Big Day Out - No Aussie flag 'Ban'

January 22, 2007

Big Day Out says it hasn't banned Australian flag - Right wing aussie patriots are frothing at the mouth with the news that the Big Day Out are "discouraging" flag-wavers at the Sydney show.

But organisers of the Big Day Out rock festival say they have not banned the Australian flag at Sydney, but they do want concert-goers to leave it at home this Thursday. The Federal Government says organisers should cancel the event if they are worried about violence, rather than discourage people from displaying the Australian flag.

BDO organisers have issued a statement saying there will be "no official ban" on the flag, but they are discouraging people from bringing it to the event or wearing it on clothing.

News Ltd has reported that organisers of the Big Day Out at Homebush would confiscate any flag or bandanna featuring the national symbol at the gates. BDO organiser Ken West was quoted as saying fans' behaviour last year in the wake of the Cronulla riots and the recent ethnic violence at the Australian Open tennis tournament had forced his hand. "The Australian flag was being used as gang colours. It was racism disguised as patriotism and I'm not going to tolerate it," Mr West said. But organisers today said Mr West had been misinterpreted.

"We are not banning the Australian flag but are simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes at the Big Day Out," organisers said in a statement on the BDO website.

"In recent times, there has been an increased incidence of flags brandished aggressively and this has led to increased tension. Our only intention in discouraging this activity at the Big Day Out is to ensure that our patrons are not subjected to this aggressive behaviour. With all this in mind and the aim to create a happy, peaceful MUSICAL event, organisers would like to request that fans please leave their flags at home."

The organisers said there was no need for the Australian flag to be waved at the Sydney concert as it was not an Australia Day event. The organisers specifically changed the Sydney slot in 2007 so that it didn't fall on its traditional Australia Day date.

The ban has prompted a cacophony of disapproval from politicians, including Prime Minister John Howard, and the RSL.

"Contrary to the reports in the media, it was never our intention to disrespect the symbolism of the Australian or any other flag," the BDO said. The BDO tours six cities in Australia and New Zealand but the ban will only affect Sydney.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma and the RSL also condemned the BDO decision as "outrageous" and "unbelievable". Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said the move was "excessive and wrong". "Organisers have got it plain wrong when they try to hide our flag as if it's some symbol of shame. It's not. We should fly it with pride," he said on Channel 9.

RSL national president Bill Crews said he would back the concert being cancelled if the flag ban continued. "We'd certainly support that approach if they don't want to change their mind on the banning of the flag," he told Nine. "This is an incredible decision that I hope organisers will quickly change. It's an unbelievable thing that you ban Australia's national symbol at any event in Australia."

Meanwhile, an Australian man has threatened legal action against Qantas for barring him from a Melbourne-to-London flight wearing a t-shirt depicting US President George W Bush as a terrorist. Allen Jasson, who lives in the UK, said he was defending freedom of speech by wearing the t-shirt. He was refused entry to the flight to London at Melbourne Airport on Friday. His t-shirt depicted an image of the US president with the slogan "World's number 1 terrorist".

Virgin Blue took the same action when Mr Jasson tried to catch a connecting flight to Adelaide, but on a return flight to Melbourne with Qantas, he successfully wore the shirt. When asked whether his action had been worthwhile, Mr Jasson said: "it's very sad that I find that question has to be asked in Australia. It's a very unhealthy situation and it makes me feel very sad. It's one of the reasons that I now live in the UK."

A Qantas spokesman said: "Whether made verbally or on a t-shirt, comments with the potential to offend other customers or threaten the security of a Qantas group aircraft will not be tolerated".

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BDO MEDIA RELEASE:
In recent times, there has been an increased incidence of flags brandished inconsiderately and this has led to increased tension. Our only goal in discouraging this activity at the Big Day Out is to ensure that our patrons are not subjected to or inconvenienced by this behaviour. We have no problem with people being patriotic, and we certainly do not have a problem with people wearing or displaying what they feel is important. Regardless of how it has been interpreted, this is about audience safety and enjoyment.

With all this in mind and the aim to create a happy, peaceful MUSICAL event, organisers would like to request that fans please leave large flags at home. The substantial increase of flags brought to large public events such as the Big Day Out is becoming excessive and has created complex issues including but not limited to sight line problems.

