I am rather surprised to read Mr. Henry Atkinson front page article (Knox Journal 27.1.10) stating that for him Australia Day is the day of sadness. I wonder why? I doubt that any other minority was so pampered and given so many privileges anywhere in the world as the Australian aborigines. Prof. Atkinson claims that Aborigines have lived here for 75.000 years with their “culture and religion.” From time to time we read that 4000 years, then 40.000 years and now 75.000 years was the time of Aboriginals living on this continent. Such claim could hardly be proven. It depends on the imagination of the author.
It appears that only the Aboriginal activists can use free speech to the full. Nobody dares to contradict them regardless how stupid and childish claims they advance, for fear of being branded a racist – for the rest of us, free speech is O.K. but “tolerance is strongly recommended”!
However, it would not have removed any guilt complex on the part of some leading politicians. The aboriginal people in 1993 constituted some 1.5% of the total population. Yet they already had title to, or reserves for more than 14% of Australia’s land area. We cannot afford the luxury of two sets of laws; one for the aboriginal community and the other for the rest of the population. I believe that the aborigines should be treated the same as all other Australians. The very moment you introduce laws that create a priviledged class out of a small minority, whether you like it or not, you are creating aparthaid in this country.
Federal Court hearing of the Yorta Yorta claim was held later in October 1996 under the shade of gum trees in Barmah Forest. This is rather unusual, because apart from Aboriginal claims, the rest of the community who will want to have their day in court must do so at the court’s own patch – in a court building. Apart from the additional costs involved, in setting up court’s fascilities in the bush setting, it highlights the special priviledges given to the Aboriginal claimants that are not given to anybody else.
Do you know what is so tragic? That every person or average intelligence who would dismiss such claims as childish or plain stupid, would be immediately attacked as a racist. This has nothing to do with giving Aboriginals a “fair go”, but all to do with unthinking politicians who have allowed this matter to get completely out of hand.
A Bill introduced by Mr. Michael Duffy provided two year prison sentence for “racial incitement”. This Bill became law and is known as “1995 Racial Hatred Act” is so draconian as to stiffle a free speech in this country. This law was prompted by a recommendations from three major reports – by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, the Royal Commission into Black Death in Custody and the Australian Law Reform Commission and was one of the last infamous pieces of legislation passed in the dying days of the Labor Government.
Since 1987 miners have paid about $ 250 million in royalties ( approx. $ 34 million per year). In N.T. one company alone, Ranger Uranium at Jabiru paid $ 110 million since 1980. Where does this money go? 40% of it goes to four Land Councils, 30% goes to Aboriginal organisations and the rest for the benefit of NT Aborigines
Aborigines, so we are told by some frustrated social engineer, have been in this country for some 40000 years. He was not satisfied with a mere 4.000 years B.C. but he added a zero to the end and before he had time explaining that he was only joking, this claim which cannot be scientifically proven was accepted by the community at large. There is no evidence of any cultural achievement by the aboriginal people apart from some primitive rock paintings, dances and customs. This is claimed to be a cultural heritage and Aboriginal culture.
The truth would be that while number of Aboriginal tribes roamed freely over this country prior to white settlement, they didn’t have even the most elementary living standards such as hygiene, education, housing or industry. They could not write or read like members of other civilisations. It is not a racist statement to say, that without the white man settlement, the Aborigines would continue to live in the same primitive tribal conditions that existed at the time when the white settlers arrived. Perhaps time has come for our politicians to call a halt to such stupid claims and call a spade a bloody shovel.
The Leader of the National Party, Mr. Tim Fischer while addressing a conference of business leaders in Perth on 23rd. Sept.93 stated that “There never seem to be any sense of acknowledgement or sense that the money received comes from the sweat on the brow of hard-working, tax-paying Australians across our great country.”
Mr. Patrick Dodson presented his wish list to the Federal Government in March 1995 containing almost two hundred demands. The most glaring ones are a request giving official recognition to the Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Inslander flag, shifting of Australia Day because 26th. January is not acceptable to the ingenious Australians and guarateed number of seats in the Federal Parliament.
Some of these demands served on the Federal Government did receive almost immediate attention. One was the decision to accord an official recognition to the Aboriginal flag. As from 14th. July 1995 it will be considered on equal footing as an official flag of this country. From rag to flag. Mind boggles on the outcome.
When our athletes compete overseas, will it mean that on Australia’s flagpole there will be two flags hoisted? Certainly it would be unique and confuse those attending to no end. Would perhaps the Aboriginal flag in the interest of political correctness and in order not to offend our Aboriginal brethern be placed above our national flag?
