On the morning of the 26th of January hundreds of people gathered at the Australian National University for a welcome, music, dancing and talks before embarking on an organized march up to Parliament House and around and back to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy near Old Parliament House. The march was fantastic and we arrived at the Tent Embassy in the highest of spirits.

 

Some time after the march we were milling about with some people listening to speakers etc., when word spread that Tony Abbott had been reported as saying that the Tent Embassy is no longer needed, that people should just “move on”. Not only this – but that he himself – right now – was no more than 50 meters away at the Porkbarrel café.

 

We brisk-walked over to the café. In the main the feeling was that we should tell Abbott what we thought of his comments. There was also a feeling of outrage and disbelief – that he would be so insensitive and disrespectful to say such a thing and then think it peaceably dandy and fine to dine and quaff champagne at the closest possible venue to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy at the very moment they are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Tent Embassy and reasserting their people’s right or claim to sovereignty. It seemed almost unimaginable.

 

At this stage many people (including myself) were not aware that Gillard was also there.

 

When we reached the café we could barely believe our eyes – the café walls were double-glazed clear-as-clear-day glass. We could see absolutely everything that was going on inside and the venue itself was tiny – it was a tiny little fishbowl and we gathered around to see. And what did we’ith see? There before our eyes was not only Tony Abbott but Tony Abbott with the Honorable PM Julia Gillard, quaffing champagne and schmoozing. They were no more than five meters away and divided only by glass.

 

The café had three glass side-walls and we gathered around two of them. There were two doors to the café (neither of which were locked as far as we know). One of these doors was on the side where no one was gathered (until later in the piece).