Finally, a challenge to Brough’s bullying-Bartlett steps up
The Democrats Indigenous Affairs Spokesperson, Senator Andrew Bartlett came out with a strong statement today against Mal Brough’s continued bullying and fear mongering tactics. Since the ‘intervention’ was announced in June, Brough has made it a policy to play the GW Bush card of “you’re either with us or you’re with the pedophiles” whenever he encountered any push back to the ideas, policies, or implementation of any of his plan/legislation. His rhetoric has been quite successful. But it seems to finally be wearing thin and with the election push in full swing it looks like some are finally ready to challenge his bullying and call it what it is. Here is Senator Bartlett :
No one doubts Mr Brough’s concern for the wellbeing of children, but he must balance his passion with some reason, and recognise the fact that people other than him also have expertise as well as passion.The fact that Mr Brough so viciously attacks anyone daring to question any aspect of the government’s intervention is just another example that this government has stopped listening to anyone, especially since they gained control of the Senate.
We have had this bully boy tactic for months now – anyone who disagrees even in part with what the government is doing is smeared as aiding and abetting pedophiles. It is completely offensive and is an example of the culture of extremism that has permeated the Howard government since seizing control of the Senate. The Prime Minister should show leadership on this issue since he is reaching out to Indigenous people and pull his Minister into line.
Thank you Senator Bartlett for your clear statement against the political tactic of bullying, denial and disavowal. If Brough wants to stand by his continued ‘intervention’–even as parts of it crumble–without taking notice of the great many people out there who want to talk, negotiate, and make this into something positive, workable, and real then he needs to face the criticism head on and not just call for people to resign or make them into pedophiles or soulless lefties when they challenge his tactics.
Also check out Jangari’s post on Brough’s tactics and their fading power over NT Labor politicians who say they will keep the permit system and reinstate CDEP.
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Kim Christen
I am an Assistant Professor at Washington State University. I use this blog to keep myself writing. I blog about Australian Aboriginal politics, Indigenous issues, Indigenous new media, cultural politics, and other issues that come up. I made the icon above at Portrait Icon Maker
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Kim, did you catch the Difference of Opinion show that Sue Gordon was a guest on? She said something that elicited angry shouts from the audience, but that I can’t find in the transcript.
I can’t remember the exact wording, but she bought into the “you must be a pedophile, hey?” argument by snarkily accusing those who opposed the intervention as not actually wanting any change in Aboriginal communities. (This, in a roomful of dedicated Aboriginal activists.)
Thanks! No, I haven’t watched the entire show yet. I’ll check it out.
Amazing what counts as “debate” for some of these folks.
Lauredhel, I remember something along those lines, but the Difference of Opinion website only has a couple of short excerpts transcribed and vodcast, but it was from neither of them.
I like (facetiously, of course) how Sue Gordon remarked that she was “the only one of the four who’s on the ground in communities”, that she’s “the one who’s seeing first-hand on a regular basis what people are saying in the communities”. What a bunch of rubbish. Olga Havnen co-ordinates the Combined Aboriginal Corporations of the Northern Territory – she represents dozens of communities from the centre and top-end!
So I wasn’t imagining things! It really got my hackles up, and I was obviously not the only one. If you find any webevidence of this, do please let me know. I’ve put in a request to the ABC for an unedited transcript, podcast or video.
I thought the transcript purported to be complete – I can’t see any evidence that the ABC admits it’s edited? – but it obviously isn’t.
That’s about right, the website for that episode has three transcripts, one of which covers only the introduction, and two videos of 4 and 5 minutes long. Moreover, the videos cover a bit less than the transcripts do, but only marginally. I don’t know why they chopped it up or why they don’t just host a video of the whole episode, but it’s rather annoying.
Found it!
Thanks!