The National Indigenous Times is a forum for big ideas. We elevate the voices of Indigenous Australians, and on a daily basis, publish the views and perspectives of Traditional Owners, Indigenous leaders, activists, entrepreneurs and community members.
Rigorous discourse, disagreement, protest, petitioning and political activism are common themes of our reporting, and an integral part of a rights agenda advancing the interests of our community.
People's homes, however, should not be the stage for such protests.
Recent weeks have seen members of the Disrupt Burrup Campaign turning up to the homes of Woodside chief executive Meg O'Neil, and Woodside director, and former WA Treasurer and Indigenous Affairs Minister, Yamatji man Ben Wyatt.
Mr Wyatt has dedicated most of his professional life to community service, much of it directly in the service of Indigenous community. He is a decent man, and has been a strong advocate for Indigenous community members and organisations both in the parliament, and in his post-parliamentary life.
Regardless of your views on the gas industry in Australia, the private family homes of any public figure should not be considered an appropriate focus for protest.
Whatever the intent, these protests only serve to intimidate individuals and their families for their involvement in the resources sector; which, last financial year, directly contributed $98.98 billion to Australia's economy and employed more than 69,000 full-time Australians; including many thousands of Indigenous staff.
Royalty payments to Indigenous communities from the resources sector are an important factor in ensuring their future economic prosperity and self-determination, especially in regional and remote Australia.
Taking political protests to people's private homes is simply wrong. It is a transgression that violates the principle of personal safety and privacy, and does not align with the tenets of respectful and productive democratic dialogue.
These tactics only serve to harm the arguments of protesters, with the average Australian viewing such behaviour as totally inappropriate.
It's essential that we all reinforce this line between the public and the private, and reassert the importance of respectful political discourse and protest which veers away from personally targetted behaviour on people's front lawns.
Reece Harley
Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Times
