Gulpilil 'moved on' from campsite

LEGENDARY Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil was moved on by police yesterday from his campsite in a public park near Parliament House on the eve of a Northern Territory election dominated by debate over indigenous itinerants.

Gulpilil, the territory's Australian of the Year who first made his name in the acclaimed 1971 film Walkabout, said he was told by police that they had received a complaint and had to move on.

"I didn't do no wrong, I was just sitting down there," he said. "They said it was Crown land and I said, well I'm an Australian of the Year."

In January, Gulpilil, 51, was feted as a guest at Government House in Canberra where he dined with Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery as the territory's Australian of the Year nominee.

Gulpilil said he had set up camp with his partner Miriam and other itinerants on an embankment behind the Darwin Magistrates Court about a month ago because he needed to finish several paintings for an exhibition.

After being moved on by police, Gulpilil, shifted to One Mile Dam in the inner-city suburb of Stuart Park, saying there was no shame in being a long-grasser in Darwin.

"I like living under the stars," said Gulpilil, who normally lives in the Arnhem Land community of Ramingining, about 500km east of Darwin.

His comments come as voters prepare to go to the polls in the territory today after a racially divisive campaign dominated by a promised crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

ALP Chief Minister Clare Martin has pledged to jail "habitual drunks" who refuse treatment in a policy some Aboriginal groups claim unfairly targets indigenous itinerants.

And Opposition leader Denis Burke has pledged a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour in an attempt to "win back our streets".

Speaking before Gulpilil was moved on, Ms Martin said that her policy was aimed only at drunk itinerants who committed offences.

"It's not about people like David who are maybe camping in the long grass," she said. "The problem is with anti-social behaviour and I make no apologies that we are going to continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and the damage it does to our community."

Asked about the Gulpilil incident, a spokesman for Ms Martin last night said that her position remained unchanged.

Gulpilil, however, said political parties across the nation rarely paid any attention to the concerns of Aboriginal people.

"Why can't the politicians go around and ask questions instead of making war?" he said.

As one of the nation's best-known Aboriginal actors as the star of films such as Tracker, Crocodile Dundee and Rabbit Proof Fence, Gulpilil said some Australians may be surprised to learn he is living in the long grass.

"But I don't mind," he said. "I'm really glad that those people are going to hear my voice."

He has recently completed filming of The Proposition, written by Nick Cave and also starring Guy Pearce and David Wenham.

Gulpilil has been in the spotlight for three decades, during which time he has been feted by actors and politicians.

Following one hectic eight-month acting schedule, he spent a short stint in prison five years ago over his sixth drink-driving conviction.

After his release, he said he sometimes could not help himself in the city.

"I don't like grog. I like grog," he said at the time.

"I don't like ganja. I like ganja. That's me, but it's no answer.

"To me, those things are nothing. I don't need a beer where I live.

"I've got elders and land looking at me - respect."

Newshawk: Empower Activists http://www.napnt.org/donate.html
Pubdate: Sat, 18 June 2005
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2005 The Australian
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Author: Ashleigh Wilson