Australia pressed Tony Blair to avoid meeting ‘troublemaker’ 1999 Indigenous delegation, archives reveal
The GuardianMonday, July 21, 2025 at 11:01:38 PM
Newly uncovered documents show that in 1999, the Australian government quietly urged UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to avoid meeting an Indigenous delegation led by Patrick Dodson, dismissing them as "troublemakers." While the group did meet the Queen, internal memos reveal Australia pushed Blair to cite scheduling conflicts as an excuse to skip the encounter.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just a dusty historical footnote—it’s a revealing glimpse into how governments quietly maneuver to sideline marginalized voices. The story underscores the long-standing tensions between Indigenous advocacy and political diplomacy, raising questions about whose concerns get taken seriously on the global stage. It also adds context to today’s debates over reconciliation and how colonial legacies still shape power dynamics.
— Curated via WP Now’s
