Australian hostel throws out Aborigines

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The hostel situated in Alice Springs in Australia is facing legal action after denying rooms for an Aborigine group of women and children, who were visiting from their desert community of Yuendumu.

The group said they were discriminated because of skin color, and they were told to leave the hostel because they were scaring some Asian tourists.

The hostel managers denied the allegations.

The group was visiting Alice Springs to attend a lifesaving course so they can implement it at their new swimming pool back in their remote settlement.

Within an hour of checking in, they were thrown out after the Asian tourists complained.

Bethany Langton one of the members in the group said to BBC:

I merely asked the manager why couldn't we stay - they said that it was because of the color of our skin and they didn't like it.

The hostel describes itself in their website as "stylish and super clean," where guests are afforded "the most friendly welcome possible." They now probably need new statements to reflect their true policies.

Aborigines are the original residents of Australia and they make up about 2 per cent of Australia’s population.

Last month the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a landmark apology to indigenous Australians for the abuse and discrimination they have endured since European colonization.

It seems like some haven’t learned a thing; they need to go back to school and learn history.

The Northern Territory anti-discrimination commissioner said the group might have a strong case to take legal action.

The management of the hostel responded with a statement and said the hostel caters only to international backpacking tourists and is not suitable for the group of Aboriginal people.

Even that statement sounds controversial. If that is the policy, they should have stated it upfront. Why give them rooms in the first place?