While NSW Labor leaders may come and go, one thing never changes - their mode of dress. These days, they all sport Zionist straitjackets (hairshirts?). (Even ex-Labor Premier Bob Carr only managed to shuck his when out of office.) Which brings me to the current change in NSW Labor Party leaders:
The old leader was, of course, John Robertson. Once securely strapped in, he'd happily spout waffle such as:
"It is an eternal truth that the state of Israel... will always have a proud friend in NSW Labor," and "I've proudly visited a Max Brenner outlet in an act of solidarity against the BDS movement." (See my posts Pollies in Love (4/11/12) & Marching Orders (8/5/13))
His same old, same old replacement, Luke Foley, belted and buckled seemingly in the cradle, and alas, infinitely more verbose than Robbo, already has a long history of Ziobabble behind him. For example:
"I recognise that the Palestinians have suffered greatly in pursuit of their legitimate aspiration - a national homeland of their own. I also recognise that Israel cannot make peace with those that seek to deny its existence. International campaigns to impose trade and cultural boycotts [on Israel] feed the eliminationist narrative of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran and all those who want Israel wiped off the map, and they align themselves with the putrid racism of those groups, their holocaust denial, promotion of anti-Semitic stereotypes and raw sewage Nazi ideology." (See my 4/4/12 post Where's Luke Foley Coming From.)
Now what it is exactly that causes the Robertsons and the Foleys of NSW Labor (not to mention their Liberal countrparts) to wear the wretched thing remains one of life's mysteries.
After all, what has Australian state politics got to do with Israel?
History, of course, tells us that it hasn't always been this way.
Take Queensland Labor for example. As historian Evan Whitton points out:
"Labor stood four square for authoritarianism; intolerance of dissent; union-bashing; politicisation of the police, public servants and the law; a rigged electoral system; public and private corruption; agrarian socialism; abuse of the Westminster system; institutionalised ignorance; and 'development'." ('The Hillbilly Dictator': Australia's Police State, 1989, p 3)
All proud Labor values, I'm sure you'll agree.
Face it, if Ziobabble like 'A land without a people for a people without a land' and 'Making the mulga bloom' had been part of that mix, a historian as sharp as Whitton would have included it in his list, right? I rest my case.
Is the present juncture not an opportune time then for NSW Labor to return to such time-honored values as the above?
Maybe Luke Foley could begin by modelling himself on his Queensland namesake, Tom Foley (1886-1973), and advocate for something that might actually benefit the people of NSW - as opposed to those of distant Israel.
For example, as Whitton writes: "In 1927, Lands Minister Tom Foley, intent on developing a fur trade, declared an open season on koala bears; in August of that year, 584,378 koalas were trapped and killed."
Oh well, no doubt it seemed like a good idea at the time...a bit like Zionism, I guess.
Tom Foley's brilliant career, however, didn't stop with wiping koalas off the map of Queensland. For example:
"Tobacco continued in short supply after the war and commanded high prices on the black market. In 1946, a large quantity of tobacco was found in the garage at the home of the old koala-killer, Cabinet Minister Tom Foley. He said that he had no idea how it got there and was 'cleared' of criminal activity. He was thereafter known as 'Fine Cut' Foley." (p 5)
1946?! Howzat for longevity!
In fact, Tom Foley was still at it well into the 1950s, tirelessly serving the people of Queensland:
"A public servant, V.R. Creighton, disclosed in 1956 that Lands Minister Tom 'Fine Cut' Foley was extorting money from Goondiwindi graziers as the price for renewing their leases." (p 6)
Now that's what I call real Labor!
So c'mon Luke, remove the straitjacket, cut the Ziobabble, and get back to those good old-fashioned state Labor values so beautifully exemplified by one of the greats of the Foley clan.
Showing posts with label John Robertson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Robertson. Show all posts
Friday, January 2, 2015
Friday, May 16, 2014
NZW Premier Miko Baird Bends the Knee
Individual NZW Premiers may come and go but the annual bending-of-the-knee ritual at Israel Independence (from what?) Day gigs is mandatory for whoever 'leads' the state of NZW.
