If you were watching ‘The Project’ on Channel 10, Tuesday night you may have seen veteran Australian actor, Bryan Brown introduce a new movement dedicated to doing something positive about the extraordinary cruelty that our Federal Government is inflicting on hundreds of innocent children currently in detention camps both on and off shore.
There have been a number of occasions when catchy little jingles have captured the heart of our nation but in the cases I remember they have generally dealt with sport. ‘C’mon Aussie C’mon,’ comes to mind. ‘Up there Cazaly,’ is another classic. I remember how they stirred our national spirit and reminded us of things that have made our country great. They still do to some extent.
In some way they reached out and grabbed us by the bristles on the back of our necks, made us proud, captured our sense of pride and urged us on to achieve something greater, something that would identify deep within the soul of the nation. It worked too.
We are a proud nation built on fair-mindedness. We are an egalitarian nation. But somehow, over the past decade or so we have allowed a dark, sinister element to overshadow that sense of fair play. We have dropped our guard. The issue is children in detention. Currently over 700 children are in detention in camps controlled by our Immigration Department, under the management of that hard-line enforcer of all things that threaten the safety of our borders, Scott Morrison; Tony Abbott’s champion of ‘stopping the boats.’
Children, some unaccompanied, some with parents or relatives who have endured an exhaustive journey across vast continents to find a new home, are in detention indefinitely, inhumanely and in defiance of international human rights conventions. All of this is being done in our name.
They are asking for our help.
Currently, over 600 children are locked up in detention centres. 459 are on the Australian mainland and 144 on Christmas Island. There are 186 children detained on Nauru, whom both major political parties insist will never be resettled in Australia, even if they are found to be genuine refugees.
The length of time both children and adults have been kept in detention, waiting to be processed is 413 days. The extent of this cruelty is hidden from us. Scott Morrison has seen to that. It is near impossible to gain access to these children or see the conditions in which they spend their days.
We are better than this. The number of nights I have laid awake wondering what I could do about this doesn’t bear thinking about. But now I can. It might not seem like much, but at least it is something.
At: http://wbttaus.org/#section-who-we-are you can see what that small group of people is doing to force change. Part of their website reads: “Our Government has created detention centres—deterrence camps—on Christmas Island, Nauru and on our own soil. There, the treatment of children is so inhumane and the conditions so appalling that leading Australian psychiatrists and paediatricians have been moved to speak out in a voice unprecedented in their profession.” Surely we are better than this?
On their website you can see the people who are trying to galvanise our social conscience; they are professionals in their field, with experience in human rights, refugee advocacy, public relations, film making, advertising, marketing and social media. They have taken on the task of replicating the imagery of ‘Up there Cazaly’ once more, but this time, for a cause far superior to that of sport. People we know well like Bryan Brown, Ian Chappell, George Gregan, Janet Holmes a Court, Marcia Langton, Ita Buttrose, Nicholas Cowdery and Tom Keneally to name just a few. And they have given us, the ordinary people, a small task.
If you are in any way horrified by the thought that official Australia government policy is to lock up innocent, traumatised children without trial; indefinitely, and under a tightly woven cloak of secrecy, then buy the song, ‘We’re Better Than This’ for $1.63 on iTunes and make it a million seller. On their website you can also arrange for a message to be sent to your local member.The money is a pittance but the message to the government will be deafening.
The song is short, but it will grab the bristles at the back of your neck. It is available as of today at iTunes.
When the full extent of the cruelty towards these children emerges, as one day it surely will, it won’t be acceptable that we say we didn’t know. We do know and we are better than this.
Yes, we are better than that !
I have just watched the ABC24 interview this morning between Brian Brown and Virginia Vitrioli … Brian Brown was brilliant at getting the message ‘out there’ he was non partisan and genuinly very concerned at the plight of these children, as are the others who have joined him in the making of this video.
Virginia Vitrioli on the other hand was her usual insulting, dismissive self with anything slightly critical of this Govts policies or treatment of ‘other people’ .. She really showed her political bias when she merely brushed it aside asking, couldn’t this just be seen as something stirred up by ” a group of Left Leaning Luvvies ” and tried the usual Govt spiel on asylum seeker policy. Brian Brown simply smiled and told her “spin is easy ” ( or words to that effect).
May I suggest that if the ABC want to appear unbiased, while looking for sympathy for themselves these days, they should really take a good in depth look at the attitude of ALL of their staff.
