High Commission urges museum against testing Aboriginal remains

Australia's High Commission in London has stepped in to help the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre prevent a British museum gathering data from the remains of 17 Aboriginal Tasmanians.

Last year, the Natural History Museum agreed to return the remains to Tasmania, but before releasing them it wants to scan them and collect molecular data.

A spokesman for Prime Minister John Howard says the High Commission has spoken to the museum and to the relevant department in the British Government, urging them to respect the centre's wishes.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre spokesman Michael Mansell says the data collection is due to start in February, so this is the last chance to change the museum's plans.

"If the Prime Minister's office continues to exert pressure on the Natural History Museum and the British Government, there is every hope that the Natural History Museum will not go ahead with their threatened plan," he said.

The centre has thanked Mr Howard for attempting to stop the data collection.

Mr Mansell says Mr Howard has already helped convince the British Government to pass legislation enabling the repatriation of Aboriginal remains.

"He's been very good on this," he said.