Stop the dog whistle politics in Tasmania!
It was revealed on Monday that Pauline Hanson will be leaving Australia for Britain but there has been a recent reminder that while the woman herself is gone, her legacy lives on in the practices of the major parties. The Hobart Mercury reported on February 16 that “northern suburbs focus groups showed that David Bartlett’s proverbial popularity gauge or “worm”, seriously turned when the Premier stood up to Aboriginal protest groups in January”, which “resonated wonderfully according to the Premier’s advisers, with Labor voters in Brighton, Bridgewater, Granton, Glenorchy and Claremont”.
Socialist Alliance candidate for Denison, Melanie Barnes said,” This is the worst type of dog whistle politics. It appears as if it was a deliberate election strategy of the government to attack Aboriginal campaigners and try to ram through the Brighton Bypass in order to curry favour with voters in the Northern Suburbs. This is a classic tactic of trying to divert real anger within the Northern suburbs around issues such as increased electricity and water prices and lack of decent public transport and focus that anger on another disadvantaged group, the Aboriginal community. This is exactly the type of tactics that Pauline Hanson and John Howard used, anger over various issues was diverted to a vile campaign against immigrants. It is disgusting that the Labor Party is willing to resort to these tactics in order to get re-elected.”
The Socialist Alliance rejects this approach to politics and instead argues that the working class and Aboriginal communities are stronger together.
“What working class voters and the Aboriginal community across the state have in common is that they are both under attack by the Labor Government. Just as trying to ram through Brighton Bypass reflects the arrogance of the government, so does ramming through the “water and sewerage reforms” or Tasmanian tomorrow education reforms, both of which have had a negative impact on the living and education standards of those in the northern suburbs. Attacks on the Aboriginal community do nothing at all to alleviate these problems, which stem from the Labor Government. The Union and Working Class movements have a proud history of supporting the Aboriginal struggle, an example of this is right now trade unionists in the Northern Territory are helping to construct houses for the Ampilatwatja community, who have set up a protest camp in response to the racist Northern Territory intervention. All those who oppose racism must take a firm stand against the type of tactics being employed by the Labor Party” Jenny Forward, Socialist Alliance candidate for Franklin
The Socialist Alliance supports the Tasmanian Aboriginal communities fight for justice and will use its campaign to try to increase this support throughout the state.
The recent article by travel magazine Wanderlust that named the Bay of Fires as one of the world's most threatened tourist sites confirms the need to return the land to Aboriginal control immediately.
"The area is of very high significance to Aboriginal people, with burial grounds and cultural artefacts all throughout the area. Aboriginal cultural sites are now being destroyed because of the amount of tourists, not consciously, but because there is little awareness or signage as to what is culturally significant in the area. Returning the land to Aboriginal control will ensure that these sites are protected and there will be a higher awareness of why the area is so important to Aboriginal people,” said Melanie Barnes, Socialist Alliance candidate for Denison.
The Bay of Fires was announced one of the world's "hottest" destinations in 2009 by Lonely Planet, resulting in a surge of tourist numbers.
"If Premier Bartlett turns the area into a national park he would be turning his back on a promise to give the land back. Certainly the area should be protected from unsuitable development, and the Aboriginal community are best placed to manage the risks associated with increased tourism. The presumption that governments are better managers of the land than Aboriginal people hasn’t been borne out in practice, as shown by the environmental destruction occurring across Australia,” said Jenny Franklin, Socialist Alliance candidate for Franklin
The Socialist Alliance campaigns for full Land Rights and compensation for land taken, and recognises the existence of Indigenous self-governance and the right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination.
Media Interviews:
Melanie Barnes: 0423 978 518
Jenny Forward: 0400 701 902