I wonder why in a country which still claims to be a land of free speech anyone who dares to question even remotely the wisdom of giving the Aboriginal people everything they ask for, should be immediately attacked and ridiculed.
There are several other interesting points to remember. Some Aboriginals are are talking openly about sovereignity over these vast areas of the country that they expect to come under their control. We have seen lessons in many “independent” countries of Africa. Their leaders fight to establish independence from the white rulers and once they succeed, run with outstreched arms to the former rulers begging for aid to keep their economy from collapsing and their people starving to death. There is no independence in the true sense, if the nation is depended on economic support to make its citizens stay alive.
Mr. Kennett continued: “I received a letter last week from a section of the Aboriginal community claiming the whole of the State of Victoria for Aboriginal ownership, and that is, quite obviously outside even the broadest interpretation of the Mabo scheme.” How this claim by the Aboriginal community is going to be followed only time will tell. But here we have the Mabo exposed for all its absurdity. They simply want the whole State, lock, stock and barrel!
Our frustrated social engineer was not satisfied with a mere 4.000 years B.C. he added a zero to the end and before he had time explaining that he was only joking, this claim which cannot be scientifically proven was accepted by the community at large. There is no evidence of any cultural achievement by the aboriginal people apart from some primitive rock paintings, dances and customs. This is claimed to be a cultural heritage and Aboriginal culture.
What was the response of our politicians? Of course they did act. In April 1995 the so-called “Aboriginal Tent Embassy” was officially added to Australia’s national heritage list alongsite such sites as Sydney Harbour Bridge and Great Barrier Rief! Thus this “tent embassy” which was considered to be an eyesore in front of the Parliament House, which makes a laughing stock of so-called “aboriginal culture”, was officially added to the Register of the National Estate!
Australian Heritage Commission chairwoman Ms. Wendy McCarthy, said that the site’s historic value to Aboriginal people dated back thousands of years. So here we have it! Canberra was discovered thousands of years ago by the Aboriginals. What a nonsense, what a distorsion of history. No wonder that our children being tought this stupid rubbish in our schools must be confused!
The Aboriginals continue to claim that our ancestors stole their land and attempted to destroy the Aboriginal race.. Aboriginal activist, Michael Mansell has said publicly that any separate Aboriginal state must initially be funded by the taxpayers of Australia until it reaches a self-supporting stage. No wonder that many Australians feel alarmed, intimidated and even angry about such statements
Back on 9.2.88 Mr. Hugh Morgan has spoken against the ” guilt industry”. It took several years to recognise that his predictions were true. In his speech Mr. Morgan attacked Australians for assuming guilt and shame for injustices against Aboriginals. He said that the policy of appeasement would lead to the handing over to Aboriginals big part of Australia, probably the Northern Territory.
He said that a new and lucrative industry was created – the guilt industry. He continued: “My description of the Aborigines as primitive nomadic tribespeople will cause apoplexy in many circles. It is important, if the psychology of the guilt industry is to work, that Aboriginals should be described and accepted as “noble savages” living in harmony with nature, free of the faults and failings of ordinary men and women. But of course, this idea of Aboriginals is a phantasy.
We may ask why further cash compensation should be provided in addition to these vast concessions given to the Aborigines? With the land at present under their control representing 14.2% of Australian land mass a further 12.5% being the Crown land will be given to them. Thus 1.43% of the population of this country will control 26.7% of the total area of Australia. Certainly it will make them the riches landowners in the world. Why then the additional hundreds of millions over 20 years would be provided to them? As I have said earlier. The date of 19th. October 1993 will go down in history where the future generations of Australians will be required to pay this open handed I.O.Y.’s.
On 12th. February 1999 there was a two sentense report in the Herald Sun that “the Aborigines have signed over all the land needed for the proposed Adelaide to Darwin railway in return for a $ 10 million compensation package.The land is 100 meters wide and 1385 km long”. In these two sentenses we can see why Aboriginals are so keen to get the Government recognise that there were past custodians of this country. If the Government agrees to it, we could expect a flood of new claims for every stretch of land that may be selected for development, regardless how vital or essential service may be at stake. They will demand their pound of flesh.
In 1998/99 Federal budget the Government has provided $ 1.93 billion for Aborigines. Any reasonable person would think that this is just about enough. But like little children, some of the Aboriginal leaders will never be satisfied. Not before the whole continent is handed to them, lock stock and barrel.
