Welcome to Australia (1999)
Welcome to Australia, a 1999 Carlton Television documentary, written and presented by John Pilger, directed and produced by Alan Lowery, delves into the injustices endured by Aboriginal Australian sportsmen and women. The film demonstrates how, until recently, they were denied a place on Australia’s Olympic teams.
The Struggle of Indigenous Athletes
- The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics:
- As the world prepared for the Sydney Olympics, Pilger found that the elaborate preparations overshadowed the reality faced by many of Australia’s Aborigines.
- The film exposes the stark contrast between the Olympic spectacle and the ongoing exclusion, impoverishment, and mistreatment of Aboriginal Australians.
- Sport as a Mechanism:
- Welcome to Australia uses sport as a mechanism to draw attention to the injustices endured by Aboriginal Australians.
- It argues that if not deliberately prevented, Aboriginal Australians could have had a much more significant impact on Australian sport.
- Human Rights and Civilizations:
- The documentary highlights the official recognition of the stolen generations through the Human Rights Commission report Bringing Them Home.
- It reveals the ongoing prevalence of eye disease trachoma within the Aboriginal community and the 25-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and white Australians.
Legacy and Advocacy
- Welcome to Australia isn’t just a historical account; it’s a call to honor:
- It reminds us that civilizations are judged by how they treat their most vulnerable.
- It urges Australia’s leaders to behave honorably toward less than 2% of the population.
As we grapple with global disparities and human rights, this documentary serves as a stark reminder—a plea for justice, empathy, and change.