In 1999 John Howard visited Gosford. My 8 year old son was in a choir that sang for the PM that day. A deaf signing choir also performed. This was the song they sang
We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We’ll share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian
SO true John we are better than this,We should be all out there screaming NOT IN OUR NAME,Why is it that we can walk past a puppy or a kitten in a pet shop and say look at that dear little thing,and maybe go in and give it a home,but leave children behind bars,
If we let this go on we are no better than this inhumane government .And you are so right,Kaye Lee ,we should all sing with one voice,
I AM, YOU ARE ,WE ARE AUSTRALIANS.
A great article, John! I will tweet a link to it and encourage my followers to do the same. It deserves to be distributed throughout Australia and internationally.
Judes :
I think V Trioli was just doing what a good journalist does and that is provoking discussion and pushing the interviewee to make his/her case.
You see the absolute opposite with the likes of A Bolt and A Jones who just reinforce their prejudices with those of the interviewee and their audience and as a result you fail to get any informed discourse or provocative dialogue.
B Brown put the case well and was drawn out by Trioli : well done all round, “we are better than this” !
John this truly is our shame and anything that is done to change it has my support. I sit in bemusement that my country could ever turn to such overt cruelty in the name of controlling our borders. People who support these policies, left and right, are cruel inhumane and immoral. Humanism was supposed to be the contemporary replacement for ideology yet it has been buried under a wall of pure unadulterated self-interest and religious double talk which is really fascism, oligopoly and theocracy in disguise.
Another great article John. Thankyou.
I can’t understand why the majority of Australians aren’t protesting in the streets about this & other government measures.
Let’s be honest & call these camps what they really are: Concentration Camps for the 21st Century.
I thought [hoped] humanity had left them behind as a hideous part of last century. But sadly, the answer appears to be ‘No’.
‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Wonderful idea, I shall definitely buy the song.
Whilst my heart just breaks for these children, NOBODY should be in detention under these circumstances.
WE SHOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS, for God’s kids.
There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And its time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all
We can’t go on pretending day by day
That someone, will soon make a change
We are all a part of Gods great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need
[Chorus]
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
Its true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me
Send them your heart so they’ll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus]
When you’re down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there’s no way we can fall well well well well
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one
[Chorus: x2]
Yes we were better than this and we need to question our national narcissistic selfishness. Egalitarianism is no longer a characteristic of the introspective psyche. How sad we have become when compared to the compassion of our past.
Here is an opportunity to rebuild that proud tradition. We are better than the indefensible manner in which we have chosen to treat all people who have put up their hand to ask for help.The children who are caught up in this are entitled to special consideration. They didn’t arrive with intent. From a psychological as well as a moral perspective, children should not be imprisoned as this has lifelong detrimental impacts. Their staged developmental processes are delayed. They deserve better than this.
I am sure again we can be better than this.
Thanks for the article John
Thank you for a great article, John. I know we once were better then this – I sincerely hope enough of us still are better than this – enough of us to ensure it stops. For this to happen we have to actually DO something. Visiting this site and buying the song is a start. Perhaps it will mobilise more people?
“Compassion is a verb” – Thich Nhat Hanh
When I lie awake I don’t usually lay eggs.
Evidently we are NOT better than this…
Joe Hockey is either a man who is happy to sacrifice his principles to his ambition or he is a consummate liar – either way, he is typical of the Credlin/Textor led Coalition.
Then:
“I will never ever support a people swap where you can send a 13-year-old child unaccompanied to a country without supervision,” he said. “Never. It’ll be over my dead body.” – Joe Hockey, ABC, June 2012
Now:
“Several sources have described harrowing scenes on Christmas Island last month when Immigration officers forced two unaccompanied Sri Lankan children aged 12 and 14 on to a plane to return home.” – The Age, 15 November 2013
”The children were crying and screaming and begging to be able to stay,” said a witness. ”One of the security officers realised they were too young and no one was accompanying them and so took them off the plane. Then there was a stand-off while someone rang Canberra and were instructed by someone very, very senior to put them back on the plane.”
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/asylum-policy-of-deterrence-threatening-families-20131114-2xjnr.html
Refugees on Nauru have been threatened again by locals, told to stop stealing jobs, having affairs with local women, and to leave the island or face “bad things happening”.
