“The freedom had two sides to it. Sometimes a heavy, reptile hostility came off the sombre land, something gruesome & infinitely repulsive.”
– DH Lawrence, ‘Kangaroo’

At what point did Australia’s light on the hill become a rising stink from the basement?

Of course, there’s always been a whiff of bigotry and intolerance here. No country is immune from that. And few of us can claim to have never prejudged another on the basis of race. But recent events are genuinely disquieting for many people, particularly those from minority ethnic groups.

The more reptilian tone of public discourse marks a break from the recent past. In the quarter century from the 1973 final end of the White Australia policy, Australia transformed into an extraordinarily  tolerant, welcoming and diverse society. This was not the American-style half-embrace of multi-culturalism (where the immigrant experience is slyly subordinated to the capitalist dream), but a genuinely social democratic and egalitarian acceptance of difference.

My own experience as a migrant (albeit as a Kiwi cousin from a broadly similar culture across the Tasman) was to be struck by the relatively outgoing nature of Australian society, the in-built sense of confidence among many people and the readiness to live and let live.  It was why I liked Australia and why I was always ready to defend this country against those who argued it was otherwise here.

But now I’m not so sure. The rise of Pauline Hanson in the 90s appeared to indicate disquiet among some mainly Anglo Australians about immigration, although there is a legitimate view that this movement was more an expression of understandable exhaustion with neo-liberal economic change than with cultural diversity.

Whatever it was, it was around that time that the formerly bipartisan consensus among politicians about exploiting race and immigration issues for political advantage was abandoned. This began with the dog whistle under Howard, evolved into more tacit acceptance (see the official response to the Cronulla riots) and is now is less dog whistle than promotional foghorn.

Cheered on by talkback radio provocateurs and the windbags of the media outrage industry, it is clear that the current government has been progressively lowering the bar on the issue of tolerance. Tolerance, in their definition, is almost wholly about giving free rein to the bigotry of the Andrew Bolts and others who already have substantial platforms for their views. Indeed, one gets the sense that with their proposed changes to the racial discrimination act, the floodgates for hatred are about to be opened.

It is remarkable that nowhere do we see our political leaders arguing for the rights of the powerless and the oppressed, the marginalised and the voiceless. Efforts to encourage respect and decency are increasingly seen as “nanny state” meddling.  Freedom is discussed in isolation and in the naive libertarian abstract, never in the context of relative power. And race and ethnicity are now easy fodder for political point-scoring, with both major parties competing to see who can be the cruelest to asylum seekers.

There’s a disquiet among many people from a broad spectrum in Australia about the recent course of events, a disquiet that came through in the recent March in March across the country. This was an event passed off by an arrogant, lazy, cynical and unreflective media as a “leftist” love-in, but which gave notice of a substantial reorientation in Australian politics.

It’s time to the put the reptile back in its cage.

 


28 Comments

PeterH · March 26, 2014 at 6:09 AM

Yes, it is time to put the reptile mind back.

But do you see it as a symptom of failure to deal with wider issues across the board? The political class seems happier to pander to fears rather than try to grapple with serious issues. As incoherent as it may seem for bigots to rant against foreigners for making our cities crowded – those asylum seekers clogging the traffic on the M4 – deep issues of transport infrastructure and housing affordability have not been dealt with by politicians of all stripes. They have barely been addressed. The parties have been happier to leave the shape of our cities to be decided by the market. And the market response has been inadequate.

Political and market failure to match the response to climate change.

PeterH · March 26, 2014 at 6:09 AM

Yes, it is time to put the reptile mind back.

But do you see it as a symptom of failure to deal with wider issues across the board? The political class seems happier to pander to fears rather than try to grapple with serious issues. As incoherent as it may seem for bigots to rant against foreigners for making our cities crowded – those asylum seekers clogging the traffic on the M4 – deep issues of transport infrastructure and housing affordability have not been dealt with by politicians of all stripes. They have barely been addressed. The parties have been happier to leave the shape of our cities to be decided by the market. And the market response has been inadequate.

