helped establish the tent embassy in 1972, Michael Anderson, warned politicians that demonstrations would continue until Aboriginal deaths in custody stopped.
Fellow demonstrator Ben Taylor, an elder from Western Australia, also wanted the government to address the issue.
“Our jails are full and our people are still dying in custody. We’ve got to make a stand now,” Taylor told the crowd.
Other demonstrators said there was no political will to tackle issues around racism and inequality.
“As Aboriginal people, we have no friends in this parliament,” Ken Canning said. “Where is the voice for the human rights abuses that are happening every day in every community against Aboriginal people?”
He said the opposition was complacent when it came to budget funding cuts for Indigenous services.
“It took the leader of Labor one month to respond. One month and it was a written statement. He read it in front of the cameras and walked away. Not good enough,” Canning said.
“This is a battle with all political parties. We have to remain apolitical and fight the lot of them, because their policies are nothing short of genocidal … They are trying to kill us off.”
“Wake up, Australia! You have a serious, serious problem,” Herbert Bropho said.
“They want to start listening to us, because we’re coming for you. And I don’t care any more. I’ve got five kids and I will fight to the death for my children’s future,” Marianne Mackay said.
The protest follows on from a march from the centre of Canberra to the tent embassy on Monday. The demonstrations coincide with a three-day long conference on Aboriginal sovereignty.
