From the Film Australia Collection. Made by Film Australia 1988. Directed by Ian Walker. From the film Open House. This segment shows the official opening of Parliament House by HM Queen Elizabeth II on the 9th May 1988. She unveiled a statue of herself by artist John Dowie and a mosaic by Michael Nelson Jagamara. During the opening ceremony Indigenous people and their supporters held a protest in view of the Queen. Regarding this former Liberal Minister and later leader of the Australian Democrats in the Senate, Don Chipp observed:
"I began to realise that a rather wonderful thing was taking place. In how many other countries on this planet would such a hostile open exhibition of dissent be allowed to proceed in full view of the reigning monarch? In a rather strange way, this outside phenomenon seemed to give real meaning to the many references being made to democracy in the speeches being delivered inside."
4 окт 2024
