Thursday 30th January 1997
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Ms Hanson was talking to over 200 people at a local motel on Kurrimine beach about 120 kilometres south of Cairns. She warned that the "chardonnay class" must be stopped before the country's multibillion dollar mining and grazing industries were wiped out by Aboriginal native title claims.
"Just recently with the Wik decision that was handed down, it's caused a bit of an uproar here in Australia; it has placed Australia at a cross-roads both socially, and most importantly economically," Ms Hanson said.
"The whole Mabo native title issue has gotten out of control and the inmates are now running the asylum.
"The people are tending to forget that the whole of the bench of the High Court are all trendy lefties appointed by the Labor Party.
"It's time the government took back the running of what is proving to be an issue that is having a dramatic effect on this nation's attempt to economic recovery."
The former chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), Dr Lois O'Donoghue (she has received no less than seven honorary doctorates), has expressed anger at the way in which the government is approaching the issues of social justice, native title laws and cuts to Aboriginal spending.
O'Donoghue said, "We will be back in the streets - there are just no two ways about it.
"I am not one who has said it until now but certainly the Olympic Games will be a platform.
"For indigenous people it would be our only alternative - to actually agitate once again in terms of demonstrating our dissatisfaction with the Government's ability to come to terms with our goals."
Now isn't it quite remarkable that once again, almost on cue, the political blackmail line is trotted out by an Aboriginal elder when the elected government doesn't coy-toy to Aboriginal demands. Demands which Ms Hanson has quite correctly pointed out are, quite frankly, stuffing this country around.
For those coming to the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000 one thing that I can guarantee you right now is that there will be disruptions by Aboriginal groups during the event. Australia will be embarrassed by a tiny minority of indigenous people who are used to living off the fat of the Australian tax payer and creating disruptions for mainstream Australians when they think that their cut of the spoils is being reduced.
See for yourself how many times in the Australian News of the Day archives the indigenous lobbyists have threatened to use the Olympic Games as a platform to aire their grievances.
Wouldn't it be fun if lobby groups representing disadvantaged single mothers, trade unions, the long term unemployed, the disabled, frustrated failed politicians, the gay lobby, battling small businesses, bureaucrats and the environment joined the party. We could change the name from Olympic Games to Publicity Games... but guess what, the well (tax-payer) funded Aboriginal lobby would still make the loudest noise and create the greatest furore with claims of assault by police and everything else under the sun.... is it no wonder then that the average Aussie is sick and tired of threats, tants and demands?
We carried a commentary yesterday on Redfern - what the writer said is very close to the mark... is it any wonder then that Pauline Hanson shares the same views of about 80% of the Australian population?
.... and that the government and the mainstream media is out of step with their view!
Both Howard and Federal Treasurer Peter Costello have repeatedly ruled out a General Sales Tax (GST) this term despite pressures from business and welfare groups.
The memories of 1993 when Liberal leader John Hewson lost the unloseable election to Paul Keating because of the Coalition's support for the GST at that time still rankles the likes of Costello who, only on Tuesday, once again ruled out a change in that direction during this term of the government.
Actually, it was quite interesting to see how the television channels and the mainstream daily press slated the idea of a GST and ridiculed John Hewson with incredibly biased reporting.... at a very critical time in the restructuring and controls of the media by the likes of Packer and Murdoch. At a time when Conrad Black was making a move on Fairfax.... one can only wonder what deals the lobbyists of the media barons were making behind the scenes that really pushed Keating and the Labor Party over the line at that time.
Prime Minister John Howard welcomed the low inflation figure - which equates to an inflation rate of just 1.5% in the last year - saying, "It's good for small business, it's good for jobs, it's good for investment, it's good for families - particularly Australian home buyers - all around, absolutely fabulous news.
Another wet day yesterday... we have now had steady rain over the last few days. Last night took my wife to see Gumnut and Willy Willy, and landed up buying another handcrafted doll... the magnificent Mother Nature... an award winning doll. Got to steer clear of the "doll-house" from here on!
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