Comments on: Brough, Pearson, Yunupingu rejected by Aboriginal voters

By: Tony Guest

Tony Guest — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Can Crikey PLEASE find another Aboriginal affairs correspondent other than the whingeing Chris Graham? He is painful to read and ridiculously one-sided. I also note he failed to mention his old mate Alison Anderson here, who backs the NT intervention.

By: afferbeck

afferbeck — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The ultimate irony is that the swing against Brough was probably not an objection to his paternalistic colonial policy and wedge politics. His constituents doubtless feared that he was doing something for Aborigines. Usually political poison in Aus.

By: Chris Graham

Chris Graham — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Wow Tony, that was a valuable contribution. It’s they way you formulated your arguments that impressed me most. Have you considered running for the Liberal Party? I hear they’re hiring!

By: Chris Graham

Chris Graham — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The swing isn’t the issue because the Libs claimed blackfellas supported the intervention. So why didn’t they vote for it? Even so, for the record the swing against the CLP was in double figures in all but 4 of the 20 black booths. The people have spoken.

By: LVN

LVN — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Longman is a fast growing region on the edge of the Sunshine Coast. It’s young families and sea-changers were very concerned by the areas earmarking for a nuclear power generation plant ! Labor and the Greens campaigned strongly on this issue.

By: shaun

shaun — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Pearson should move on, like Howard, Costello, Vaille and company, as OLD leadership. There are heaps of young, strong minded and articulate Aboriginal people out there. Sayonara big fella

By: John Molloy

John Molloy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

japaljarri is right. What counts is the swing. How did these booths vote historically?

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

And not to be forgotten – the Wallaga Lake Koori Village (Eden-Monaro, the bell-weth…) returned one (1) vote for the Liberal candidate (and the story around here is that one of the Narooma Liberal Party worthies makes a point of driving there to vote).

By: afferbeck

afferbeck — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The ultimate irony is that the swing against Brough was probably not an objection to his paternalistic colonial policy and wedge politics. Rather he was too earnest by half and was in trouble when Rudd didn’t bite. His constituents doubtless feared that he was actually doing something for Aborigines. This is usually political poison in Australia. Thus he may have actually wedged himself!

By: japaljarri

japaljarri — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Hermannsburg, which Mal Brough alluded to, was polling at 68% alp. which is a strong vote but actually represents a 6% swing against. How to interpret? Any breakdown across Alison Anderson mob? To my knowledge permits, and thus respect, had real grip.

By: Tony Papafilis

Tony Papafilis — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Before Mal is slayed over the intervention, let’s remember Robert Tickner, Labor’s last Aborginal Affairs Minister, lost his safe Labor seat with an even bigger swing than Brough’s. Intervention does not explain same result for Tickner.