Let’s make our own Australia Day
David Havyatt writes: Re. “Fuck off, we’re full (of contradictions): the discontents of Australia Day” (Wednesday). Bernard Keane is right that January 26 does express the reality that Australia is still simply an imperialist conception. This was made clearest when Tony Abbott was able to recreate knights and dames because our Honours System is created through Letters Patent from Her Majesty. That is there is still a legislative form that applies to Australia. The federation (January 1, 1901), the Statute of Westiminster (1942 with effect from September 3, 1939), creation of Australian citizenship (January 26, 1949) and the Australia Act (3 March 1984) do not overcome this simple status.
The suggestion of May 8 as a day of celebration is sheer genius. But we need something to actually celebrate on that date. My proposition is that we retain January 26 while we still remain a Federation of British Colonies subject to the whim of a foreign monarch. When we change that status by becoming a republic with a constitution that isn’t simply an act of the UK Parliament but something that is “enacted” by the Australian people we should change Australia Day to whatever day we make that effective — and choosing May 8 would be a great expression of the values that we aspire to — good humour and a recognition of community.
Just ignore the Murdoch press
Paul Montgomery writes: Re. “How the Herald Sun declared war on Melbourne’s homeless” (Wednesday). I mean no direct criticism of John Martinkus and his piece, but it is, once again, indicative of the Crikey mindset — and that is you revel in criticising and laughing at News Corp.
Frankly its regularity is bordering on puerile.
I’m sure many Crikey readers are like me, we totally ignore and go out of our way to avoid any News Corp-affiliated entity, be it newspapers, TV or magazines. I doubt you’d be surprised to know, we get along just fine without Rupert and his ghouls telling us what to think and get infuriated about.
The News bunch knows deep down that their glory days have gone and they now kid themselves about their perceived influence — just look at the recent NSW, Queensland and federal elections. They no doubt love your regular snide remarks and it gives them false hope that all is well. Please Crikey, just ignore them.
I don’t think Murdoch is all that influential either.
Just as many will look to his sort of ‘skewed news’ for validation and justification to see the world : while just as many will scorn it’s partisan, self-serving subjective reporting for what it is – pro-Limited News Party/conservative PR.
But with a shift of just a couple of percent (of the swinging vote) enough to clinch government, it’s the empty calories and the effect on our democratic waste-line, of the less than focussed take-away addicted voter that makes the Murdoch diet of post-fact/fake news worth constant scrutiny. The sort of thinking it nurtures and how that can manifest as a consequence.
Sure they’re in decline, and godspeed in that – but in the meantime it’s the cultivated perceptions and ignorance (for political imperatives) they nurture, with the manifestations of that, that detracts from our society.
It’s affect on just enough of the electorate to throw the whole thing out of civil kilter, surely.
Not only that, they’re also a part of this rich social tapestry in which we live – why shouldn’t they and their deeds be called out and reported?
DAVID HAVYATT: I’m in complete agreement with you. As long as we are content to remain a sort of secondhand tatty country, with an infinitely tattier flag , which is actually a British ensign, and national anthem-turgid dirge though it is. We don’t deserve a national day. Let us change the flag to a symbolic design of a big “M” on a white field and have two national anthems. The first, for formal occasions, to Rule Britannia, and the second for sporting occasions, “God Bless America.” For dessert lets nominate Tony r’Abbott as permanent under-secretary in charge of awards, gongs and knighthoods-but only if they’re British.
Murdoch’s media has a huge influence on Australia. Don’t believe me? He was instrumental in toppling Rudd and also backing Abbott for starters. If Murdoch declared that offshore processing was unacceptable, and refugees should be brought onshore, how many hours would it take for Turnbull to toe the line? If Murdoch declared that Hanson and the far right were poison, and must be dealt with? If the current tax system was grossly unfair?
Tell me also that jerks like Alan Jones and Ray Hadley are irrelevant.
Crikey should use every means possible to excoriate them continually.
I have nothing to do with Murdoch and his products, and I still use every opportunity to point out what an immoral, disgusting creep he and his ilk are.