Lib candidate under fire
A BRADDON Liberal candidate’s social media post has upset members of the state’s Aboriginal community.
In August last year, before he was announced as a Liberal candidate for the upcoming state election, Felix Ellis posted a photo of a rock he said he found at an excavation site at Rosebery on the West Coast.
Addressed to his “archaeologist friends [amateur or professional]” Mr Ellis wrote:
“Found this on an excavation site in Rosebery. The edges are still sharp and seems to look a lot like a Aboriginal cutting tool. Is this what it is?” He went on to ask if it was the type of item “you can drop in to the uni or a museum”.
Mr Ellis later posted a pic- ture of a multimedia message that showed a brick and the comment: “Have a look at this do you think it’s an ancient aboriginal hammer.”
Mr Ellis wrote above the picture: “Don’t think the work lads are buying my latest in archaeology ...”
Mr Ellis posted his original photo and his friend’s response on his Facebook page late yesterday afternoon, but the post was later removed.
In that post, Mr Ellis wrote: “JUDGE FOR YOURSELF: These are the posts the media are so upset about. I mistake a funny rock in Rosebery for an Aboriginal artefact and the lads take the mickey out of me.
“The media call it offensive, everyone else calls it banter. LIKE and SHARE if you think this is political correctness gone mad!”
When asked if Mr Ellis’s August post was appropriate, Deputy Premier and Braddon MHA Jeremy Rockliff said, “I haven’t seen the actual post of Mr Ellis’s but I understand that he’s informed the ABC that he’s meant no offence by that post....”
“Mindful of some of the concerns, and everyone has a right to express those concerns, my understanding is though that Mr Ellis has meant no offence by the post.”
The Aboriginal community has called for the Liberal Party to disendorse Mr Ellis.
Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said: “It’s no surprise this Liberal support candidate has these values, given his party’s approach to Aboriginal heritage. The Liberals’ record on takayna/the Tarkine speaks for itself.”
The Mercury was unable to contact Mr Ellis last night.
Mr Ellis is a North-West Coast plumber and was announced as a Liberal candidate in November.
“Felix ... is a passionate advocate for young people and creating opportunities in his communities,” the party’s state director Sam McQuestin said at the time.