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A northern song and dance as Tony Abbott makes good on his promise A northern song and dance as Tony Abbott makes good on his promise
(about 17 hours later)
It is a song about water that heralds Tony Abbott’s visit to Arnhem Land in the little coastal township of Yirrkala. Like a tidal swell, the dancers move up to the prime minister’s car to “sing” him into the arts centre.It is a song about water that heralds Tony Abbott’s visit to Arnhem Land in the little coastal township of Yirrkala. Like a tidal swell, the dancers move up to the prime minister’s car to “sing” him into the arts centre.
Peter Marika leads his fellow clan members, singing the story of the Djang’kawu sisters, who first emerged from the ocean and spawned the Dhuwa clans across East Arnhem.Peter Marika leads his fellow clan members, singing the story of the Djang’kawu sisters, who first emerged from the ocean and spawned the Dhuwa clans across East Arnhem.
Marika first performed a welcome to country ceremony for another prime minister, Billy McMahon, in the early seventies. Back then, he was the size of the cherubic three-year-old Jermaine Mununggurr, who now dances at his feet. Marika first performed a welcome to country ceremony for another prime minister, Billy McMahon, in the early 70s. Back then, he was the size of the cherubic three-year-old Jermaine Mununggurr, who now dances at his feet.
Now Peter is the elder. He knows this song and dance.Now Peter is the elder. He knows this song and dance.
And Abbott? He is here on a promise. It was a promise to Gumatji clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu to spend a week in his community that determined this trip.And Abbott? He is here on a promise. It was a promise to Gumatji clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu to spend a week in his community that determined this trip.
But even more, it was Abbott’s promise to be a special prime minister for indigenous affairs that has added an extra layer of expectation. An extra commitment, in an election full of promises, for a leader who has spent a week volunteering in aboriginal communities each year since 2008. But even more, it was Abbott’s promise to be a special prime minister for Indigenous affairs that has added an extra layer of expectation. An extra commitment, in an election full of promises, for a leader who has spent a week volunteering in Aboriginal communities each year since 2008.
In the past, practical recognition was a feature of Abbott’s volunteer week – his natural predilection for physical expression. Building sheds, painting, generally doing what is known in Catholicism as “good works”.In the past, practical recognition was a feature of Abbott’s volunteer week – his natural predilection for physical expression. Building sheds, painting, generally doing what is known in Catholicism as “good works”.
But as prime minister, Abbott has set a trickier agenda around constitutional recognition of Australia’s indigenous people. Though John Howard, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard all committed to creating constitutional recognition, Abbott made it his own. But as prime minister, Abbott has set a trickier agenda around constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous people. Though John Howard, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard all committed to creating constitutional recognition, Abbott made it his own.
“This is a very important national crusade,” he said of constitutional recognition in January this year. “It is very important to me, it is very important to the Indigenous people of our country and it should be very important to all of us who want to see our country whole.”“This is a very important national crusade,” he said of constitutional recognition in January this year. “It is very important to me, it is very important to the Indigenous people of our country and it should be very important to all of us who want to see our country whole.”
But on Sunday – his first day in Arnhem land – the prime minister’s afternoon was mostly ceremonial. But on Sunday – his first day in Arnhem Land – the prime minister’s afternoon was mostly ceremonial.
Three hours earlier on his way to Arnhem Land, he had announced that Australia would be sending 600 troops to the Middle East to join international forces in the fight against the Islamic State (Isis).Three hours earlier on his way to Arnhem Land, he had announced that Australia would be sending 600 troops to the Middle East to join international forces in the fight against the Islamic State (Isis).
When the prime minister finally arrived, it was a somewhat solemn Abbott who toured the arts centre in the afternoon before moving on to a private meeting with Yunupingu to discuss indigenous recognition at the festival site at Garma in Arnhem Land. When the prime minister finally arrived, it was a somewhat solemn Abbott who toured the arts centre in the afternoon before moving on to a private meeting with Yunupingu to discuss Indigenous recognition at the festival site at Garma in Arnhem Land.
Like the heat that builds ahead of the northern wet season, there is potential for great opportunity and great disappointment for Abbott.Like the heat that builds ahead of the northern wet season, there is potential for great opportunity and great disappointment for Abbott.
Back at Yirrkala, little Jermaine danced in the red dirt, pleased as punch, after shaking the hand of his prime minister. Who will he welcome in 50 years’ time?Back at Yirrkala, little Jermaine danced in the red dirt, pleased as punch, after shaking the hand of his prime minister. Who will he welcome in 50 years’ time?