The Editor
Queensland Times
Dear Sir,
First may I say that I feel that I am wasting my time writing this letter to you as I am sure that it will not be published. It is for that reason that I find your publishing of a letter (QT 2/8) by Ian Rintoul spokesman for the International Socialist Organisation in Sydney in which he personally attacks me for my support for One Nation reflecting a disturbing bias. In the last three weeks I have written letters to you on subjects relating to attacks on One Nation by those who support the Australian Labor Party. None have been published.
Of particular concern is my letter dated 24th July in which I wrote in direct response to the comments by Ann Scott. Ms Scott wrote that my earlier letter stating that the ALP were supporting extreme left wing groups ‘would be laughable if it was not so serious’. In this letter I challenged her to provide me with a public forum to allow me to prove that point. (One wonders whether the Ipswich City Council would allow her to book the Humanities Building? What a dilemma.) My right to reply has been withheld by the Queensland Times.
Getting back to Ian Rintoul who suggests that Pauline Hanson is responsible for the rise in racist attacks, which is unproven and untrue, may I then dare ask, without being called a racist:
- who is responsible for the growing number of drug related deaths in Australia - as 96% of heroin originates from Asia (NCA report).
- which race is responsible for at least 80% of interracial attacks in Ipswich.
- why, in the words of the Daily Telegraph (02/03/97 - Piers Akerman): ‘The United Nations is paving the way for Australia to be divvyed into a number of nation states governed by Aborigines.’ (UNs draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.)
- why last week only five (socialist ‘Green Left’) protesters turned up for the Ipswich branch launch of One Nation attended by 100 supporters - after Peter Arndt said that he would not organise protesters.
It was Peter Boyle of the Democratic Socialists who said, "Our position is we're interested in peaceful protest. We're not interested in closing down the meetings, which is what others want. They're into revolution."
It was your correspondent, Ian Rintoul of the International Socialist Organisation who said, "We don't condone individual vigilant acts against Hanson supporters," he says. "But we are for militant protests and mass action to close meetings down." (Both sources Courier Mail 12th July 1997).
Scott Balson, Karana Downs