Political and market failure to match the response to climate change.

Mr D · March 26, 2014 at 8:35 AM

Peter, I agree with you. The problem is the real issues – climate change, sustainability, financing longevity, the hollowing out of the middle class via technological change – defy cute left/right red team/blue team framing that suits the media and the political establishment. So the politicians, whose business is negotiating conflict, go for the tried and tested – tapping into fear, ignorance and prejudice. It's just too hard to fit all the crucial issues into the favoured frame. So they flip the switch to vaudeville, as Keating said.

Mr D · March 26, 2014 at 8:35 AM

Peter, I agree with you. The problem is the real issues – climate change, sustainability, financing longevity, the hollowing out of the middle class via technological change – defy cute left/right red team/blue team framing that suits the media and the political establishment. So the politicians, whose business is negotiating conflict, go for the tried and tested – tapping into fear, ignorance and prejudice. It's just too hard to fit all the crucial issues into the favoured frame. So they flip the switch to vaudeville, as Keating said.

Anonymous · March 26, 2014 at 9:24 AM

I live here. I love certain people here but I do not like the place.

I think we are a mean lot, suspicious, hard and brutishly competitive.

Like you Mr Denmore I used to think otherwise.

I have changed my mind.

I don't know if it began with Howard or whether he was one of the meanest of the lot and he recognized that in us, fostered it and encouraged it to find free expression.

The present government's appeal to the inner bigot cranks that impulse up a few notches.

I have my own views why we are such a charmless lot but I won't go on or I will depress myself.

Anonymous · March 26, 2014 at 9:24 AM

I live here. I love certain people here but I do not like the place.

I think we are a mean lot, suspicious, hard and brutishly competitive.

Like you Mr Denmore I used to think otherwise.

I have changed my mind.

I don't know if it began with Howard or whether he was one of the meanest of the lot and he recognized that in us, fostered it and encouraged it to find free expression.

The present government's appeal to the inner bigot cranks that impulse up a few notches.

I have my own views why we are such a charmless lot but I won't go on or I will depress myself.

Anonymous · March 26, 2014 at 10:22 AM

Mr D, an economic refugee from NZ? who would have believed that?

and exactly how do we pt the reptile back in the cage?

Anonymous · March 26, 2014 at 10:22 AM

Mr D, an economic refugee from NZ? who would have believed that?

and exactly how do we pt the reptile back in the cage?

Jason Taylor · March 26, 2014 at 11:00 PM

Bolt and Brandis will not be remembered as defenders of free speech. They will be remembered as defendersf of hate speech.

Jason Taylor · March 26, 2014 at 11:00 PM

Bolt and Brandis will not be remembered as defenders of free speech. They will be remembered as defendersf of hate speech.

Mike Hopkins · March 27, 2014 at 12:16 AM

We can only hope that the 'dropping of the mask' will shock the voters into a realisation of exactly what they've elected. The South Australian election may have been an indicator that more and more people are not comfortable with the swing to the right by the Libs (which started with Howard but he was a bit more subtle / devious). Although Tasmania doesn't seem to care. The WA upper house election could give another indicator. One can only hope that an accumulation of bad polls will make the Libs rethink and steer back to a more moderate course. On the other hand, maybe the surest path for their destruction is for them to carry on the way they're going.

Mike Hopkins · March 27, 2014 at 12:16 AM

We can only hope that the 'dropping of the mask' will shock the voters into a realisation of exactly what they've elected. The South Australian election may have been an indicator that more and more people are not comfortable with the swing to the right by the Libs (which started with Howard but he was a bit more subtle / devious). Although Tasmania doesn't seem to care. The WA upper house election could give another indicator. One can only hope that an accumulation of bad polls will make the Libs rethink and steer back to a more moderate course. On the other hand, maybe the surest path for their destruction is for them to carry on the way they're going.

