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Abbott must defend his actions against inappropriate touching claims: Oakshott
Rob Oakshott MP with wife Sara-Jane (Gurang TO, Bundaberg) with children Angus, Olivia and Sophie. Image news.com
by Stephen Hagan
R
obert Oakshott, MP, Federal Independent Member for Lyne, expressed concern yesterday about some of the statements made by Ali Cobby Eckerman of Tony Abbott inappropriate touching her as covered by First Nations Telegraph in the past week. “I do not know Ali Cobby Eckerman, but I have now listened to a 12 minute tape-recording of Ms Eckerman’s account of an incident in a coffee shop on the 6th March. I have also read news articles on this matter in First Nations Telegraph,” Mr Oakshott said. “I do not pass judgement on
the detail of the matter as I was not there. However, I do believe there is enough of an issue for the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Tony Abbott, to clarify the claims, and where necessary, to defend his actions against these claims, including the concerning statement from Ali Cobby Eckerman that ‘she felt violated’ after he allegedly rubbed his fingers up and down her bare arm, while she did all she could to avoid any contact with him whatsoever. “On the surface, this claim sounds bizarre, and deserves full clarification.” On Monday last week First Nations Telegraph broke the story on the Eckerman/Abbott case when
Linda Burney, MP, NSW Deputy Opposition Leader, and Australia’s most senior female Indigenous politician, made comment: “If the allegations against Tony Abbott’s inappropriate touching of Indigenous author Ali Cobby Eckerman is correct he has some very serious explaining to do.” Last Thursday Tony Abbott’s office sent a statement to First Nations Telegraph stating: “Ms Eckerman’s claims are wrong. “As I stated when I wrote to Ms Eckerman at the time, I reject any suggestion that I acted inappropriately. “That, also, was the view of my friend who was with me in the café during our breakfast meeting. Page 1
“The respected journalist and columnist, Christopher Pearson, who died tragically this month, was with me at the cafe. I spoke to him after Ms Eckerman made her complaint and he endorsed fully my version of events. “I would be concerned if this false accusation has only resurfaced after Christopher’s death when he cannot again endorse my account. “This is nothing more than a baseless smear,” Mr Abbott said. Ms Coby Eckerman (pictured) said she was very offended at Tony Abbott’s inference that she only made up her story of him inappropriately touching her after hearing of the death of his good friend Christopher Pearson. “I’ve never heard of Christopher Pearson before. I’m just a poet with little interest in politics or the
media,” Ms Cobby Eckerman said. “What silly game is Mr Abbott playing at? If he didn’t contact First Nations Telegraph ... I would’ve been none the wiser. All this does is give me a name to look up on the Internet.” A week after the Opposition Leader’s puzzling claim Ms Coby Eckerman said she was further traumatised by his insensitivity. “First he denied touching me inappropriately and then he said I made it all up after he lost his good mate and only witness to the incident,” Ms Coby Eckerman said. “Well, what about my feelings? I also lost someone very close to me ... I lost my mother and have had a hard time getting over her passing.” Ms Coby Eckerman gave First Nations Telegraph permission to refer to her mother by the Yankunytjatjara bereavement name
Kumanara, as respect to her and her family. “The facts are that I met her about 15 years ago, and watched her suffering with Alzeimhers for the last 5 years of her life. “She died on June 10 2012 in Canberra and her funeral was held there. The family escorted her remains to her final resting place at Koonibba Mission cemetery, where she rests alongside her beloved brother Uncle Gudja,” Ms Coby Eckerman said. “If Tony Abbott can’t look me in the eye and say sorry for what he did to me ... as I’ve asked him to do, then I really worry about the cultural safety issues of our women around this country when he visits their communities to sell his Aboriginal social policies,” Ms Eckermann added.