This is simply a request, not a command.

The Big Day Out is not an Australia Day event, but a music festival showcasing music artists from around the world and aspires to unify people through music. On the whole, Big Day Out audiences have been extremely well behaved and we hope that this has clarified this situation.

Unfortunately media reports were not quoted accurately and we must thank the participating media for wasting everybody’s time including the Prime Minister John Howard, Premier Morris Iemma, NSW RSL President Don Rowe, Keysar Trad (a confidant of the Mufti Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly) and Burt Lane of the Australian National Flag Association...

SOURCES:
BDO Media Release - Clarification on the Flag Issue
ABC News: Scrap flag condition or cancel BDO, says Govt
News Ltd: Ban concert, not flag: Robb
Undercover: Should the BDO Ban The Flag?
Melbourne Indymedia: Howard's Legacy, Australian Flag Causes Tension
NZ Herald: Qantas bans man over wearing 'Bush number 1 terrorist' shirt

Islamaphobic Australians attack peaceful Aussie mufti

January 15, 2007 - Aussie mufti Sheik Taj al-Din Hilali's recent comments during an Egyptian TV interview have triggered more Islamaphobic outrage in Australia, with a number of politicians, including Federal Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone, laughing him off as an "irrelevance" or demanding he "stay in his native Egypt if did not like Australia."

Reiterating his view that the furore over his comments are a conspiracy against him led by politicians and the media, Sheik al-Hilaly said:

"Always upside down my speech. For bad intention. I say many, many times. I taught - love Australia or leave it. Australia is still the best country in world. We're intelligent people, (the) Australia nation."

Sheik Hilali was called an "embarrassment" by Prime Minister John Howard...

However Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali has proclaimed his love for his adopted homeland and labelled it the "best country in the world". It seems Sheik al-Hilali has has once again been misinterpreted, demonised, his comments sensationalised for the sake of spectacle and fear. The Sydney Imam described his detractors as racist. "That is the racists talking," he said.

"I love Australia. I respect the Australian nationality, Australian society, the land of peace. Australia is the best country in the world."

Sheik al-Hilali was interviewed on Egyptian television last week. According to mainstream corporate media reports, Sheikh Hilali said:

"Anglo-Saxons came here in chains while we paid our way and came in freedom. We are more Australian than them. Australia is not an Anglo-Saxon country; Islam has deep roots in Australian soil that were there before the English arrived."

He also dubbed Prime Minister Howard as "Mr Me Too" - meaning Mr Howard needs instructions from the US before acting. Mr Howard said it was up to the Muslim community to deal with al-Hilali.

The executive director of the Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations, said the comments did not represent the views of the majority of the Muslim community. "I would like to reiterate to all Australians, including our people of Anglo-Saxon heritage, that there is no substance to the idea that Muslims have more of a right to Australia than the early settlers," Kuranda Seyit said.

SUPPORT
The shiek's family say whilst they did not always agree with him, they believed he was entitled to his opinion, because Australia "fought wars to have freedom of speech".

"We know what he means, and we don't believe he deliberately meant to offend anyone," his son-in-law Mr Tocock said. "We know that the mufti loves this country, but we can understand how people can be offended by his comments. It doesn't help to bridge the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims."

John Heard, writes in the Australian, "whether or not the man should be allowed to say the things he does - or be deported or jailed for them, as some have suggested - is not the kind of discussion a mature democracy should indulge with a serious hearing. So why are we so threatened when the things he says don't square neatly with our view of ourselves?"

"Is it because it is becoming obvious that the sheik is right about some things? ... "al-Hilali's comments about Anglo-Saxons coming to Australia as convicts are, at least on the face of it, mostly accurate. White settlement did occur here because Britain needed a faraway island on which to dump its criminal class. Only an individual ignorant of Australian history would object to such comments on factual grounds, writes Mr Heard. "Only a blind nationalist would get steamed up about, rather than dismiss - even affectionately - the sheik's snobby tone..." (John Heard: Mufti's madness is true-blue larrikinism)

The corporate media created a furore late last year when Sheik Hilali's comments, made during a Ramadam sermon, were deliberately taken out of context and published across front pages of Australia's newspapers - despite the Muslim cleric repeatedly stating he "does not blame victims of rape for their predicament."

ai-Hilali's friend and confidant Keysar Trad said Australia as a nation had over-reacted and would have been more thick-skinned if the mufti had made those comments as a non-Muslim. "Nobody expects us to be so thin-skinned," Mr Trad said. "We're only like that because we find the mufti to be so exotic." Mr Trad said his friend was a proud Australian.

