A lot can happen in a week. At the start of the week it was The Wiggles and that train-wreck interview they did on the Today Show that everyone was talking about but as the week draws to a close it’s Australia Day that’s on our minds.
Meanwhile this afternoon these pictures from Alex Ellinghausen of Prime Minister Julia Gillard being dragged away from protesters in Canberra emerged. Have a read below for more information on what the protest was about.
After speaking at a ceremony for the inaugural national emergency medals in Canberra on Australia Day, Prime Minister Julia Gillard had to be escorted away from protestors who stormed the entrance of the building she was in. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott also had to be dragged to safety. Photo by Alex Ellinghausen
This is from The Age on those incredible pictures of Julia Gillard:
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, had to be extracted from a restaurant near Parliament House as angry protesters banged on the glass.
Supporters of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra picketed the Lobby restaurant over comments by Mr Abbott this morning that the tent embassy should close.
As many as 200 gathered in front of the restaurant, banging on its glass walls and yelling “shame” and “racist”.
The incident, about 2.30pm at the restaurant several hundred metres from Parliament, occurred while Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott were presenting the National Emergency Medals.
The pair were forced to stay inside for 30 minutes while the protest outside continued.
Also during the week, Chinese New Year celebrations were abuzz. And in the fashion world all eyes were on Paris Fashion Week. (Just when you think fashion can’t get any wackier… it can. And it does. Take a look at the pics …)
Comments
66 Comments so far
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must check louis vuitton handbags knockoffs and get big save
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haha so funny pic 26…you travel to India to see one of the most famous beautiful landmarks of the world the Taj Mahal and everyone there is staring at Oprah!
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i have a question. i am being serious and not facetious. I may also be being ignorant, but hear me out. What is it the aboriginal protestors want? there are no laws they are trying to repel or overturn are there? is it just an attitude change from the anglo aussies? More funding? less “white”laws? perhaps a learned person might explain it to us- or is it just me that is not getting it …
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Pic 31, viewed from a distance, looks like a vagina.
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I had the exact same thought!
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Hey MM team, I love looking at the pics of the week, but do you think you could get your it guru to enhance the mobile gallery? I would love to have the captions come through. I have no idea what some of the pictures mean!
Keep up the great work
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yes please, me too!! i have to remember how to world this fandangled desktop computer to see the captions!
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Gosh those channel 9 cameras well well positioned weren’t they?
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Okay. It doesn’t matter what she said, it doesn’t matter what he said, it doesn’t matter what day it is. Trapping someone in a building, threatening and harrassing them, then stealing their freaking shoe is such a pathetic, low act regardless of “why” you did it.
If anybody else did it – they could be charged with theft, amongst other things. What a bunch of dicks. I am friends with a number of indigenous Australians who are completely ashamed at how a few morons derailed their cause today.
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Wow. Piece de resistance has to be the protestors keeping and waving around Julia Gillard’s lost shoe as a trophy. Even though she wasn’t their target. Really? Are ya proud of that? Proud of how you handled that?
Second prize to the aboriginal fellow who asked police and media “what do you expect me to do when I’m 200m from someone who said that”. Ummm… how about NOT steal the prime ministers shoe mate? And maye not physically attack Tony Abbot? If its that hard to do, and if the tent embassy can’t be peaceful protest, they’re doing an awesome job bolstering the case for its removal.
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http://wgwau.com/blog/2012/01/26/the-tent-embassy-debacle-from-a-protesters-pov/#comment-8
Another POV from the protestor side. However even if their intentions weren’t violent, what the hell did they expect those in the restaurant to think when the building was surrounded and angry words are being used? Poor old Julia is having a pleasant lunch celebrating the good works of the Emergency Services workers, when the hordes descend out of nowhere. Did the protestors honestly expect Tony or Julia to step out and talk when they were trapped? Julia disappoints me as PM but to put her in a position where she has to be bundled out like that…its not on. Tony, I hope you at least apologise in private to Julia about your contribution to this.