“… we warn Refugees to Go Away of our country and just to hell with all your concerns if not, get ready for the bad things happening and waiting ahead. We warn our Corrupt Government as well Australian Government to take away your rubbish (refugees) and leave our country, otherwise there can be worse situations for refugees as you can see these days.”
Nauruan authorities reportedly responded that Australia’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) should be the one to address the refugees’ concerns. Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has already washed his hands of his obligations. His spokesman has stated that any attack on a person settled on Nauru “is wholly a matter for Nauru”.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/11/20/comment-hostility-resettled-refugees-grows-nauru
A 16-year-old Afghan boy on Nauru says four locals beat him so badly he ended up in hospital over the weekend.
The 16-year-old said there were 29 unaccompanied minors on Nauru who had been given refugee status and were living in the community.
He said he was not the only unaccompanied teenager who was beaten by locals at the weekend.
The boy alleged another teenage boy, also a former asylum seeker, ended up in hospital after being beaten up at his house by five locals.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-28/teenagers-fear-for-lives-on-nauru/5848700
Pity we can’t make Hockeys dead body claim a reality, voluntary of course.
Personally I think adults in detention is every bit as sad and morally repugnant as children. I’ve never really understood the invocation of “childhood” in such circumstances. In many respects the adults suffer more than children because their psychological, emotional and philosophical appreciation and engagement of their plight is far deeper and more sophisticated than that of a child.
That said, I think it is evident from the dynamics of the last ten years that we are not “better than this” at all. At best we can console ourselves with the thought that some of us can make such a claim. Sadly, too few.
Ah… but they do indeed get “special consideration”. Even under Labor
… http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/younglooking-refugees-sent-offshore-20140731-3cx2n.html
Young-looking children were chosen to be transferred to the harsh Manus Island refugee detention centre to discourage other refugees from coming to Australia, an inquiry has heard.
And children detained in facilities on Nauru are suffering illnesses and mental conditions caused by unsanitary and inhospitable conditions on the island nation while all refugees are subjected to a broad “intention to dehumanise”.
Former officials, charity workers and doctors who worked in the immigration system have given at times distressing evidence to an Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) inquiry…
ahhhh but Tony is getting even more popular….apparently. Check out how his likes skyrocketed by several hundred thousand last week.
https://www.facebook.com/TonyAbbottMP/likes
Apparently he is extremely popular in India
He might be “popular” in India… but so is dysentery!
And they are ignoring most of the 5700 submission to the Senate Committee – because they can. And because THEY are not better than this!
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/politics/national/2014/11/25/senate-inquiry-backs-migration-law-changes.html
Thank you John for writing this. An excellent article.
Watched Studio 10 ( Ch 10 ) this morning, when Brian Brown was guest speaker. He put his case quietly and succinctly – and it came across the screen with total credibility and absolute determination. A man on a real mission.
Asked by the anchor ( someone standing in for the morning – don’t know her name ) ……. ” So Bryan – what is YOUR answer to these problems – do you have any ideas about what to do to solve the situations ? ”
[ non of this is verbatim – but is close enough ]
Bryan replied immediately : …… ” It is not for me to put forward any ideas or solutions – its for the Government to do it – and do it quickly. It is their responsibiity ” ……. and he went on making very strong points throughout his talk. ……..
He was applauded by the audience at every point – and I doubt that an applause prompter was used or would have been needed. !!!
I will use your YouTube link on my Facebook Timeline.
Yes, we are better than this . The way we are treating asylum seekers is SHAMEFUL.
I agree completely with Bryan Borwn’s comments this morning on ABC News and I support you all in your endeavours. I have been fighting against the prejudice and appeared to be a lone voice. Thanks you – I will by your song. Thank you
Claire
Been following the news of yesterday and today about the minister for defense: Senator Johnson. The current stuff going down disturbs me. From what I’ve heard Johnson is a pretty decent guy. Many ADF people see him as approachable and thoughtful and willing to go to bat for them.
I’m reminded here, when I think of the lynch-mob mentality in the MSM and elsewhere that ruthlessly attacked Gillard – like a pack of dogs attacking a cat. It appears that this is what’s happening with Johnson. Okay, he’s got the shits with the SA mob involved in shipbuilding – canoes and all that. But perhaps he’s got some heartfelt reasons for his statements of late that have some substance.
