As I watched over and over on television the events as they unfolded, I started to think the whole thing looked like a well-rehearsed movie clip; the TV cameras just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

My opinion is the whole thing was set up and play-acted out with the intention of elevating the importance of the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader’s security on that perfect occasion, “Australia Day”, when all Australians are encouraged to feel patriotic.

However, the sad and tragic victims of this pathetic event became once again our beautiful indigenous Australians; portrayed as a group of maddened black fellows out to kill the white leaders.

The body guards and police should have been given academy awards for their performances, all captured by the perfectly placed television crews and cameras.

We need to think, “what does Australia Day mean to Aborigines”?

The invasion and almost total annihilation of a fellow species of humans; 220 years of cultural and spiritual desecration which still continues today, especially in the NT, Queensland and WA.

And now, on Australia Day 2012, the Aborigines, these incredible people are racially villainised by our so-called defenders of democracy — the media, the politicians and the security police.

Australia Day 2012 should be seen as a day of national disgrace.

— ALAN J. LAPPIN,

Boorhaman North