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Thats it, I’m totally over TA now. I forgave him for the insensitive quip about the wrecked cruise ship but did he learn nothing? The time has come for Tony to go, Bring back Malcolm!
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I’d happily vote for Malcolm! My seat’s Liberal but tends to swing every so often.
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Tony – you just can’t help yourself, can you – It’s Time Tony to shu up and stand down and let Malcom back as leader of the Libs.
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Are you over his actual comment or the comment the people thought he said? The only people who want Malcolm back are the Labor party. Tony has taken the LIberals from nowhere to way in front of the current government. The only thing the Australian publc require is truth in reporting , that way we can make informed decisions. It is sadly lacking at the current time.
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I’m surprised at some of the comments about the protestors. Protests aren’t pretty. It’s not all strolling down the street with a banner and waving at the cameras. You’re angry, and that’s why you’re protesting.
I’m not advocating or excusing violence but I’ve been in protests (albeit a long time ago) and this one looked about standard, to be honest. Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it’s confronting. That’s what happens when people are angry.
Abbott needs to keep his mouth shut until his brain has not only formed a sentence but has read it back to him and checked that he understands it before allowing him to say it out loud.
As for him being entitled to an opinion, of course he is. I think it’s disingenuous to suggest that he’s the same as the man in the street or the man in the pub who rants from the end of the bar, though. He’s the leader of the opposition. He wants to be Prime Minister. His actions – and opinions – have consequences and we saw an example of that today.
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Andrej Pejic is so, so beautiful.
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I have such mixed feelings about Andrej Pejic. I agree, he’s very beautiful and unique and I love that his success shows that you don’t have to conform to gender stereotypes. But most of his work is modelling clothes to be sold to women, and it makes me feel that designers are saying that the ideal body type for female high fashion is either a pre-pubescent girl – or a very hungry man (he also admits to practically starving himself for the runway).
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There are some very right wing responses to the images of Julia Gillard here.
I think people need to know the back story. Australia day is a very sad day for many indigenous people. Plus they were proudly celebrating the 40th anniversary of the tent embassy, which has always been peaceful.
So Abbott chooses this day to say the embassy is meaningless and it’s time to “move on”. Of course people are going to get pissed off.
Abbott ignited the protest, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s Gillard who’s going to have to wear it (unlike her shoe) when all she was did was have the misfortune to be hanging out with him.
On the bright side, it gave us a cracker of an Australia Day story.
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And by the way mamamia I don’t know that I appreciate my words being turned into ads. Just saying.
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???
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the word “shoe” has been turned into a hyperlink taking you to an ad for shoes, at least on my computer. Wish they wouldn’t do that.
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Wow, I’ve never seen that happen! It doesn’t on my computer. Is it a google chrome thing or something perhaps?
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Or maybe co-incidence? I think it’s a pretty safe bet that someone browsing Mammamia is someone who also likes shoes
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Whoops!! I’m so sorry, just read Counterpoint’s comment *properly*, and realised that it wasn’t an ad on the side for shoes, it was a hyperlink inserted over a typed word in their comment!! My Bad!
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No hyperlink on my screen either.
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He didn’t chose Australia Day to voice his opinion, from everything I’ve seen and read today, he actually made the comments in Sydney either yesterday or earlier in the week.
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All the links below say that he made the comments earlier in the day on Australia Day.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1621621/Aboriginal-activists-demand-Abbott-apology
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/in-depth/gillard-abbott-escorted-under-guard-amid-aboriginal-tent-embassy-protest/story-fnbzokem-1226254397282
http://www.smh.com.au/national/pm—dragged-away-after-being-trapped-by–protesters-20120126-1qj1c.html
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Hmm. My comment has disappeared. Maybe it was my links.
He made the comments earlier in the day on Australia Day.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1621621/Aboriginal-activists-demand-Abbott-apology
Many other news sites are also reporting this.
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He made the comments on Australia Day at a doorstop in Sydney after the harbour swim in the morning. I was there.
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omg, ALL i can think about is the Oscars. so angry grgrgrgrgrgrgrgrrrrrrr
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Merita Cheng = love
As a science girl myself, I cannot contain how happy I am that she won young Australian of the year.