I wonder if, in the current political atmosphere, Labor et. al. are so angry with anyone attached with the Coalition that they have forgotten that all of us sometimes say stuff out of frustration etc; and that some of them deserve a bit of slack. The general impression for me is that things have arrived at a point where some of us good guys have been provoked into being not so much better than Abbott & Co at times – with Johnson in this case.
Perhaps I’m being a tad simple-minded and sentimental. Hope so. But what if Johnson is basically okay, and we and others are treating a basically okay person in the manner in which Gillard was treated. That’s really fcuked as it means that we’ve been provoked by this toxic PM to descent to his level. Hope – so much – I’m wrong here.
Abbott’s divisiveness and toxicity may be more pervasive than we think.
Still around 50% mark of people who agree with this government. We need little signs around and on cars
” I am a Conservative NOT A FASCISTS”
might make some real conservatives start to think, who is this Government.
I agree. Today, I’ve heard the same stuff. Indeed I’ve heard it again and again. From the same sources. No evidence, just assertions.
Can only agree. But I think that same MSM that were so ruthless in attacking Gillard are now so generous in praise of Johnson. Perhaps the MSM have ulterior motives? Possible? Or perhaps probable?
Personally, I’ve never met Johnson but can I suggest that this ‘fight’ is not about ‘okay’ persons but about fundamental political ideologies. About values if you like. As I argued earlier when Abbott was elected, what would be underway here is a fundamental redefinition of ‘common sense’. I think that’s pretty obvious even to the most partisan supporter these days.
Johnson, while he may know what the ‘message’ is seems incapable of delivering same.
He’s road-kill writ large. Abbott is ‘on the ropes’. He will now do anything, say anything and ditch anyone to bolster his own position.
Johnson is a knucklehead, it was a rant he definitely had an axe to wield and he did which was rather unfortunate for him and Phony Tony,it was far from a “rhetorical flourish” Johnson is an idiot with a nasty big mouth…
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/defence-minister-doesnt-trust-australian-shipbuilder-to-make-a-canoe-20141125-11tqv7.html
@Matters Not and @DanDark:
Whether Johnson is a prick or not, I believe that the point I was making was a pertinent one. Are we to descend to the level of Abbott when it suits us? And if so, how are we any better?
I believe that this is a point that needs to be discussed as it’s kinds important. I’m no friend of Abbott and Co. but doesn’t it behoove us to rise above the ‘standard’ that he sets and threatens to drag us down to ’cause we dislike him and all he stands for?
Perhaps the first step is to publicly out and shame artists associated with the private companies profiteering from the draconian Australian Government policy toward asylum seekers.
The first cab off the rank certainly has to be tonight’s ARIA winner Sheppard, whose manager and financier is a Director of Wilson Protective Services PNG – the security company that is directly responsible for the alleged abuse, mistreatment and threats to rape asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru.
Wilson Security are also the company that was in charge when Reza Barati was denied proper medical treatment after cutting his foot and died from the infection that set in as a result.
The manager, a PNG based Australia Lawyer named Greg Sheppard, who has dubious ties to the corrupt forestry industry in PNG, owns a company named Empire of Song that is the Australian manager of the award-winning band. He is also the father of 3 of the band members and is on video stating that he funded the band’s career.
Art and life aren’t mutually exclusive, and one cannot exist without the other. It is a travesty that while respected Australian artists are standing up against the abuse of children in detention a band who profits from the abuse is winning awards on the national stage, with Australians unaware of who they are and from where they derive the funds that have fueled their success.
All the details are on the website http://www.manusleaks.wordpress.com – just follow the highlighted links in the stories and the proof will be right before your eyes.
Sorry misprint – it was Hamid Kehazeai who died from the cut foot. Reza Barati of course was bashed to death under the watch – some say at the had – of Wilson Security’s predecessor G4S
“Whether Johnson is a prick or not, I believe that the point I was making was a pertinent one. Are we to descend to the level of Abbott when it suits us? And if so, how are we any better?”
I’m tired of trying to be better and I just don’t care any more. Against these lying racist homophobic misogynist fascist wing nuts, reasoned argument is useless and I want revenge.
We will stop the waste……
“The Immigration Minister Scott Morrison the Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash have spent nearly $120,000 monitoring the media for mentions of their names and the immigration portfolio in their first year in office.
In June this year Senate documents revealed that Mr Morrison’s departments hired 95 communications staff and spin doctors, costing taxpayers at least $8 million a year.
