Bertram activist led Premier protest

An Aboriginal activist and Bertram resident has vowed to keep up the pressure on Premier Colin Barnett following a protest at his home.

Marianne Mackay was part of a group of protesters who staged a direct action outside Mr Barnett’s Claremont home on Friday.

The activists were there to protest against the James Price Point gas hub development in Broome and to draw attention to Aboriginal land rights.

Representatives from the Noongar Tent Embassy served a 17-page document personally on the Premier, which Miss Mackay described as a ‘‘rebuttal against Crown and and State claims to Aboriginal land’’.

‘‘We had registered the document at Parliament House seven months ago but we got no response at all,’’ she said.

Miss Mackay said she was surprised protesters were able to gain ‘‘easy access’’ to the Premier’s home.

‘‘If it was that easy for us to go there and stage a peaceful, non -violent protest, then it’s just as easy for someone with a violent purpose to go to his house,’’ she said.

Protesters refused to leave until Mr Barnett accepted the document personally, but a deal was stuck at his Stirling Highway office.

Miss Mackay handed Mr Barnett the dossier in person.

‘‘He was furious and told me that just because he is taking it, doesn’t mean we will get a response,’’ she said.

‘‘He said we’d made a big mistake in going to his house.’’

Protesters have given Mr Barnett a deadline of September 3 to respond to the document.