Tuesday 12th November 1996
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It is my view that if you replace "controversial federal MP Pauline Hanson" with the "mainstream Australian media" you will be very close to the mark. Today's Media Watch explores the role of the media in the Ms Hanson controversy.
The Queensland University of Technology dean of education, Professor actually said reports in Asian newspapers were "enormously damaging".
Even former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating is getting in on the act now.
In a speech to the University of New South Wales the visiting professor (Keating) launched a stinging attack on Ms Hanson saying, "A very ugly and xenophobic cat has been let out of the bag."
Mr Keating repeated the claim that Ms Hanson's policies were "rooted in ignorance, prejudice and fear".
"The myth of the monoculture. The lie that we can retreat to it.
"What has happened to the Australian people that they will listen to such prejudice and do themselves and their country such an injury?"
"But I don't believe the responsibility lies with Pauline Hanson's supporters or even, in the final analysis, with Pauline Hanson.
"You can find a Pauline Hanson anywhere and any time."
Keating went on to put the blame in Federal Government's court and even put a bit of stick on Labor leader Kim Beazley for his muted response to Ms Hanson's comments.
In matters less controversial conman Peter Foster, who is currently before the courts on the Gold Coast, has blamed his past criminal activities on his relationship with British topless model Samantha Fox.
The Malaysian opposition leader, Mr Lim Kit Slang, denied that the private conference was illegal and said, "It is obvious from the course of events that the ugly demonstration was orchestrated with the full knowledge of the authorities concerned, so as to give a pretext to the Government to stop the conference."
Howard yesterday refused to condemn the arrest and deportation of the Australians. Malaysian police were last night still holding eighteen of the more than one hundred conference delegates arrested.
Howard said, "What it means is that I don't see my role as Prime Minister of this country to give endless moral lectures to the countries of the region."
Kim Beazley (who just happened to be in Jakarta) agreed with Howard describing the deportation as an "entirely reasonable act of national sovereignty".
I guess it would be beyond the ability of Pauline Hanson to see anything but the small picture. In her grab for Yobbo glory she would hardly be thinking of the big-picture questions of just where Australia might be going in the next century, much less how we are to communicate effectively with the neighbours who outnumber us by the hundreds to one. She must assume that their immigrants are absolutely incapable of helping us in this. I'll bet she has never had a constructive conversation with an Asian to find out. So Hanson-wise, push them out! They're different! (Ever thought that so were the "Balts", the Italians and the Greeks, 40 or 50 years ago?)
The stir-up that has just happened here in Kuala Lumpur most likely has a lot to do with her. Having now created Australians as enemies in the eyes of many Asians, just what do you expect?
As one of the many thousands of Australian expats in Asia (the ones who maybe do think about where Australia might be going) the only way we can handle the local damage-control is by gentle reassurance - when the opportunity arises - that Australians are not all red-neck Yobbos who will spit on any Asian they see invading their patch.
There is no way that I will let Hanson make me feel ashamed of being an Australian but I am ashamed that Hanson is an Australian.
Ian Simpson
Ian, I have just come from listening to the ABC's (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 7.30 REPORT in which they conceded that both the Labor and Liberal parties have failed to tackle Ms Hanson head on because her (non-racist) views do have genuine support amongst the average Australian. In fact the ABC reported that if Labor tried to come down hard on Ms Hanson it would cost them AT LEAST 3% of the vote in Queensland!This may shock you, but remember her views have been grossly misreported by the Australian main stream media who have their own agenda, God knows what it is... but they should be the one's on trial here.
It may come as a surprise to hear that the National Party members overwhelmingly support her stand on immigration. Remember they are the Government's Coalition partners.
Let us remember that the very Asian countries that you espouse as having taking umbrage about Ms Hanson's views reflect similar immigration policies - not just talked about BUT IN PLACE!
The real worry for Australians is the media's role in trying to discredit an elected Federal Member of Parliament - who is not a racist nor a bigot. She, unlike many MPs, is raising the issues that people want to hear.
Malaysia and its wonderful people are very important to Australia and, of course, we don't want to damage that relationship... but on who's terms those of the Australian people or those of the Malaysian community or those of the media? One bit of misleading but well-placed reporting can do a thousand times more damage than the comments by Ms Hanson... and they already have.
It is understood that the final straw came when the financially embattled ARL had to deal with what it saw as the greed of some of the ARL's twelve remaining clubs.
The clubs kept on putting thei hands out for more money despite the size of the rescue package negotiated with Optus Vision - who hold the Pay TV rights to the ARL games.
Have a great day, signing off from the land of Oz..
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