Details released showed the departments of Immigration, Border Protection and Australian Customs had 85 permanent and 10 other staff responsible for media monitoring, internal communication and public relations.
In July it was then revealed the Abbott government had created a hub of 37 communication and social media specialists to oversee media within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, including Indigenous Affairs and the Office for Women, costing taxpayers almost $4.3 million a year.”
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/immigration-minister-scott-morrison-defends-media-monitoring-spend-20141126-11ue6p.html
Rob031, I understand the point you are making. A pack-dog mentality does not necessarily demand a response in equal or greater measure of the same, as a matter of course. When we respond with a greater measure of insult, we then become the aggressors. I get that. But, just like a game of football (all codes), rules are imposed and tactics are decided. If one side goes soft for any reason, the other will view it as a weakness and take advantage of it.
Politics is a pack-dog blood sport. The country would be better served if it wasn’t, but it is. Some are better at it than others and, yes, occasionally, good people get caught up in the crossfire and become collateral damage. Whether David Johnson fits this category is a matter of opinion, but I have seen him give as much as he gets.
Labor supporters are fighting on two fronts. We have the LNP and the Murdoch press against us, both of whom support an ideology, first and foremost, that takes no prisoners. They are both utterly ruthless in the way they defend their ideology. If we were to play with less vigour, and demonstrate a more sympathetic approach to some in their ranks, they would despise us even more. When the other side plays dirty, we must play smarter.
When politicians are not in parliament scratching each other’s eyes out, or campaigning against each other, they are hobnobbing together in the parliamentary dining room, laughing and joking. They have their “off-field” time out. But we, on the other side of the fence, continue to maintain the rage. We have to. Our opponents (Bolt, Jones, et al) will never waver.
The prize, what we strive for, is our team winning. We want to win because we think we are better. We think the country will be better served by our team. The LNP don’t care about the country. They have a different set of priorities and that means all members on their side are fair game.
Rob031 and John Kelly – good posts
This was David Johnston’s very public commitment to ASC and the people of South Australia before the election:
http://www.senatorjohnston.com.au/Media/OtherMedia/tabid/71/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/326/Doorstop–Future-submarine-project.aspx
Perhaps I too am a cynic but I believe that Abbott has told Johnston that these subs will not be built in South Australia as he has already made a commitment to buy them off the shelf from the Japanese.
So, it seems, Johnston is positioning himself to be able to say, when the time comes, that the ASC do not have the capability or competence to build these subs.
It’s how they play the game !
Yes children and all people in detention centres should be released. They should be released into Australia with their parents and ONLY when each adult has a job ready and waiting for them. Australia is a massive country and could be developed by building projects and infrastructure/towns as in the Snowy Mountains Hydro project. There is enough water for the whole of Australia in the Northern Territory, it just has to be harnessed. The money for this CAN be found.
Presently Australians already living here are unemployed and homeless and this number is growing all the time. The Abbott government has put all it’s efforts into destroying Australians’ lives, not in supporting them in any way whatsoever. The only people who have been looked after, are Liberal government politicians – and some family members. Industries have been closed down, public service employment stopped and numbers slashed. The path of destruction to Australians is long and wide. The current policy of bringing in refugees and giving them housing, welfare etc etc etc is not going to work with the large numbers who want to come here. EMPLOYMENT MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS – they then pay tax (refugees can pay MORE tax for a period). The economy would thrive.
One rule must be implemented to keep the peace and that is, if refugees break the law, they are sent home after being tried. Immediately. No second chances.
Abbott is murdering the economy and bringing great suffering on Australians (those still in employment have no idea); it is not going to help swamping Australia with the millions that that will come here if the doors are opened. UNLESS employment is provided and then all Australia benefits and all refugees benefit. EMPLOYMENT MUST BE PROVIDED.
Okay… moving on… a 25-year-old cricket player has been killed in a sports accident. Media coverage by the truckload. Let’s focus on what’s REALLY important…
mars08 …………
Anything that pulls us up as a community and country, such as the untimely death of a young promising cricket player …… while tragic in the worst way, just might ( do ya think ? ) …… make us all consider our positions in life ( and death ) ….. and perhaps promote a clearer understanding of just how frail human life can be.
Following on that thought, MUST come the realisations that we have to be ever vigilant – ( on the cricket and foofball fields ), but far MORE importantly in every aspect of our lives. …… Which includes what is best for us in the long run, in terms of good leadership and a sense of security and hope for the future.
