Aussie Values - compassion and initiative.

We often hear a lot about Aussie compassion and Aussie initiative. Of course I don't for one minute subscribe to the John Howard inference that Australians have some sort of monopoly on these things. I'm sure that what he often talks about as Aussie values - a fair go; mateship; compassion; egalitarianism; tolerance; resilience; resourcefulness etc are pretty universal. It seems that for every fault we could point to in another society, we wouldn't have to look hard to find an equivalent in good old Australia.

I want to mention an enterprising young Sunshine Coast man that you may find interesting. Anton is 16 and when told he was too young to go on a formal/Non Government Organisation overseas aid project he just went independently anyhow. Check out his blog in my Links to see how his project unfolded.

One disappointing aspect in his experience was QANTAS's refusal to carry the solar panels free of charge to India. I guess the 'Spirit of Australia' has limited application and points up the challenges John Howard will have in explaining 'Aussie values' to potential migrants!

Aussie Values 'A Fair Go'

To understand what a 'fair go' is it is useful to look at what a 'fair go' is not. What is happening to David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay is not a 'fair go'. He has been there nearly 5 years and has been charged with NOTHING. What a joke. If John Howard wanted to give this bloke a 'fair go' he would bring him back to Australia and put him before Australian courts. Instead we suck up to America and let them call the shots. Not even the British could handle their citizens being held in Gitmo without charge and took them home.

Aussie Values - A 'Fair Go'

I attended the demonstration in Brisbane on 20 December. There were 1000-1500 people there and there was a potent sense of outrage and anger at the lack of justice in the Mulrunji affair. What struck me was the exasperation of Aborigines, especially older ones, who have seen so many deaths of Aborigines while in custody. Their sense of deja vu must eat them up. Of course there are many white Australians who share the anger and are aware of the history of injustice in this area of Australian society but for those who are related to or know the victims and who attend the funerals, it must be shattering.

I must also comment on the police presence at the demo. It was very large but they gave the demonstrators a 'fair go' in that they did not intervene in the face of considerable provocative comments by angry speakers. Even the burning of the Australian flag brought no action.

One of the things that irks (read shits) me about John Howard and his constant talk of Australian values is the implication that they are unique. As if no other country or culture believes in, say, a 'fair go'. What rubbish! You only have to look at today's news that Abu Bakar Bashir, spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, has been found innocent of involvement in the Bali bombings. Clearly Indonesians believe in a 'fair go' for this bloke when Blind Freddy knows this decision is wrong. Or perhaps it's just that their legal system is as open to abuse by fancy lawyers as ours is and legalities take prominence over justice.

STOP PRESS
I HAVE JUST HEARD THAT THE QLD ATTORNEY GENERAL IS GOING TO REVIEW THE ABSURD DPP DECISION NOT TO LAY CHARGES AGAINST SERGEANT HURLEY OVER MULRUNJI'S DEATH.
I have just posted this comment on the Courier mail's website:'Let there be NO DOUBT the review decision is purely political. It is nothing more than a response to the outrage expressed in letters, emails, petitions, talkback and the angry demonstrations on Wednesday. Ordinary people - black and white - have won out over fancy lawyers and equivocating politicians. Now let's see some justice.'

How fantastic to know that people power is still capable of being taken seriously. Every little bit helps. Remember, the Pacific Ocean is made up of drops of water!
Cheers, Peter

Aussie Values - a 'Fair Go'

A 'Fair Go' is one of the Australian values that PM John Howard thinks any newcomer to Australia should understand and embrace. I hope to regularly identify examples of a 'Fair Go' that prospective citizens might think about so they are better prepared to answer questions for any test they may have to undertake to become an Australian citizen.

Death of Mulrunji on Palm Island in Queensland in November 2004.
Mulrunji, an Aborigine, died in custody and after a long investigation the Deputy Coroner found that Sergeant Hurley was responsible for Mulrunji's death. (He had 4 broken ribs and a liver split in two, among other injuries.) The Qld Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, has decided, in December 2006, that no charges will be laid. The Qld Premier, Peter Beattie, would strongly support the DDP reviewing her decision but thinks he can't do more. Instead of being gutless and lacking leadership this is called giving the police officer who killed the Aborigine a 'Fair Go'. 'Blind Freddy' ( another Australian slang term that will be looked at later) knows what happened in the police cell on Palm Island but Queensland governments have a tradition of giving police a 'Fair Go' when it comes to Aboriginal deaths in custody. A 'Fair Go' is giving someone a chance or a second chance when they have stuffed up or have had a bad run. Sergeant Hurley stuffed up. He killed a man in his custody. But because he is a policeman and most importantly Mulrunji was an Aborigine he is being given a 'Fair Go' and will not be punished.