In 1999, the Australian government pressured UK Prime Minister Tony Blair not to meet an Indigenous delegation led by Patrick Dodson, labeling them troublemakers. Australian officials were concerned that the delegation would demand an apology from the Queen and address the British government's historical failures in consulting Indigenous Australians during colonization. A memo from Blair's adviser indicated the Australian high commissioner urged Blair to avoid the meeting due to potential diplomatic fallout. This incident highlights the complexities of historical reconciliation and government responses to Indigenous rights.
The Australian government privately pressured Tony Blair in 1999 not to meet an Indigenous delegation led by Patrick Dodson, labelling them troublemakers, according to newly released government files.
Australian officials feared the delegation would seek an apology from the Queen and raise historical failures of the British government to consult Australia's Indigenous population during colonisation.
A memo from Mr Blair's foreign affairs adviser, John Sawers, reportedly reveals that the Australian high commissioner, Philip Flood, urged Mr Blair not to meet the visiting Indigenous delegation.
The UK government was uneasy about the optics and feared diplomatic fallout, with Mr Sawers suggesting Mr Blair cite diary problems to avoid the meeting.
#indigenous-rights #diplomatic-relations #historical-reconciliation #australian-government #tony-blair
Collection
[
|
...
]