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Greer blasts PM over Aborigines

By Peter Wilmoth, London

March 29th 1998 - Germaine Greer has accused the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard of "bashing" Aborigines to increase his popularity and warned that white Australians could become "the outcasts of the world".

Dr Greer sent a statement to a signing by prominent Australian expatriates of the so-called "Sorry Book" outside Australia House in London on Thursday.

"I must sign the Sorry Book just as every other Australian who cares must sign, because Aborigines and all other people must know that (Howard) does not speak for white Australians.
"He thinks Aborigine bashing will make him popular - we have to prove that he could not be more wrong," she wrote "The little we have done to redress the great wrong done to the Aborigines must be built on and quickly, if white Australians are not to become the outcasts of the world."
The signing, organised by Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, is in response to the Howard Government's refusal to apologise to the "stolen generations", the many Aborigines taken from their parents as children.

Others who signed the book were actor Mark Little, TV personality Rolf Harris, author Kathy Lette and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell.

This article appeared in The Age

• What they wrote
• What they said
• Prominant Australians to launch Sorry Book
• High Commisioner may snub Sorry Book

Further information: stolen generations issues page - includes news index and external links

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