……………………Which sure as HELL ain’t happening now – with this fascist mob.
All this may, hopefully lead many to consider just where we might be headed as a nation. And will have many ” focus on what’s REALLY important ” ( to quote you).
————
You may well guffaw at this extended way of thinking …………………… but ‘ripples on a pond’ comes to mind.
The ripples fade away ( as always ) ……. but it is a moment that stays, deep in the sub-conscious, and may well have it’s impact on a nation that needs to acknowledge it’s own frailty ………… and act accordingly – against the present danger that is called ‘government’. .
————-
And yes mars08 – we will ‘move on’ – as you so blithely put it.
Annie B… did I (once again) lay on the sarcasm a bit too thick???
mars08 ………… Yeah – just a tad !!!
Well you’re not the first person to say that! I’m doing it far too often these day. It’s probably my MAIN way of coping with the dreadful state of politics these days.
mars08 –
That – I can understand. I have had to back off a bit, as I find it quite upsetting / depressing at times – and I don’t like the degree of anger it raises in me. Especially when I see Abbott’s leering face, or Pyne, Morrison et al, appear ( ad nauseum ) daily / nightly on my TV screen.
😉
Anne,
I can completely understand your reaction.
If I hear the air turning bright blue in the lounge room at home, I can rest assured it’s my Housem8 watching the News with Wabbot or his minions telling another lie.
Bricks and other heavy objects are now banned inside the house in case he uses one to turn off Wabbot & Co.
I am deeply offended by so-called prominent Australians criticisng this government for their efforts in significantly reducing the number of children in detention. Where have they been for the past six years when the previous government opened our borders and caused this mess. How come they are suddenly glavalized into action now?
There they are, living in their mansions, sparing not one thought about the people struggling to make ends meet and there they go, up on their soapbox telling the same people to work harder. What about the homeless children living on the streets, what about the single age pensioners living in poverty; pensioners who have done the hard yards and still doing it tough. How about writing a song for them?
Not likely! These ego-tripping, showy people don’t care about them; they love to go on all the television channels and boast about how caring they are and how noble they are.
Humbugs the lot of them!
Annie B said that Bryan Brown is a ‘man on a mission’; well isn’t he the lucky one to have the time and not have to go out to work every day to pay the bills. He also, apparently, said on the same Studio 10 programme that he doesn’t actually know what the answer is, that is for the government to decide. ….. Hey Bryan, you sound, typically, all care and no responsibility.
Well now NETTIE …………
Let’s pretend for one moment ( if you can spare that ) …. that Bryan Brown did NOT put his efforts and time ( oh yes – he has the time so you say – and you would know ? personally ??? ) …. into actually doing something to bring to attention, the faults of this current fascist Government.
The song itself was NOT was offensive .. and Bryan Brown answered the question on Studio 10 EXACTLY as he should have – it is not his responsibility to answer to the dilemmas – it is up to the current Government – a Government which is absurd in the extreme.
Sorry chum(p) .. but you are the one who sounds like ” all care and no responsibility “.
___________
And in your previous post you dropped yourself right in it – up to your neck.
……………… ” What about the homeless children living on the streets, what about the single age pensioners living in poverty; pensioners who have done the hard yards and still doing it tough. How about writing a song for them? ” …………….
How’s about you ask THAT question of the current rabid Government …….. ? huh ?
Never mind about songs written or not written – — just ask the bloody question – direct to the so-called Federal Government.
I DARE you.
Wll said! Thank you Annie B. I had to stop myself replying to this earlier today as I lacked the self control to stop myself from being extremely rude.
Me too Miss Pamela,
I said Nup not worthy of a reply really
But well said Annie 🙂
Thanks guys. …….. Kind of sad the post invited an answer, in a way.
I think I had best take a few Bach’s Rescue remedy drops – when I see a few of the posts here ( but mostly elsewhere )……..;)
Oh dear, the pigeons are flying around, most upset that someone has raised a dissenting voice on this very partisan blog where all the posters agree amicably with each other in their hatred of the present government which is attempting to turn this country around after six years of waste and mismanagement.
However rest easy; I won’t be back to cause a flurry in the ranks when it’s obvious all the minds are firmly closed. I’ve seen the tenor of the weak arguments with their lack of substance and it’s perfectly obvious that there are no coherent discussions here – just mindless abuse.