Updated
The ABC understands that tensions are high among
South Australian Indigenous communities regarding the timing of an
expected visit from special envoy for Indigenous Affairs Tony Abbott in
the wake of a recent alleged murder in Ceduna.
Key points:
- Tony Abbott's office has confirmed a planned visit to remote communities in SA this week
- The ABC understands many Indigenous communities in the state are against the visit
- Mr Abbott plans to speak with leaders about improving school attendances and outcomes
A 56-year-old man was charged with murder following the death of a 32-year-old man at an Aboriginal community near Ceduna on South Australia's far west coast last Tuesday.
Mr Abbott's office said on Sunday the former prime minister was eager to visit as many remote communities as possible to hear what local school and community leaders think needs to be done to improve "school attendances and outcomes".
"This week, he is grateful for the opportunity to engage with a number of communities in South Australia," a spokesman said.
He is believed to be visiting Aboriginal communities around the state including Adelaide, Ceduna, Yalata, Koonibba and Murray Bridge but the timing of his visit is believed to have caused hostility, with one Indigenous elder describing the visit as a "wasted exercise".
Special envoy a 'useless position'
Narungga elder Tauto Sansbury — who was born and raised on the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia — said the visit to the Aboriginal communities would be a wasted exercise."Tony Abbott is a backbencher. He's been given a position that is really nothing to the Aboriginal community," he said.
"I would prefer to deal with Nigel Scullion [the Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister].
"The first thing he did was attack our budget and our community and talk about closing down Aboriginal communities, which was wrong.
"I don't have any interest in meeting Tony Abbott. I have more important things to do within my community."He said Mr Abbott's position of special envoy for Indigenous affairs should not exist and it was a "useless position" created for the former prime minister.
"Scott Morrison has given Tony Abbott this position to keep him quiet on the backbench and basically let him fly around Aboriginal communities and do what he wants," he said.
"There's no outcome for any Aboriginal community in Australia to meet with this guy.
"Tony Abbott had the chance when he was the prime minister to do something for us and unfortunately he didn't."Mr Sansbury did not want to comment directly on whether Tony Abbott should postpone his visit, given the tensions in the wake of the recent alleged murder in the area.
He said it was up to the local community to pass judgment, but was willing to make the following remarks.
"I know what happened on the west coast not long ago and they've got issues to deal with at this present moment. I don't think Tony Abbott or any politician at this present moment can do anything about that," he said.
"You don't need the interference of a politician such as Tony Abbott to come into that community and start laying down or preaching the law to them."
Mr Sansbury said if his own community was going through the same issues as the west coast, it would be "wiser" if Mr Abbott postponed his trip.
Position is 'deeply offensive'
Opposition Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Kyam Maher said it was his understanding that Mr Abbott would "over the next week visit a number of South Australian communities … the APY Lands, the far west coast towards Yalata and the Murray Bridge area".He said hostility should be expected because Mr Abbott's position as special envoy was "offensive" for some Aboriginal people.
"The appointment of Tony Abbott as a special envoy for Aboriginal people is something that is actually deeply offensive," he said."As prime minister, Tony Abbott talked about the thousands of years of connection to country, and living on country, as a mere 'lifestyle choice'."
Mr Maher said the timing of the visit could be particularly insensitive and "insulting", because of cultural reasons.
"This time of the year is a very difficult time to visit remote communities," he said.
"There were a number of members of the South Australian Parliament who were due to visit remote communities in the APY Lands and the far west coast, Yalata, in the coming week but were provided with advice that it's not appropriate to do so at this time because of cultural business occurring.
"We were advised as members of the South Australian Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Committee that next week's not an appropriate time to visit those areas.
"If he is visiting some of those areas, he might need to seek a lot more advice before he does."
Mr Maher said there would be a "range of reactions" to the visit, from those who wouldn't be "at all pleased" to others who would "show respect for someone who is a member of Parliament".
Communities should 'embrace' visit
Kaurna elder Jeffrey Newchurch said his community was unaware of the visit from Mr Abbott but he hoped Aboriginal communities would embrace the opportunity.He said he was surprised but quite interested in speaking with the former prime minister because the Aboriginal position in South Australia was "at crisis point".
"We've had no communication, nothing has come through the Kaurna community," he said.
"If he's put into that position he should be engaging with all Aboriginal communities, not a selected or identified few.
"The Aboriginal position here, the reality of it all over Australia, we're at a crisis point."Mr Newchurch said Mr Abbott should always expect negativity when visiting Indigenous communities but it was up to the communities to take advantage of the visit.
"He'll always have the negativity in our community and those who support our community," he said.
"We need to take that attitude of embracing it because the negativity just brings up brick walls."I think that we need to have him out there because it gives that positive to Aboriginal communities.
"You want to be open and you want to be frank in the discussion about all the elements of the Aboriginal community."
The ABC has also reached out to Indigenous communities near Ceduna who did not want to comment on the visit.
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