Last year of course, it was Barry (Baruch) O'Farrell, who gushed: "If one was restricted to a single word to describe Israel it would be extraordinary." (See my posts Barry to Baruch in 60 Seconds (9/5/14) and NZW Inc. (3/5/14))
Poor Baruch had probably consumed a tad too much Grange Hermitage at the time, but then that's another story...
This year, of course, it's the shiny new Mike (Miko?) Baird who "announced that if [his government] is re-elected in March 2015, he will commit to personally leading a trade delegation to Israel during his second term in office saying 'perhaps I cannot quite say 'Next Year in Jerusalem' but I can say 'next term in Jerusalem'." (Next term in Jerusalem, jwire.com.au, 14/5/14)
Good one, Miko!
In addition to laying the organisers of the gig (the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the Zionist Council of Australia, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and the Zionist Federation of Australia) in the proverbial aisles, Miko also revealed his talents as a vocalist, crooning that old favourite, "Australia [was] the first country to vote in favour of the 1947 UN partition which created the Jewish State." (ibid)
No Zionist gig would be complete, however, without a reference to the Dark Side. And Miko did not disappoint, muttering darkly:
"We know there are those who make it their task to whip up fear and hatred towards Israel. Even here in multicultural Australia, one of the most distasteful examples is the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign, which has such regrettable echoes of the past persecution of Jewish-owned businesses. The BDS campaign disgusts ordinary, decent Australians and attracts bipartisan condemnation." (Baird commits to visit Israel, The Australian Jewish News, 16/5/14)
Jeepers creepers, you could almost hear the sound of jackboots and shattering glass!
But Miko was merely the icing on Israel's birthday cake:
Among the 500 glitterati, "diplomats [34 + Israeli ambassador, Shmuel Ben-Shmuel], politicians and community, faith and business leaders," were to be found "John Robertson (Opposition Leader), David Clarke (Parliamentary Secretary), David Elliott (Parliamentary Secretary), Matt Kean (Parliamentary Secretary) and Paul Fletcher (Federal Parliamentary Secretary)." (Celebrating Israel's Independence Day, theindiansun.com.au, 15/5/14)
What particularly struck me, however, as a compulsive chronicler of such things, was this:
"Other notable people attending the celebration included Vic Alhadeff (Chairman, Community Relations Commission), Stepan Kerkyasharian (President, Anti-Discrimination Board), Dr Tim Soutphommasane (Race Discrimination Commissioner), and Tim Wilson (Human Rights Commissioner)." (ibid)
That is, almost all of the heads of all of the official, taxpayer-funded, multicultural, anti-racist, anti-discrimination, and pro-human rights bodies in Australia were gathered together in celebration of a state, founded on a monstrous act of ethnic cleansing, that has become a byword for ethno-religious exclusivism and human rights abuses.
You wouldn't read about it... at least not in the mainstream press.
Last year of course, it was Barry (Baruch) O'Farrell, who gushed: "If one was restricted to a single word to describe Israel it would be extraordinary." (See my posts Barry to Baruch in 60 Seconds (9/5/14) and NZW Inc. (3/5/14))
Poor Baruch had probably consumed a tad too much Grange Hermitage at the time, but then that's another story...
This year, of course, it's the shiny new Mike (Miko?) Baird who "announced that if [his government] is re-elected in March 2015, he will commit to personally leading a trade delegation to Israel during his second term in office saying 'perhaps I cannot quite say 'Next Year in Jerusalem' but I can say 'next term in Jerusalem'." (Next term in Jerusalem, jwire.com.au, 14/5/14)
Good one, Miko!
In addition to laying the organisers of the gig (the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, the Zionist Council of Australia, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and the Zionist Federation of Australia) in the proverbial aisles, Miko also revealed his talents as a vocalist, crooning that old favourite, "Australia [was] the first country to vote in favour of the 1947 UN partition which created the Jewish State." (ibid)
No Zionist gig would be complete, however, without a reference to the Dark Side. And Miko did not disappoint, muttering darkly:
"We know there are those who make it their task to whip up fear and hatred towards Israel. Even here in multicultural Australia, one of the most distasteful examples is the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign, which has such regrettable echoes of the past persecution of Jewish-owned businesses. The BDS campaign disgusts ordinary, decent Australians and attracts bipartisan condemnation." (Baird commits to visit Israel, The Australian Jewish News, 16/5/14)
Jeepers creepers, you could almost hear the sound of jackboots and shattering glass!
