You're right, individual. I got lazy with that one. Though I do ask: when you refer to the site being unused prior to the establishment of the fort, are you referring to that specific site or to Waibene as a whole?

I guess my point, which I cut short with the lazy 'ta-dah' moment of the fort, was that the colonial government of Queensland didn't build a fort to protect the Torres Strait Islanders, or because they liked the scenery. They had their own interests in the area, including the pearling which brought many non-European migrants, that they wanted to secure. Whether or not the native population retained use of the lands they had once used, my point is that their use was compromised by external interests. Maybe dispossession isn't the right word; I'd say 'invasion' is certainly the wrong word. Sorry again for being lazy there.

The following two links may be of interest:

http://newmatilda.com/2012/01/27/mob-violence-wasnt

And -

http://newmatilda.com/2012/01/27/real-tent-embassy-story

Thanks for the links, Lexi. It's good to get perspectives from both sides of the issue. I would argue, though, that Ben Eltham's journalism is as sloppy and one-sided as the reporting that he condemns. It's a sad statement about our media that we can't get level-handed reporting.

Whether or not the protesters resorted to violence is, in my opinion, beside the point. I try to place myself in the Lobby Restaurant, at the awards ceremony, as an angry mob appears out the front, shouting abuse and banging on the windows. What should have been an opportunity to celebrate the good deeds of a handful of Australians was utterly ruined - for those being celebrated, for their families and for those who they had helped out during a time of crisis.

Two things strike me about this incident. One is the callous comment by a protester (reported by Laurie Oakes in the Herald Sun): "Who f---ing cares? They're not our heroes." Such disrespect towards people who selflessly acted on behalf of the community is disgraceful. I doubt that the award recipients ever considered themselves exclusively white heroes as they took considerable risks to help their communities.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/prime-minister-treated-like-a-rag-doll/story-fn56baaq-1226255778540

The second is the look of fear on our PM's face as she was whisked away by her security. Whether the fear was brought about by the protesters or the security officers (though once again you might like to place yourself in the restaurant with the mob outside when deciding what caused the fear) is irrelevant to me. The fact is that she was there to celebrate something great about our country - a joyous occasion - and left terrified. Love her or hate her, nobody deserves that.

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=julia+gillard+protest&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1366&bih=612&tbm=isch&tbnid=IodZ9fFoy59AhM:&imgrefurl=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/mob-sinks-slipper-into-nations-day/story-e6frg12c-1226255575959&docid=7agP5ub4G7geDM&imgurl=http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2012/01/26/1226254/424404-julia-gillard.jpg&w=650&h=366&ei=K_0jT9zRFKSXiQecrJDTBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=717&vpy=160&dur=1997&hovh=168&hovw=299&tx=109&ty=81&sig=110694877743643696152&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=196&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

Otokonoko,
Yes self-interest was the major role in building the fort & if you include the interest of protecting the indigenous as well then yes it was self-interest. The 1872 protection Act was self-interest from the view that protecting the then Torres Strait Islanders from exploitation.
Nothing would ever be done if it weren't for self-interest. Do you think the new $35 million Dollar school on Murray Island would have materialised if it was up to the self interest of the locals ? Yet were it not provided discrimination would be the cry of the day as it always is when indigenous can't get what they desire because of their lack of inbuilt initiative. They freely & unashamedly admit to that. Something your average white ALP supporter would never do.
I have personally witnessed the destruction by Labor of indigenous communities & now there is no morale left. People have lost interest now that Labor has taken away their dignity by making them utterly dependent on Government had-outs. There's no training happening, all work is done by shonky contractors. All due to integrity devoid Labor Policy disguised as assistance. Ask local ALP member Jason O'Brien how Labor intends the people to become less dependent when the Government policy is not to have any local enterprise whatsoever.
Ask him what answer an indigenous person would get from him were that person to express an interest in starting a local enterprise ? Ask Jason O'Brien how he proposes to rebuild what his outfit has ruined since Goss ? Don't ask the indigenous bureaucrats in Labor's pockets, ask the people in the communities.

we are all ab-original
lets look at the pommie abo'

the peasents...farming..HIS LORDSHIPS LANDS..
paying whatever his troops required

recall..when them peon/poms
wanted to become gentry..too
they had things..called musters..where 'the masters/govener general
sent in his troops..to collect the muster..just like in ol blighty..when it was time to pay the rent

[plus 10 percent tythe
to the church..to build them castles of religeouse zeal]

recall the cost of a loaf of bread
got you a free ticket to rot to death in an old hulk
or get exported to work for free..for the new lord masters

stealing others lands...in the other colonies..
[with coolies..or slaves or prisoners..
doing it for ya..for free]

the mindset continues till this day
we got corperations running private prisons
withy in the main ab-origonal/and other ab-origonal poor
doing their job..for 1 buck 25 cents..a day

how does one..family trust
own land..bigger than belgum/or france
by what right..can a dead corperate trust..
lord it over..our own vesion of kings/queens..[sovereigns]

when their claim isnt owning
but use..[usefractry right]

we are all
origonally from the first people..from somewhere

if israel means anything..
it..{ISRAEL}>..means..!

ya claim..cant lapse!
only the lies collapse

how come you hold 5 aces?

que warrento?
[by what right]?

so we got a chance..
to fix all that error..

[owing things..fungable's..is fine
but people arnt things]

no one can own fixtures..[that in or attatched to the land]

we are a part of the land..
like our finger is a part of our body

just as my finger dont own my body
my body...represents my finger

here accept its sign
we are asked to sign...pieces of paper
these pieces of paper say i own the land...
but i know you cant take..the land no where

as much as you try..to stweal more of it
allways more will remain..to validate our claim

we can visit the places poisend..by greed
poisend by those who thought they too could own land
whose greed depoiled otyhers lands..while they took the money 'home'

and built huge estates
on the commons...that now we serfes cant concieve

imaging..a common weal
owned by us all

to be used RESPONSABLY
or be dispossesed..of ya right..to stay

expelled from your homelands...

[sure in times of plenty
we move to food/water...plenty

just like the masters..of the laws
and licence[under right of warrent]

que warrento?

move to ya summer house
or resent a mine..in ya best food place
or a framer muddying up ya waters
or a rum corpse...demanding muster
under threat of violence.or incatrceration

shut up
or we send ya to jail

riot...lol
in ya dreams

clealy a beat-up
where the burned/loooted buildings?
ripped up pavement..busted windows..walking wounded

the racism...
in the media use of mob..or riot
or worse the pm using it...thats an insult to all aussies

far worse than phony toney..hoping on his pony
[high hoarse]