JonL · March 27, 2014 at 6:51 AM

I agree

It's happened in New Zealand as well…a mean lot, suspicious, hard and brutishly competitive at grabbing stuff!

JonL · March 27, 2014 at 6:51 AM

I agree

It's happened in New Zealand as well…a mean lot, suspicious, hard and brutishly competitive at grabbing stuff!

VoterBentleigh · March 27, 2014 at 9:14 AM

When did “the rising stink” begin? When the Liberal Party elected Tony Abbott as leader. Liberals previously thought to be moderate have adopted the same persona and talk, showing that moderation in the LNP is defunct. To side with Abbott is to side with the extreme, abandoning moderation.

Pyne and Abbott even use the language of the bully, accusing people of being “sooks” and “humourless”, typical words bullies use to denigrate their “prey”.

The only way to put a stop to this is to vote Abbott out, because he is the chief instigator.

VoterBentleigh · March 27, 2014 at 9:14 AM

When did “the rising stink” begin? When the Liberal Party elected Tony Abbott as leader. Liberals previously thought to be moderate have adopted the same persona and talk, showing that moderation in the LNP is defunct. To side with Abbott is to side with the extreme, abandoning moderation.

Pyne and Abbott even use the language of the bully, accusing people of being “sooks” and “humourless”, typical words bullies use to denigrate their “prey”.

The only way to put a stop to this is to vote Abbott out, because he is the chief instigator.

1735099 · March 27, 2014 at 8:30 PM

It began when Howard used the military to intercept the Tampa.
He tapped the rich vein of xenophobia just below the surface of the Oz body politic and exploited it to the max.
It will take our country a long time to recover, if it ever does………

1735099 · March 27, 2014 at 8:30 PM

It began when Howard used the military to intercept the Tampa.
He tapped the rich vein of xenophobia just below the surface of the Oz body politic and exploited it to the max.
It will take our country a long time to recover, if it ever does………

Rolly Christian · March 29, 2014 at 1:50 AM

Before we all rest contented that the beast has been identified and rightly condemned was it not the former PM who defending a certain speaker prepared what could best be described as a unprecedented unfair bigoted personal attack on the opposition leader? Before a certain lefty dictionary was changed, was it not quite bigoted to label Abbott a “misogynist” – A hater of women?

Beasts with mouths to devour, run onto the paddock with many different coloured jerseys.

I am however quite tired of Cronulla being sighted as evidence of rampant racists undercurrents to the exclusion of wider (local) multicultural failures. Its' lazy and unfair to limit Cronulla violence as equating to Australians being comfortable with bigoted racist extremists.

Look harder. Who has been busy shooting up South Western Sydney? Do we have a problem here?

Rolly Christian · March 29, 2014 at 1:50 AM

Before we all rest contented that the beast has been identified and rightly condemned was it not the former PM who defending a certain speaker prepared what could best be described as a unprecedented unfair bigoted personal attack on the opposition leader? Before a certain lefty dictionary was changed, was it not quite bigoted to label Abbott a “misogynist” – A hater of women?

Beasts with mouths to devour, run onto the paddock with many different coloured jerseys.

I am however quite tired of Cronulla being sighted as evidence of rampant racists undercurrents to the exclusion of wider (local) multicultural failures. Its' lazy and unfair to limit Cronulla violence as equating to Australians being comfortable with bigoted racist extremists.

Look harder. Who has been busy shooting up South Western Sydney? Do we have a problem here?