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I think this is a sign of the general lack of respect for authority and in particular our politicians these days. The protestors behaviour was appalling and I hope appropriate action is taken against them.
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And Tony Abbott was expressing his opinion, I dont think he was being racist. Insensitive but not racist. I’m becoming so tired of peoples opinions being labelled racist or judgemental simply for not being to everyones liking. The racist or judgemental tag is an easy way to shout someone down when you really have no argument.
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Lu,
I agree he is not necessarily being racist here but I would go further than saying he is simply insensitive. After all Aboriginal people did not get the right to vote till the 1960′s because they were still considered subhuman and a large number had their children taken off them who were then put in institutions amongst other very recent unspeakable acts. Many people are not aware Aboriginal children were a large proportion of those used in human medical experiments up until the 1950′s in major hospitals (including Royal Melbourne, RBH), and at major universities (Adelaide, Melbourne university).
http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/melbourne-uni-says-sorry-for-trials-on-orphans-20091117-ikc9.html
So the first fleet landing may have been over 200 years ago – however it was only the beginning of the horrors which have been systematically perpetuated against Aboriginal people since then.
How would you feel, Lu if your children were taken from you, put in an institution where they were beaten when speaking the only language they know, abused and used in medical experiments? Particularly when someone told you “time to move on”. Angry enough to bang on the glass doors of a political meeting that celebrated the beginnings of your oppression?
The people who were involved in the human experimentation of orphans and Aboriginal children have never in any way being called to account for their actions. I doubt that any appropriate action will ever be taken against them.
The least we could do as a Nation is move Australia day to a date where we can all celebrate together (Not that I’m personally a big fan of patriotism anyway to be honest)
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We can look back over history and remember all sorts of terrible things that have happened to many people, not just the Aboriginal people. Mistakes were made and people have said sorry. We cant change the past but attacking our leaders certainly does nothing for their cause.
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I agree mistake were made, it’s wonderful having 20/20 vision in hindsight. My issue, is how are we meant to move forward with so much anger? It would be like women hating men for oppressing them and treating them like second class citizens, it wouldn’t work. There has been the apology, now its time to band together and move forward. We can’t fix the past, but we have a shot at a more positive future
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I also feel very badly for the Prime Minister. When I saw the picture and her facial expression was so worried, I felt bad for her. Good one, Tony.
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I’m sorry but Tony Abbott said NOTHING wrong. He is entitled to his opinion, whether the majority agree with him or not. And for the record a few aboriginals HAVE actually agreed with him.
Things have changed, time to move forward.
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Ithink youll find that the tent embassy is heritage listed, for a number of excellent reasons! This looks like abbot talking through his arse again. It might not be pretty but it represents something that wasnt very pretty! Im really surprised at some of these comments.
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Rachel, I do not agree with you. At all.
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rachel i just wanted to say i agree with you 110%
this is bad even for TA, very poor timing
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I do not care what was said by Abbott. The behaviour of that crowd was appaulling! If they think acting like that will get people to listen to their cause they are badly mistaken!
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I thought that (having watched it on Youtube) she handled the situation very graciously and was obviously concerned for Abbot’s position as well as her own. Having said that, I think it was poorly handled and she needn’t have been in that position in the first place.
Abbot is a tool, but his comments weren’t that bad. Stating that he thinks people should move on from the tent embassy is just an opinion, he wasn’t trying to shut it down. It’s a shame that the protesters have damaged their own cause with such a display of cowardly violence.
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That photo of the PM makes me so livid, I can barely find anything to articulate. However inflammatory Tony Abbott’s comments may have been (and I didn’t think they were particularly, which is unusual for him), that is NOT the way to respond to it. It’s Australia Day, for ALL Australians. AND their elected representatives. Democratically elected representatives for God’s sake, we’re fortunate enough to live in a country where we have choice and anyone can have a voice.
It would be nice to think there was some respect in this country for political office, at least at the level of who’s running the country but apparently not.
Just. So. Angry!!
