Clinton Pryor, the Wajuk, Balardung, Kija and Yulparitja man who recently finished a year-long walk across the nation to draw attention to issues facing Indigenous Australia, walked a few steps further today: steps away from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
After arriving in Canberra with the stated intention of meeting Turnbull at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and discussing a formal treaty with First Australians, Pryor met the Prime Minister only after walking to the rear of Parliament House.
Then, in the Prime Minister’s forecourt, Pryor made the decision to walk away from the meeting, as Turnbull reportedly engaged in an argument with supporters about the much-maligned cashless welfare card.
I turn my back an walk away from the PM. The picture say it all. – #ClintonsWalk pic.twitter.com/sqXUr6Qlut
— Clinton Pryor – The Spirit Walker (@Clintonswalk) September 6, 2017
In a statement, Pryor’s camp writes that while a representative attempted to read out a list of demands, “both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs [Nigel Scullion] were disrespectful – speaking over the top of Aboriginal Elders to defend unfair policies – rather than listening respectfully.”
Pryor, the ‘Spirit Walker’, chose to leave the meeting “rather than continue listening to the PM attempting to defend the ongoing unfair and unjust treatment of Aboriginal people in this country.”
The ABC reports that Turnbull was called away by a staffer at the peak of the meeting’s tension.
Yesterday, opposition leader Bill Shorten and a number of other MPs met with Pryor and his team at the front of Parliament House.
He walked 6000km to deliver a message on Indigenous justice. Honoured to meet Clinton @clintonswalk today. We’ll keep the conversation going pic.twitter.com/rYkpOU4F0G
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) September 5, 2017
PEDESTRIAN.TV has reached out to the Prime Minister’s office for comment.
