Rudd’s office burnt over Closing the Gap
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Call me old fashioned, but I reckon using the Victorian bushfire tragedy for political purposes is, well, pretty shoddy. But I’ll come back to that. This sordid tale begins with a leader who defined his Prime Ministership early with a national apology to members of the Stolen Generations. Kevin Rudd’s February 13, 2008 statement was, in my view, sincere. And it was certainly welcome, and well received. That Rudd has milked it for every drop ever since is, well, politics. And so it was that in April 2008, a rush of Prime Ministerial blood caused Rudd to tell delegates at a governance conference in London that having apologised to Aboriginal people, while-ever he was Prime Minister, the first sitting day of parliament every year would be marked by a report on the government’s progress in “closing the gap” between black and white Australians. A day later, the official media release went out confirming the commitment. It was both a bold promise, and quite stupid as well. Life expectancy and child mortality statistics don’t move year-on-year. But the pledge got substantial media coverage regardless. And then, as usual, everyone got on with the business of forgetting about it. Fast forward to February 26, 2009, when the Closing the Gap report card finally hit the floor of parliament. That there was nothing in it should surprise no-one. But its timing is a more interesting story. Call me pedantic, but February 26 was not the first day of parliament for 2009. It was the 11th. It wouldn’t matter so much if Rudd hadn’t made such a big deal about the importance of the date: “This annual statement will greatly increase pressure on my Government to make progress towards closing the gap. That is exactly why I am announcing it.” So why the delay? Ask Rudd’s media office, and here’s the answer you get from former AAP chief political correspondent turned Rudd government spin doctor Maria Hawthorne:
It’s certainly an interesting claim, and one that was widely distributed over the course of a week, despite the PM’s office being challenged early in proceedings about its accuracy. It also happens to be false. If you go to the Prime Minister’s website, a media release from April 5, 2008 confirms the report was due on the first day of parliament. So no arguments there. The first day of parliament for 2009 was February 3. The fires swept through southern Victoria on February 7. I’m no mathematician, so I checked … and yes, I can confirm that seven comes after three. So the Victorian bushfire tragedy was not the real cause of the delay of the Closing the Gap report card. So what was? I’d suggest that excessive bureaucracy, general malaise and an irresistible urge to spin all played their part. That, and the fact the damn thing simply wasn’t ready on time. But don’t take my word for it — phone the Australian Government printing office and ask for yourself. Here’s what they’ll tell you: “The report was sent to the printers on Wednesday 25th and printed on the 25th.” That’s not January 25th, people. That’s February 25th. So the report card which Rudd’s office claims was delayed by one of Australia’s worst natural disasters (but was actually due BEFORE the fires) was printed 18 days AFTER the fires, and 22 days AFTER it was first supposed to be delivered to parliament. Ultimately, the timing of the report really isn’t that big a deal. Which is why it’s so hard to understand why Rudd’s office lied about it. I don’t doubt for one minute that after touring the bushfire affected areas, the tears we saw from our Prime Minister were real. Only a robot could remain unmoved by such devastation. But I think someone in his office needs to explain to the Australian people — not least of all those who lost family and friends in the tragedy — why the deaths of several hundred Australians in a tragedy that has traumatised a nation was exploited to cover-up what should have been a relatively minor political embarrassment. |
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15 Comments
With respect Dean, your theory is rubbish. Unless you know something about the parliamentary process that I don’t, you might like to explain how you tender an electronic document to parliament? And if you do, why bother going on to print it?
You’ve also missed the point entirely. Why did Rudd promise to deliver a report on the first day of parliament? Because it got him good media, as evidenced by the outlets that covered the promise. And then why didn’t he deliver it on the first day of parliament? Because Indigenous affairs is not the “core business” of his government, despite what he said while promising the report. Whas that such a big deal? Well it is to Aboriginal people, but it’s not mainstream Australia? So why lie about the date? Because that’s what spin doctors do…. But then, you’d know that, wouldn’t you Dean.
As for me being a hard marker for attacking a Labor government over its dirty spin doctory, you wouldn’t be the same Dean Felton who contracts to a Labor government as a spin doctor, would you? Anything else to declare?
You people just can’t help yourselves.
It’s true the Vic Bushfires were horrifying and devastating.
That’s why it’ll all the more morally reprehensible to shamefully use them to delay a promised report on a far more widespread and long-term problem.
According to my own internal figures, people trust Mr Rudd more than any other Australian politician but you and I know that such trust in any politician is at best foolish.
What a ridiculous article, like most Australians I am totally sick of the “Aboriginal Business” carried on in this country by, in large, well educated people who claim to be part of a stolen generation. Enough is enough………
Peter, if you are still ignorant of the facts regarding forced removals of aboriginal children, ONLY because of their skin colour, you should be ashamed. Just in case your ignorance is beyond your control, may I suggest some avenues that will remedy this.Leading up to the ‘Sorry’ day, there were many interviews and discussions on the ABC’s 7.30 Report - you could search the archives for these educational and moving accounts. There’s also the Bringing Them Home Report which can be accessed on the internet; First Australians, an amazing account of the facts surrounding the violent colonization of Australia, and the effects on the aboriginal people in every state and territory. I’ve also read Demons at Dusk, by Peter Stewart - he researched the Myall Creek massacre for 20 years prior to writing the book! I have also learned a lot by watching Message Stick (ABC)each week, Living Black(SBS) and the National Indigenous Times. I’m a non-aboriginal person with a strong sense of justice and equality, and am ashamed that this article even needs to be written.
