Brendan Nelson's shame

When the most I could do was turn off the radio in disgust, other people did it for me...

Melbourne
THOUSANDS of people who gathered in Melbourne today to hear the apology to the Stolen Generations cheered Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, but turned their backs on Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.... As Dr Nelson gave his response, several people booed. Halfway through, the entire crowd stood and turned their backs on Dr Nelson. People began chanting: "Get him off."

Canberra
Brendan Nelson was booed and heckled as thousands watched the apology on big screens around the Parliament. As Dr Nelson raised the issue of current conditions in remote communities the crowd started to chant, "Get him off!" But in the invitation-only Great Hall inside the parliament, the protest was quieter – but just as symbolic. Aboriginal leaders and political rivals turned their back on the big screen relaying Dr Nelson's message. Some called out, "shame", others just left.

Perth
...an early-morning big-screen broadcast of Dr Nelson's reply to the apology was cut after crowds of people clapped to drown out his words.More than 1,000 people had gathered before dawn to watch Mr Rudd's 'Sorry' declaration. But when Dr Nelson began to speak, activist Catherine Coomer turned her back on the screen, angered by his comments that many Aboriginals live lives of "existential aimlessness", depending on "welfare without responsibility". Ms Coomer yelled that the opposition leader was degrading Aboriginal people, her calls prompting a large scale protest. Event organisers in the city said the hostile response to Dr Nelson had forced them to switch off the speech. "The people spoke for themselves by clapping it out," said Jim Morrison, chairman of the Briging them Home committee.

Test of Nelson's speech

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