But other Muslim groups distanced themselves from the remarks, saying the sheik's extreme personal opinions did not represent the views of the majority of Muslims.

Sheik al-Hilali came to Australia in 1982 and was granted permanent residency in 1990. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) appointed him Mufti of Australia in 1988. The AFIC, which has the power over the position of Mufti of Australia, is in receivership and fresh elections for a new executive board are not expected until next month.

AFIC's legal adviser, Haset Sali, labelled the sheik's recent comments on Egyptian TV as insane and said the comments had horrified thevast majority of Australian Muslims. Mr Sali, who was once a close mate, has become a bitter critic, said Australian Muslims needed a head mufti as much as they needed a "crocodile in the back garden" and described Sheik Hilali was like "a bull in a china shop..."

"In reality, Sheik Hilali is no longer the Mufti for Australia," Mr Sali said.

Sheik al-Hilali is expected to return home this week to confront a salivating pack of sensationalist media.

Sources:

NEWS.COM.AU
The Australian
Herald and Weekly Times - Don't hurry
Middle East Online
Wikipedia - Taj_El-Din_Hilaly
Sheikh's OK, say in-laws - The Age
John Heard: Mufti's madness is true-blue larrikinism
Muslim slams 'disgraceful' Hilali

John Howard wedge politics - Citizenship/English language tests "a slap in the face"

December 12, 2006 - Migrants forced to sit internet English exams, told to "defend the nation".

"Citizenship test nothing more than cynical wedge politics... a slap in the face"

Prime Minister John Howard has announced that new migrants will be forced to sit English and Citizenship exams under a new citizenship test being introduced by the Federal Government. Mr Howard said that the tests would apply to all new migrants who applied to become citizens. He said the tests, would require migrants to not only speak English but also be aware of Australian values.

"It is not designed in any way to keep some people out," Mr Howard said. "It is designed not as some kind of Trivial Pursuit," he said. The Prime Minister says the test is designed to make newcomers integrate.

The radical new test has sparked a furore among many Australians...

Liberal, Labor, Greens and Democrats alike are critical of the move. The Government announced the idea of compulsory English examinations earlier this year, drawing criticism from many ethnic groups - who branded them discriminatory. Legislation for the new tests is expected to be introduced to parliament early next year, which means they could be in place before the 2007 federal election.

"The weird part of all of this is a 30-question trivia quiz that the Government's wanting to impose," Labor's citizenship spokesperson, Tony Burke said "I'm more interested in whether or not someone's going to be a loyal, hardworking Australian citizen than how useful they'd be at a trivia night."

Mr Burke is sceptical about one of the values being promoted. "The final value that's been referred to there is fair play and compassion in need," he said. "And I think it's great if everyone becoming an Australian citizen believes in that, I just wish we had a Government which practiced that."

The test is also opposed by many prominent Australians including former governor-general Sir William Deane and former prime minister Malcolm Fraser. Sir William recently argued that while values and principles should be discussed, they should not be the subject of tests.

Australian Multicultural Foundation executive director Hass Dellal said many migrants needed time to adjust to life in Australia, with their main priorities being finding somewhere to live and work. "We need to allow for flexibility and diversity so they can adapt to the conditions and then access services like English language classes and orientation programs so they can learn in a comfortable amount of time," Mr Dellal said.

Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett says the Government's motives are questionable. "I think it's just the Government doing it for some easy political points and ignoring the details," Senator Bartlett said. "The Government thinks this is a clever political move and it's the way they were always determined to go. But really the big question isn't so much what tests we should have put in place for people to be citizens, it should be what sort of assistance we provide to people to help them integrate with the Australian community."

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle fears it is designed to keep some migrants out. "There's no other reason why you would have a test," Senator Nettle said. Senator Nettle says if the Government was serious about migrants learning English they would provide more funding for language programs.

