An offer by the Independent Indigenous Advisory Committee to provide DNA testing to the 1100 out of 1298 applicants whose claim of Aboriginality was challenged when they applied to be on Tasmania's trial indigenous electoral roll was met with mixed reactions, and subsequently withdrawn. Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre spokesman Michael Mansell described the offer as “discriminatory” and questioned where the comparative DNA would be coming from, reflecting the concerns of many that genetic materials have already been gathered without consent. Others lamented the withdrawal of the offer as a missed opportunity to stand up and be counted.
