Hostel turns away Aboriginal lifesavers

An Alice Spring backpacker hostel in Australia has been accused of turning away a group of young Aboriginals.

The group, attending a Royal Life Saving Society Australia (RLSSA) training course, were asked to leave the hostel they had booked, allegedly because of the colour of their skin and because foreign guests were 'scared'.

The group of 16 women and children from the community of Yuendumu had travelled to Alice Springs to attend a RLSSA lifesaving course in preparation for a swimming pool being built in their community.

However, shortly after arriving at their accommodation they were asked to leave.

Speaking of the ejection, RLSSA Chief Executive Rob Bradley stated, "Royal Life Saving supports the Yuendumu community and wishes to highlight that they have taken a long and proactive view to building their community's capacity in preparation for a swimming pool due to be completed in the coming months."

Bradley also spoke of being "reassured by the overwhelming support expressed by the Australian public for Royal Life Saving and the community of Yuendumu are."

Managers at the Alice Springs hostel have denied allegations of racism, issuing a statement saying the hostel caters for "international backpacking tourists" and was not suitable for the group of Aboriginal lifesavers.

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

Image: Yuendumu lifesavers.