Sorry, need to go away and steam for a bit, so I can calm down and write something sensible.
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Tony Abbott should have known how inflammatory those remarks would be…or maybe he did know…
The Aboriginal Embassy is such an important symbol of the indigenous community…whether you think it should still be there or not, everyone should be aware of how important it is to the Aboriginal community…
Having said that, I was also disgusted by the aggression of the protesters…the few idiots who went too far today have not helped the majority of Aboriginal protesters who were protesting peacefully.
For the record, I have no issue with the Tent Embassy…leave it be…
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I understand the significance of the Tent Embassy but I think respect has to go both ways or it doesn’t work.
Tony Abbott’s comments may not have been well-thought out enough but I think there should be room for debate about the Tent Embassy without violence. It isn’t a crime to express an opinion nor was there any suggestion of trying to remove the Tent Embassy.
Unfortunately I agree with you – this type of thuggery will only hinder fair discussion of indigenous issues.
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The reason Tony Abbott is smirking in these photos is that he knows we will be seeing the picture of Julia Gillard many more times. I don’t think Tony Abbott ought to have said what he said it was insensitive and needlessly inflamatory. The protestors were too aggro,but surely the security staff reaction was too slow.
Tony Abbott has to realise that, in a position such as his, more thought is required before opening his mouth.
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I agree, the PM looks absolutely terrified. I would be too. And the Lobby is a small place and all glass – it would have been bloody scary being surrounded by an angry mob in there!!
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The protesters behaved appallingly in my opinion. It is embarrassing to think these images of our Australia Day will be spread around the world.
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Well are those images any worse than pictures of sunburnt drunken yobs with the southern cross tattooed on their back and a flag draped across their shoulders?
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Wow, had no idea Vera Wang is 62!
Slightly off topic but is anyone else having trouble with the mobile version of this site? Suddenly it’s not the same size as the phone screen and moves side to side when you scroll down the page, and there is a big gap between the title logo and the first topic.
First time I have come across this on my phone but wasn’t sure if others experiencing the same thing? Size ok if I switch to desktop version on phone though…weird.
Great pics though!
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Same issue for me, princesstan. Irritating.
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If I was Julia, I would be VERY annoyed with my security detail. Poor woman was dragged away, tripping, no dignity, right in front of photographers. She deserves better.
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You have a point there Archie, I though they were very rough with Julia & Tony. I guess safety was there priority.
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To be fair, that’s how they are trained to deal with “the package” in situations like that…it’s rough, but better than the alternative…
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It’s interesting that the pm was kept low at all times and abbot upright.
Was impressed with the pm’s professionalism. When she found out she asked them to get mr abbot out.
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Yes – I loved the reaction of the cop – it was almost like “Really?”
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Me too!
I’m far from her biggest fan, but I was so impressed that the first thing she said when they said it was time to move was asking about Tony.
It’s made me think a whole lot more of her as a person. (for what it’s worth, I’m not the biggest Tony fan either, so it’s not because of that!)
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John James, I’m trained to deal with “packages” too… I think they misjudged this one.
Glad she’s ok though, so the aim was met!
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Archie and John James, was the pm kept low by her handler as she was a higher priority than mr abbot or something else?
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Nat, I’d be guessing at an answer, as I don’t know their SOPs, but in my experience you are assigned one person, and they are your absolute priority. It’s not like, if he got injured, the PP could be “oh, sorry, he’s just the opposition leader, who really cares anyway?” I’d like to see that one be explained away! Lol. Chances are it’s just differences in style and judgement of the assigned guys.
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My husband is a body guard, he has worked in some of the most dangerous places of the world protecting embassy staff. He thought the team were
disgraceful and didn’t react very well.
His words were ” what a clusterf*#k “.
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Doesn’t look like it went smoothly. But I guess they are trained to get them out of there immediately, even if they have to drag them out.
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The real issue isn’t the manner of her departure, but how they let protesters surround the restaurant…that’s where the security was lacking…
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That and planning the medal ceremony for a glass box of a restaurant close to a 4-day clearly political protest that had been advertised long, long, LONG in advance.