But Miko was merely the icing on Israel's birthday cake:
Among the 500 glitterati, "diplomats [34 + Israeli ambassador, Shmuel Ben-Shmuel], politicians and community, faith and business leaders," were to be found "John Robertson (Opposition Leader), David Clarke (Parliamentary Secretary), David Elliott (Parliamentary Secretary), Matt Kean (Parliamentary Secretary) and Paul Fletcher (Federal Parliamentary Secretary)." (Celebrating Israel's Independence Day, theindiansun.com.au, 15/5/14)
What particularly struck me, however, as a compulsive chronicler of such things, was this:
"Other notable people attending the celebration included Vic Alhadeff (Chairman, Community Relations Commission), Stepan Kerkyasharian (President, Anti-Discrimination Board), Dr Tim Soutphommasane (Race Discrimination Commissioner), and Tim Wilson (Human Rights Commissioner)." (ibid)
That is, almost all of the heads of all of the official, taxpayer-funded, multicultural, anti-racist, anti-discrimination, and pro-human rights bodies in Australia were gathered together in celebration of a state, founded on a monstrous act of ethnic cleansing, that has become a byword for ethno-religious exclusivism and human rights abuses.
You wouldn't read about it... at least not in the mainstream press.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Going Mad in Herds
"Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one." Charles Mackay, Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds
"Premier Barry O'Farrell and Opposition Leader John Robertson have cast party politics to the side, when they signed the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism*... In Canberra, all 105 federal Coalition parliamentarians have now signed the declaration, with both sides of politics in Victoria also set to commit to the global initiative in the coming days." (Leaders unite against hate, The Australian Jewish News, 24/5/13)
In stunning contrast to this extraordinary display of groupthink, two NSW Greens politicians, David Shoebridge and John Kaye, have publicly declared their refusal to sign the declaration on the grounds that it "wrongly conflates valid criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism." (This is not how you fight anti-Semitism, newmatilda.com, 28/5/13)
Australia has over 800 state and federal politicians. Are Shoebridge and Kaye the only two Australian politicians with sufficient intellectual courage and moral fibre to speak out against this Zionist sleight of hand?
[*See my 17/5/13 post The Tel Aviv Declaration on Combating Criticism of Israel.]
"Premier Barry O'Farrell and Opposition Leader John Robertson have cast party politics to the side, when they signed the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism*... In Canberra, all 105 federal Coalition parliamentarians have now signed the declaration, with both sides of politics in Victoria also set to commit to the global initiative in the coming days." (Leaders unite against hate, The Australian Jewish News, 24/5/13)
In stunning contrast to this extraordinary display of groupthink, two NSW Greens politicians, David Shoebridge and John Kaye, have publicly declared their refusal to sign the declaration on the grounds that it "wrongly conflates valid criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism." (This is not how you fight anti-Semitism, newmatilda.com, 28/5/13)
Australia has over 800 state and federal politicians. Are Shoebridge and Kaye the only two Australian politicians with sufficient intellectual courage and moral fibre to speak out against this Zionist sleight of hand?
[*See my 17/5/13 post The Tel Aviv Declaration on Combating Criticism of Israel.]
Monday, May 27, 2013
Shaoquett Moselmane Speaks Truth to Power
With so many NSW state politicians bending the knee to Israeli apartheid and its local fifth column these days, the voices of those who fearlessly speak out in defence of Palestinian rights deserve our utmost respect.
One such is NSW Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane.
