En Passant

Calls for Tarneen Onus-Williams to resign from the Koori Youth Council are confected outrage because she dared to speak out against oppression, I write in Independent Australia.  

  The weekend’s Invasion Day protests are symbolic of a growing undercurrent of dissatisfaction with Australia’s unjust laws, I write in Independent Australia.  

This is the link to my article in Independent Australia about The Canberra Times and its whitewashing of Invasion Day. It starts off:

John Passant asks why the whitewash of the Invasion Day protest in Canberra by The Canberra Times.

UP TO 500 people attended the Invasion Day Protest in Garema Place in Canberra on 26 January to highlight the genocide then and now against Aboriginal people. There was not one mention, not one photo of the protest in The Canberra Times.

To read the whole article click here. Why didn’t The Canberra Times report on the Invasion Day protest?

Up to 500 people attended the Invasion Day Protest in Garema Place in Canberra on 26 January to highlight the genocide then and now against Aboriginal people. There was not one mention, not one photo of the protest in The Canberra Times.

I have a few suggestions for an Australia Day which reflects the class divided nature of Australian society. Hit the comments button to make your own class based suggestions.

Australia Day perpetuates the country’s ‘founding’ racist myths and is part of the system that enslaves our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters and, as a consequence, all of us. In the spirit of true reconciliation let’s abolish this celebration of genocide. Let’s instead celebrate the 65000 years of indigenous history and stewardship of this land. Recognise Aboriginal sovereignty, negotiate a treaty and pay the rent. It is time to fight for justice. It is time for justice.

Let’s ditch the Queen for a Presidential Council made up of elected representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Council would have the right and duty to pass or reject legislation. Membership of the Presidential Council would be decided democratically by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voters in the process of electing the Council. The Council would negotiate with the Parliament a treaty recognising prior sovereignty and paying the rent.

I think Abbott knows that politically he is a dead man walking and has decided to release his inner reactionary. That may well explain the enquiry into workplace relations (code for bringing back the highly unpopular vote losing Work Choices) which at least most of the ruling class want. But knighthhoods, and one for Philistine Phil? Seriously? No sensible member of the Australian ruling class sees that as in any way desirable or defensible and it destroys the ‘we are all in this Budget fixing together’ lie they are trying to promulgate. This latest blunder, one of such magnitude, shows how isolated from and toxic to the public Abbott is and may see him soon rolled. How much longer can the Liberals hang on to and with this buffoon? How much longer will the ruling class put up with their idiot? Not much longer I suspect.

From Socialist Alliance, and Socialist Alliance Councillor Sue Bolton. And this from Emerson Li, Socialist Alternative member. ‘Making history! Invasion Day protest takes over Australia Day parade!’ Invasion Day marchers in Canberra