Members of the Wiradjuri Nation have delivered a political ultimatum to the acting prime minister Michael McCormack following his comments this week likening the Capitol riots with the Black Lives Matter rallies.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a letter addressed to Mr McCormack and seen by The Daily Advertiser, the Wiradjuri members accuse the Riverina member of having "no empathy or respect for the First Nation people" of the Wagga electorate.
The letter goes on to describe Mr McCormack's likening of the Black Lives Matter protests to the Capitol riots as "reprehensible" and the cause of "deep distress".
It said his comments were an illustration that the member is "out of touch your whole community, not just your First Nation community".
"Given your hurtful comments, it is apparent that you no longer represent our nation in the federal government," the letter reads.
"Accordingly we will consider motivating our people to actively poll against you at the next election, unless we can resolve this insulting matter by meeting with you in Wagga as soon as possible," it said.
It comes after Mr McCormack doubled down on his earlier comments by using the contentious "all lives matter" catch-cry, which has often been used to belittle the Black Lives Matter cause.
Since the letter was delivered to the Wagga offices of Mr McCormack, it is understood the member has reached out to the 2020 NSW Senior Citizen of the Year Aunty Isabel Reid and Black Lives Matter Wagga organiser Joe Williams.
"I have spoken with Aunty Isabel and Joe Williams today. They understand and appreciate my respect for them and all Australians," Mr McCormack told The Daily Advertiser.
"I support the right of any Australian to protest, however, the point I have consistently made is that violence of any kind is abhorrent.
"When lives are lost and property is damaged, that is to be condemned no matter the circumstances."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Speaking with The Daily Advertiser Wiradjuri elder Aunty Isabel said the situation had been sorted "leader to leader". Following consultation, she said at this point it was unlikely the Wiradjuri community would make good on the political threats.
"He rang me straight away, as soon as he got the message at his office," Aunty Isabel said.
"I've spoken to the community, they're going to leave it at this point. We're happy with what's been said [to resolve the issue]."
Similarly, Mr Williams said he "appreciative of the call" he received on Tuesday from the acting prime minister.
"It was good of Michael to give me a buzz personally [but] what was said we can leave in the conversation," Mr Williams said.
"It's always good to have a dialogue between communities."