Mr Rudd says he is not opposed to the idea of an assessment for citizenship but wants to see copies of the tests people would have to sit. "I want to see what the Government has in mind specifically and I think we'd like to examine that in some detail."

Andrew Robb said migrants could sit the tests as many times as they needed to, but anyone found to be illiterate would be assessed in different ways. The new rules will mean prospective Australian citizens will have to sit an internet-based test to demonstrate their knowledge of the English language and Australia. They will also be made to sign a statement saying they are aware of and understand Australian social values including freedom of religion, equality of men and women, a commitment to obeying local laws and a respect for individual freedom.

The test will include an oral component and a computer-based test of 30 questions randomly drawn from a pool of 200 questions on English comprehension, Australian history, values and way of life.

The test also calls for prospective citizens to accept responsibility for "defending Australia should the need arise". "This is about cohesion and integration," Mr Howard said.

However, there is dissent in Howard's flock. Liberal MP Petro Georgiou is concerned that the toughening of the requirements would "create unreasonable barriers to the acquisition of citizenship." He said the new tests will prevent people who would make a wonderful contribution to Australia from becoming citizens. "The upshot may very well be that the successful settlement of immigrants is undermined rather than enhanced," Mr Georgio said.

Fellow Liberal MP Russell Broadbent said, "the questions could be very difficult for many current Australians. In fact, half of Gippsland might not be able to pass the test," he said.

Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce said: "We're trying to stop people who have militant ideas who want to destroy our nation - I've got no problem with that whatsoever," Senator Joyce said. "What has to be proven is whether an English test is going to do it - most wackos are very well-educated."

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has criticised the new citizenship testing regime as 'nothing more than cynical wedge politics.' "If the Australian value of celebrating multiculturalism were part of this new test I think John Howard would fail it," Senator Nettle said. "These tests will prove nothing, and achieve nothing beyond wedging the Labor Party in a cynical use of race politics. She said the Prime Minister has "utterly failed to justify the need for these tests or show how they will make Australians better off."

"The Prime Minister is deliberately trying to create the false impression that there is a problem with the quality of migrants we are getting into Australia, when the reality is quite the opposite." said Senator Nettle. She said the tests are "a slap in the face for all the new migrants who have worked so hard to learn English and settle down so successfully in Australia."

The proposed test follows the release in September of a discussion paper by Parlimantary Secratary Andrew Robb. "Australian citizenship is a privilege, not a right," Mr Robb said. "This citizenship test is an important extension of the Government's broader philosophy of mutual obligation."

Over 100,000 people were granted Australian citizenship in 2005-06.

SOURCES:
The Australian - PM faces revolt on test for migrants
SMH - How the English test will work
News Ltd - PM defends citizenship, English tests
SBS - Migrants must sit English exam
The Age - Citizen test stirs up Lib rebels
ABC - Democrats, Greens question motives behind citizenship test
Citizenship Testing Discussion Paper - DIMA

Pauline Hanson, serial racist returns to politics - Please Explain?

December 7, 2006 - Shes back!

Pauline Hanson, the infamous politcal racist, and One Nation party founder, has announced her desire to return to politics. Hanson, who is promoting her new book - an autobiography about her controversial career - has decided to make yet another political comeback. Hanson is apparently concerned by the ease with which Muslims and "diseased" African people are able to gain Australian citizenship. Hanson was jailed in 2003 for fraud. She split from the staunch anti-immigration, nativist One Nation party and has spent the past two years penning her autobiography.

Hanson angered Australians and Asians alike with her offensive comments on immigration and Aboriginal welfare. Hanson was elected as federal MP for the Queensland seat of Oxley in 1996.

Asked about her concerns about Muslims, Ms Hanson said she was angry that Australians were no longer able to sing Christmas carols in schools or swim in public swimming pools. She blames the Muslims...
Ten years after warning Australia was being "swamped by Asians," right-wing instigator and racist provocateur, Pauline Hanson, is concerned about Australian Muslims and said Africans should be barred from the country. Hanson says she's worried that black South Africans infected with AIDS and tuberculosis are allowed into Australia. She told a drooling media pack that she was angry Australians were unable to swim in public baths because of the sensitivities of Muslims.