Anonymous · March 29, 2014 at 4:38 AM

I grew up as an Anglo Australian in a large multicultural community in the 1960's. We were the minority and I'm forever thankful that I had that experience. It taught me so much. I remember the change in thinking that led to us becoming by and large an accepting and tolerant society and I have been proud of it up until the last couple of years. Maybe the downward trend started with Pauline but since many people were dismissive of her views I don't think that's when it was. It was when the mainstream pollies started pandering to the people who agreed with Pauline instead of maintaining and progressing the tolerance by educating the ignorant to the wealth of humanity people of diverse backgrounds bring. It probably started with John Howard and the children overboard lie which they cynically told to win an election. An absolutely disgusting piece of chicanery for which they have never properly been brought to account. Tony Abbott's lot have taken it to new depths however and this I hope will be their undoing. Because I believe a large part of the population don't share these views and have been largely unaware that there was a shift toward racism and bigotry. The events of the last week, the secrecy, the treatment of asylum seekers, whilst not great under Labor the Libs have managed to make a lot worse, the scapegoating of the navy by implying incompetence when they are clearly under orders to cross into Indonesian waters if necessary and the big one, the murder of Reza Berati have finally penetrated our complacency. We just have to keep up the pressure now.
Robyn

Anonymous · March 29, 2014 at 4:38 AM

I grew up as an Anglo Australian in a large multicultural community in the 1960's. We were the minority and I'm forever thankful that I had that experience. It taught me so much. I remember the change in thinking that led to us becoming by and large an accepting and tolerant society and I have been proud of it up until the last couple of years. Maybe the downward trend started with Pauline but since many people were dismissive of her views I don't think that's when it was. It was when the mainstream pollies started pandering to the people who agreed with Pauline instead of maintaining and progressing the tolerance by educating the ignorant to the wealth of humanity people of diverse backgrounds bring. It probably started with John Howard and the children overboard lie which they cynically told to win an election. An absolutely disgusting piece of chicanery for which they have never properly been brought to account. Tony Abbott's lot have taken it to new depths however and this I hope will be their undoing. Because I believe a large part of the population don't share these views and have been largely unaware that there was a shift toward racism and bigotry. The events of the last week, the secrecy, the treatment of asylum seekers, whilst not great under Labor the Libs have managed to make a lot worse, the scapegoating of the navy by implying incompetence when they are clearly under orders to cross into Indonesian waters if necessary and the big one, the murder of Reza Berati have finally penetrated our complacency. We just have to keep up the pressure now.
Robyn

CrocodileChuck · March 29, 2014 at 5:35 AM

Howard was demonising 'Asians' in the late '80's. How fitting that the Chinese of Eastwood voted him out in '07.

CrocodileChuck · March 29, 2014 at 5:35 AM

Howard was demonising 'Asians' in the late '80's. How fitting that the Chinese of Eastwood voted him out in '07.

VoterBentleigh · April 1, 2014 at 12:47 AM

Abbott accused Gillard of running a “protection racket” for the Speaker, Peter Slipper, and Mr Abbott repeated almost the same phrase Alan Jones had used against her in relation to her father's death:

“They know what is going on here; they know that this government is about to run a protection racket for something, which is absolutely contemptible for attitudes and values, which are absolutely and utterly indefensible.”

“And every day the Prime Minister stands in this parliament to defend this Speaker will be another day of shame for this parliament and another day of shame for a government which should have already died of shame.”

(Hansard, 9 October, 2012, page 11577)

Then, before Gillard spoke, Julie Bishop, the then Deputy Leader of the Opposition rose and said:

“These remarks of the member for Fisher that were read into the court transcript, that are uncontested, that are now on the public record, are offensive. Many of them are obscenely offensive and what female Labor members would describe as sexist and misogynist if anyone else had uttered them.”

(Hansard, 9 October, 2012, page 11579)

So it was the Coalition who used the “misogyny” word first (so any alteration to the 'lefty dictionary' is their doing) insinuating that the then PM supported misogyny by supporting Slipper as Speaker. Gillard stood up to defend herself and simply pointed out that she was not going to be be lectured by someone who had previously made a myriad of public comments about women which were sexist and, under the new definition provided by Julie Bishop, misogynist in nature.

