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High Commissioner to get a grilling

18 February 1998 - Australian High Commissioner Neil Blewitt today faces a grilling from British MP's over John Howard's controversial Wik Bill. Dr Blewitt will be questioned about the Bill by members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Race and Community at a special meeting tonight.

The All Party Group, which includes several veteran anti-apartheid campaigners and is chaired by senior Labour MP Bernie Grant, is expected to be severely critical of the Bill.

The Group is expected to ask Dr Blewitt why the Howard Government is proposing legislation which violates international human rights standards and repeals sections of Australia's own anti-discrimination laws.

Dr Blewitt may also face criticism of the Government's scaremongering over native title - in particular, the claims of some senior ministers that freehold is at risk - and of Mr Howard's threat to fight a so-called "race election".

The All Party Group summoned Mr Blewitt after a briefing from NIWG leaders last October. Although the Group usually focuses on race issues in Britain, they made an exception for the Bill after a number of British human rights groups condemned it as racially discriminatory.

APPG Chair Bernie Grant and NIWG spokesman Richard Wakelam will be available for comment after the meeting at 6:30 pm outside the public entrance to the Houses of Parliament.

Unfortunately, media will not be admitted to the meeting itself.

For further information please contact Richard Wakelam at the NIWG.

This media release is from the National Indigenous Working Group on Native Title (NIWG)

Further information: native title issues page - includes news index and external links