The current Australian of the Year, Professor Mick Dodson, gave an amazing address on May 27 2000 (the day before the walk across the Harbour Bridge).He responds to Howard’s assertion, that ‘this generation was not responsible for the removals’ via his own family’s personal realities - I urge you to access this, also on the internet.It was this speech that decided me to make the effort to travel and walk, even though I was advised not to due to a severe and disabling spinal injury. I was proud to participate even though I was confined to ‘the water bed’ for a week after. I have no problem in stating my profound sorrow for these horrific events, as a simple human response to the unjust suffering of others. I can only imagine the horror of my babies being removed - they are the same age as some of those who were torn out of their mothers’ arms! An unimagineable nightmare!
Kevin, don’t tell lies!!!
At a time like this is doesn’t hurt to remember the promises that Rudd made, and the response of the Australian public to the dawn of a new age.
In response to Kevin “Bringing the sunshine back into our lives” Rudds Indigenous Policy a clearly hopeful person wrote this:
“We are Australian,
We’re black & we’re white.
We have back our unity
The future looks bright.
For now we’re together,
United as one.
We stand - brother & sister
In the Land of the Sun.
We go forward together,
Understand and respect.
We close the gap slowly,
As fast can’t expect.
Now Australia is one,
Our people are whole
Thank everyone always,
Australia has soul!”
Shame Kev forgot about it hey…
Oh, and one other thing. You say the government’s mention of the Victorian bushfires in the context of their answer to your inquiry is shoddy and exploitative. You could be accused of similar tactics, in mentioning it to push your own agenda.
Never-ending Indignant Trickery extortionist Chris Graham
Thanks, Cris. A well written and entertaining piece, despite a plethora of negative, some racist comments. Why entertaining? Because it showed up the hypocrisy and immorality of the political process. That absolutely nothing is sacrosanct as regards political expediency, even on a matter of minor stuff-up. For example, the Rudd claim that progress is made in `Closing the Gap` by stating that 80 new houses have been built last year. It turns out that these were designated for Government public servants. Someone should conduct a research, if there exists a hypocrisy DNA, and if so, then the politicians have a surfeit of the stuff. They just can`t help themselves!
We all know that Kevin Rudd is only interested in Kevin Rudd.
The apology was not really for Aboriginal people, it was to make Kevin Rudd look like a caring, wonderful person. It worked for a while.
Ask Aboriginal people how things have improved and they will tell you there has been no change.
That’s Kevin Rudd and he has the majority of Australian people fooled.
Peter, I sympathize with you re your being assaulted. I’m sorry that such a terrible thing happened, but you don’t judge all peoples of a race due to the actions of some. The people who brutalized and murdered Anita Cobby for example were called “Murphy”, an Irish name, but I didn’t hate all people from Ireland; in fact, my grandmother’s maiden name was Murphy” - my ancestors were Irish! I wasn’t ashamed either, as I wasn’t responsible and I abhor all violence. There’s approximately 500,000 aboriginal people in this country. You were viciously attacked by a miniscule number of them, and it doesn’t detract from the fact, that children were forcibly removed due to the colour of their skin, and it was a deliberate attempt to ‘breed out’ the aboriginal race - that’s a disgusting and unjust form of genocide. I’ve had young people outside my unit on a weekend night, swearing and being obscene - anglo-saxon all!
There are peoples’ from all races who do bad things? Yesterday a man in his late 30’s was given 2 life sentences in NSW for the brutal slaying of his parents. He was also ango-saxon! Take a look at the news items each day, and the offenders! I get very angry by these irrational reactions. There’s too many instances of this. I can give another example. A lovely unit barely 9 yrs old, in a govt housing complex was finally vacated by tenants (2 parents and 2 kids) who didn’t abide by the rules - the place was filthy - unbelievable how people could live knee deep in trash - they were ango-saxon - the place had to be cleaned out, new paint, new carpet, everything from ‘top to toe’. Ironically, a lovely woman and her adult son moved in - aboriginal people, who are just rapt at being given this opportunity - so there you are - just one example of exploding the racist myths that the shock jocks and the trashy newspapers like to perpetuate! I refuse to!
I want Rudd to restore the Anti-Discrimination Act to the NT - it’s a disgrace, and wouldn’t be tolerated in NSW??
Naomi,
I was brought up with aboriginal kids and attended school with them, my parents taught me to respect all people, and I am well aware of aboriginals problems.
My sympathy and empathy for and with these people evaporated one evening when I was attacked by a
a group of “aboriginal” youth, robbed, and hospitalised with injuries requiring surgery. I was 59 years of age, recovering from cancer, no one ever said sorry to me.
Not so Cynic. A majority of people voted for Rudd and Co at the last election, but I don’t think the euphoria of removing Howard lasted all that long and it certainly doesn’t blind us to the shortcomings of the current crowd. As ever, we put up with the ‘least-worst’ and wish we could have better.
The only thing that surprises me about this article is why anybody would be surprised about politicians telling porkies. I would be more surprised if a politician told the truth.
You’re a hard marker, Chris. I have no knowledge either way about the timing of the report, and I carry no particular torch for the Rudd government, but here’s a theory. The PM’s media release from April 2008 says the report was due on the first day of Parliament for 2009, February 3. At that stage, nearly a year ago, undoubtedly, that was the plan. That the plan wasn’t followed to the letter doesn’t make the PM’s advisers liars. In fact, the PM’s spokesman readily told you - much more recently, I presume - that the proposed date for tabling the report had been changed to February 12. And the fact that the report wasn’t at the printing office until February 25 doesn’t mean the report didn’t exist until that date. Modern technology means reports can exist in many forms other than traditional, multiple, hard-copy paper ones. A conspiracy? No, as usual, I think, a stuff-up. And a fairly minor one at that.