Matthew Franklin & Patricia Karvelas; 5/5/10
Tony Abbott has sparked a fresh battle in the so-called history wars by arguing that Australian history has rarely seen discrimination based on race or culture. Echoing former prime minister John Howard, the Opposition Leader also rejected the “black armband view” of history, praising Howard-era border security policies as “tough but effective” and vowing to reinstate them if he wins this year’s election. But his comments on racism were rejected as unrealistic by Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, while the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia accused him of promoting public fears about immigration for political reasons. The Howard era featured lively debate about the past, with the history wars dividing the nation between those who endorsed Mr Howard’s belief that people were being taught a “black armband view” of the past and those who favoured a critical view of the nation’s heritage.
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Racism
What an interesting statement from mr abbott.
Maybe he should open his eyes and ears and go bush and see what type of racial discrimination Aboriginal peoples have endured and the level of internalised and institutional racism that abounds in the kimberleys.
I will sit down with Mr Abbott and tell him my experiences as a migrant child to Australia and the WASP kids calling me and my family “WOGS” GREASY DAGO’S”
”SLANT EYED CURRY MUNCHERS and all manner of abuse.
The only people at that time who didnt appear to have colour vision where the Aboriginal kids at school who weren’t worried or threatened by my sun tan or pasta or curry.
Get a real look at life Mr Abbott, Fascists in Nazi Germany where promulgating your views.