"They can go back where they came from," she told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

Hanson, a 52-year-old former Fish-n-Chip shop owner, said she was committed to running as an independent in Queensland at the next election, though she had not made up her mind if she would run for the lower house or Senate.

Hanson claimed that Australia is letting in many "black South Africans" with health issues. "It was on TV," she said. Hanson said she had been told by a hospital worker of an African woman with AIDS who had given birth to a child with AIDS. "There's increasing numbers of TB and they have picked up ... it could be almost one third that actually carries TB," she claimed. "What people are getting all upset about is the fact that you can't sing Christmas carols in schools because it upsets a certain amount of people," she said.

"You can't actually swim in baths because a certain amount of people want their privacy to swim in those baths." Ms Hanson said she would make an official announcement about her comeback next year. She said she would give herself plenty of time to campaign.

"OFFENSIVE URBAN MYTHS"
Greens Leader Bob Brown says Pauline Hanson's right to stand for parliament comes at huge indirect cost to Australia. "She costs Australian's dearly every time she makes racist remarks. She is a political bloodsucker on the nation, but one we will continue to host as part of the democratic ideal".

"Pauline's role in giving Australia an uglier international profile has cost us much more than any immigrant could. She should stick to reform for women prisoners, rather than abuse of people she has never met," Senator Brown said.

And Australian Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett said Hanson's attacks on Muslims and African immigrants must be firmly rebuffed. "Once again Pauline Hanson opens her mouth and spreads offensive urban myths that bear no resemblance to reality," Senator Bartlett said.

"She brings no evidence to back up her claims. They are nothing more than hearsay. Her musings don't further debate or address community concerns, they only cause fear and division and they must be challenged." Senator Bartlett said pack-media interest in Ms Hanson's views meant her attacks must be opposed.

"While we certainly need more independent voices in the Senate, they should be balanced, constructive and effective voices," he said. "For the last nine years in the Senate, I have fought hard to promote the huge benefits cultural diversity brings to our society, and also to defend Muslims against bigotry and deliberate ignorance. If Pauline Hanson stands for parliament again, I will continue to oppose such destructive and unfair views every step of the way."

Hanson said she would campaign about the ease with which Muslims and "diseased" Africans were entering Australia. "Why shouldn't Australians know that the people we bring in to this country are there for the right reasons, and we bring them in for the right reasons? Why do we have to bring people in who are of no benefit to this country whatsoever, who are going to take away our way of life, change our laws?"

"We're bringing in people from South Africa at the moment, there's a huge amount coming into Australia, who have diseases, they've got AIDS," Hanson told AAP.
"They are of no benefit to this country whatsoever, they'll never be able to work." However, the Department of Immigration has firmly rejected Hanson's unfounded claims, saying stringent health checks were carried out on all permanent and temporary residents.

Refugee groups were also angered by Ms Hanson's comments, calling them "fanciful", damaging and hurtful to Africans who were simply trying for a life in Australia. But Hanson said politicians had "gone too far" in affording rights to minority groups. She says she is angered at the loss of Australian traditions because of Muslims.

"Look at what's happened in other countries around the world with the increase in Muslims" she said. Ms Hanson plans to release a book early next year about her political life and time in jail.

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Thr Glory Days:

In her maiden parliamentary speech the former fish and chip shop owner, who was expelled from the Liberal Party because of her strong views, warned Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians:

On September 10, 1996, Pauline Hanson made her first speech to the House of Representatives, which instantly made headlines and television news bulletins right across Australia. She warned that Australia was "in danger of being swamped by Asians" due to high immigration and the policy of multiculturalism, asserting "they have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate." She also denounced the "privileges Aboriginals enjoy over other Australians", suggested the withdrawal of Australia from the United Nations, advocated the return of high-tariff protectionism and generally decried many other aspects of economic rationalism and what she perceived to be 'political correctness'.

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Remember this old gem: "Fellow Australians, if you are seeing me now, it means that I have been murdered. Do not let my passing distract you for even a moment..."

SOURCES:
The Age
The Australian
The Age
News Ltd
Herald sun
SBS
ABC
Wikipedia: Pauline_Hanson