MOSCOW, November 16 (Sputnik) — Australian Aboriginal rights activists took into the streets of Brisbane to burn the Australian flag in retaliation for Prime Minister Tony Abbott's view on Australia's history, News.com.au reported Sunday.
"He refers to this country as desolate [prior to the arrival of the first fleet]," News.com.au quoted activist Wayne Wharton as saying.
"He welcomes the world leaders and tells them there was nothing. So we have to resort to symbolism to show our disgust in your colonial leadership," Wharton added.
The protests started this week, with "Decolonization Before Profit" as a slogan.
Earlier this week, it was reported that while attending an international business breakfast in Sydney, Abbott said that before the British colonization of Australia there was "nothing but bush." The comment sparked a wave of indignation among Australia's hundreds of Aboriginal nations.
At least 100 people took part in the protest during the G20 summit. Some people in Australia expressed outrage on the country's social media over the burning of the Australian flag.
This weekend, the city of Brisbane in Australia hosted the ninth G20 summit, which was attended by about 4,000 delegates. The summit's focus was on the recovery from the global financial crisis, climate change, employment and labor mobility among other topics.
