INVASION DAY PROTESTS
Thousands of people have marched in largely masked, peaceful, and socially-distanced Invasion Day protests, with
The Guardian reporting that just a handful of people including some white nationalists were detained in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Melbourne/Naarm march, which came after
Scott Morrison declared Australians “have risen above our brutal beginnings”, saw Greens senator and Gunnai Gunditjmara/Djab Wurrung woman
Lidia Thorpe reiterate calls for a Treaty by announcing “a war was declared on the first people of this land” in 1788 that “has not ended”.
Elsewhere,
Russell Broadbent has called on the Morrison government to adopt the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart which calls for both a First Nations Voice to Parliament and Makarrata Commission for developing treaties in full.
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The Order of Australia is a reflection of where this country is â and that should make us embarrassed and ashamed. Itâs not just that there arenât enough women and no clear indication of whether we recognise First Nations people, points clearly made by Jacqueline Maley and Nigel Gladstone in the
Good Weekend. Itâs not just that one of Australiaâs top homophobes and former tennis player Margaret Court has been given our highest honour. Itâs not just that menâs rights âadvocateâ Bettina Arndt was awarded one last year â and got to keep it. Itâs not even that there are a host of awardees youâd prefer to avoid in a dark alley. Let me remind you of what Shane Stone, the chair of the Council for the Order of Australia, said last September: âShort of a criminal conviction, we are not going to be arbiters of what people can or canât say.â
Clara Tuck Meng Soo has returned her medal after learning that Margaret Court would also be honoured (SBS News/Getty)
A trans doctor who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia has handed it back after learning homophobic tennis star Margaret Court would be honoured.
Clara Tuck Meng Soo was given the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016 for her work as a medical practitioner with LGBT+ and HIV positive communities.
She has now returned it in protest after learning that Court will be promoted on Australia Day to a Companion of the Order of Australia, the highest civilian honour, and the second time Court has received such an award.
Transgender doctor returns OAM citynews.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from citynews.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.