In March 1978, the Queensland state government in Australia announced its intention to take over management of the Aurukun Aboriginal Reserve on Cape York Peninsula. The reserve had been administered by the Uniting Church since early in the century. The church had recently earned the trust of the community as a defender against the encroachment of government and mining interests. The Aboriginal people complained bitterly, fearing the Queensland government was merely seeking easier access to rich bauxite deposits on their Reserve. When the Federal government took the side of the Aboriginies against the Queensland government, the stage was set for a national confrontation which soon became front-page news across Australia. The film shows what it was like at Aurukun during those crucial three weeks, providing an inside view of a community under threat – and the behaviour of politicians and the press when dealing with Aboriginal people. Francis Yunkaporta, one of Aurukun’s leaders, provides commentary on the events.
