Central Land Council

Land Rights News

A group of ladies from Papunya, painting for ceremony without their tops on, were shocked to be ordered out of a park in Alice Springs by an Aboriginal Community Police Officer.
The incident caused outrage among Aboriginal leaders in the town and was further exacerbated by the NT Police declaring it to be ‘inappropriate behaviour’ as it was near to a children’s playground.
ATSIC Central Zone Commissioner Alison Anderson, incensed by the police action, declared she would be dancing topless that afternoon at an art gallery opening and encouraged media to film the event .
CLC Chairman Kunmanara Breaden was also angered by the incident and called on the Alice Springs Police to apologise immediately to the women.
“This is part of our culture and thousands and thousands of people around the world have seen Aboriginal ladies dancing without their tops on television, theatres and many public occasions,” Mr Breaden said.
“And just a few weeks ago, the Warumungu ladies welcomed the train to Tennant Creek - dancing without tops on - and everybody loved it.
“Are the police going to issue the television stations with infringement notices for broadcasting pictures of ladies dancing with their tops off?
“I have never heard anyone complaining about it before and I can’t see why children would be offended. I think it’s good for children to see our Aboriginal culture. Tourists like to see Aboriginal people practicing their culture too, in fact, they pay big dollars to see our culture and everyone is happy about that.
“This issue needs some common sense and the Minister for Police should be ringing his workers now and telling them to stop being stupid and grow up,” Mr Breaden said.