VoterBentleigh · April 1, 2014 at 12:47 AM

Abbott accused Gillard of running a “protection racket” for the Speaker, Peter Slipper, and Mr Abbott repeated almost the same phrase Alan Jones had used against her in relation to her father's death:

“They know what is going on here; they know that this government is about to run a protection racket for something, which is absolutely contemptible for attitudes and values, which are absolutely and utterly indefensible.”

“And every day the Prime Minister stands in this parliament to defend this Speaker will be another day of shame for this parliament and another day of shame for a government which should have already died of shame.”

(Hansard, 9 October, 2012, page 11577)

Then, before Gillard spoke, Julie Bishop, the then Deputy Leader of the Opposition rose and said:

“These remarks of the member for Fisher that were read into the court transcript, that are uncontested, that are now on the public record, are offensive. Many of them are obscenely offensive and what female Labor members would describe as sexist and misogynist if anyone else had uttered them.”

(Hansard, 9 October, 2012, page 11579)

So it was the Coalition who used the “misogyny” word first (so any alteration to the 'lefty dictionary' is their doing) insinuating that the then PM supported misogyny by supporting Slipper as Speaker. Gillard stood up to defend herself and simply pointed out that she was not going to be be lectured by someone who had previously made a myriad of public comments about women which were sexist and, under the new definition provided by Julie Bishop, misogynist in nature.

Rolly Christian · April 1, 2014 at 11:07 PM

G'day VB,
Defending (the recent Fed) brand of ALP with who called misogynist first is a fairly unrewarding pursuit I would think. Mr D let this piece lean to the left with a critical view of the right.
I would argue abuse and bigotry is showcased at both ends of extremism. @#$% Abbott and @#$% democracy is an equally stupid remark as “bigots have the right to be bigots”.

People can and do say what they will. However in the case of the former Speaker or Craig Thompson they need to be held to account for their words and actions. The Speaker is a very high position in our government. I know plenty of family men who would not disgrace themselves with such disgusting offensive material. He should have stepped aside or been stood down.

This whole defending free speech & defending minorities is a complete falsehood.
With the current tight 18C “offend” provisions in place and with Ms Gillard as PM, a black misogynist rape and murder promoting US rapper was granted a visa and toured Australia. Now with the LNP in charge a well known white misogynist rap performer is set to tour here too.
Straining out a nat and swallowing the camel is today's fair at Café Australia.
Speaking up against the contemptible cultural beliefs of Islam with respect to women (sic) or non believers is why the left is keen to gag speech which may offend them. Islam is riding along under the protections set up to protect gays from hate speech – ultimately I doubt they will return the favour if orthodoxy in Islam remains desirable as it grows here.

Rolly Christian · April 1, 2014 at 11:07 PM

G'day VB,
Defending (the recent Fed) brand of ALP with who called misogynist first is a fairly unrewarding pursuit I would think. Mr D let this piece lean to the left with a critical view of the right.
I would argue abuse and bigotry is showcased at both ends of extremism. @#$% Abbott and @#$% democracy is an equally stupid remark as “bigots have the right to be bigots”.

People can and do say what they will. However in the case of the former Speaker or Craig Thompson they need to be held to account for their words and actions. The Speaker is a very high position in our government. I know plenty of family men who would not disgrace themselves with such disgusting offensive material. He should have stepped aside or been stood down.

This whole defending free speech & defending minorities is a complete falsehood.
With the current tight 18C “offend” provisions in place and with Ms Gillard as PM, a black misogynist rape and murder promoting US rapper was granted a visa and toured Australia. Now with the LNP in charge a well known white misogynist rap performer is set to tour here too.
Straining out a nat and swallowing the camel is today's fair at Café Australia.
Speaking up against the contemptible cultural beliefs of Islam with respect to women (sic) or non believers is why the left is keen to gag speech which may offend them. Islam is riding along under the protections set up to protect gays from hate speech – ultimately I doubt they will return the favour if orthodoxy in Islam remains desirable as it grows here.

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