He had this to say in the context of a speech on religious freedom in the NSW Legislative Council on May 23:
"In a democratic country such as ours there are many ways in which people can express their views - the opportunities are wide open. I am a person who will not shy away from having my say. I will always say and do what is right, even in the face of the trash I have read in the Australian-Israeli media. One or two reporters writing in the Murdoch press - namely the Australian - have been attacking me and denying the truth of Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and the killing and dehumanising of the Palestinian people. This is utter garbage. I accept the right of people to express their views, even when they are wrong, naive, ill-informed, indoctrinated and blinded by the power of a political lobby group that is cancerous, malicious, and seeks to deny, misinform and scaremonger. What I do take exception to is foreigners intervening in the right of Australian politicians to speak out. Therefore, I say to the Israeli ambassador, Yuval Rotem, 'Butt out and stay out. Your perceived right to bully as you do in the Middle East does not extend to the Australian political arena.'
"In today's Australian, Cassandra Wilkinson*, lacking journalistic integrity and an informed knowledge of the Israeli occupation of Arab lands, took aim and attacked me. In an example of sloppy reporting and sloppy journalism, she quotes a statement she attributes to Mr David Shoebridge MLC that was actually made by Dr John Kaye MLC. Perhaps because Dr Kaye is of Jewish descent Ms Wilkinson conveniently attacks others in the NSW Parliament who simply dare to criticise - as any ethical or moral person would do - the state of Israel's illegal and criminal practices against the Palestinian people. I applaud all Muslim and Arab leaders for speaking out on these and other issues. I call on the Australian Arab Muslim community to unite and for once speak with one Australian voice. I ask them to protect the right of their community to speak out and deliver a message of peace and citizenship on behalf of their community so that neither they nor their messages are misconstrued or misunderstood."
In an article in today's Australian (Attack on Israel's backers puts ALP in damage control, Christian Kerr & Mark Coulton), quoting snatches of the above speech, we get some idea of the pressure Shaoquett Moselmane is coming under to toe the party (Likud?) line. One is reminded of the pressure to which the courageous and principled federal Labor MP Julia Irwin was subjected whenever she spoke up for the Palestinian cause:
"Clashes on Middle East policy are expected when the NSW Labor caucus meets tomorrow after a Muslim MP attacked supporters of Israel as 'cancerous' and 'malicious'."
(You'll note here that Moselmane was referring to the Israel lobby, not mere supporters of Israel. He's in good company in this regard: Fairfax columnist Mike Carlton has called the lobby a "ferocious beast," and another former Fairfax columnist and broadcaster, Terry Lane, described it as "malicious, implacable, mendacious and dangerous." (See my 12/6/10 post A Ferocious Beast.)
"MLC Shaoquett Moselmane was slapped down by Opposition Leader John Robertson after he used a speech in parliament about religious tolerance and multiculturalism to attack his critics, including columnists in The Australian... 'I comprehensively reject the allegations made by Mr Moselmane. I have made this clear to him', Mr Robertson said, adding that he had contacted Mr Rotem and Yair Miller, the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. NSW Labor general secretary Sam Dastyari called the remarks 'completely inappropriate'. Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes condemned Mr Moselmane's comments as 'contrary to the policy of the Labor Party'. Mr Moselmane declined to return calls from The Australian."
Watch this space.
[*See my 23/5/13 post Cassandra Wilkinson & Herstory.]
One such is NSW Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane.
He had this to say in the context of a speech on religious freedom in the NSW Legislative Council on May 23:
"In a democratic country such as ours there are many ways in which people can express their views - the opportunities are wide open. I am a person who will not shy away from having my say. I will always say and do what is right, even in the face of the trash I have read in the Australian-Israeli media. One or two reporters writing in the Murdoch press - namely the Australian - have been attacking me and denying the truth of Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and the killing and dehumanising of the Palestinian people. This is utter garbage. I accept the right of people to express their views, even when they are wrong, naive, ill-informed, indoctrinated and blinded by the power of a political lobby group that is cancerous, malicious, and seeks to deny, misinform and scaremonger. What I do take exception to is foreigners intervening in the right of Australian politicians to speak out. Therefore, I say to the Israeli ambassador, Yuval Rotem, 'Butt out and stay out. Your perceived right to bully as you do in the Middle East does not extend to the Australian political arena.'
"In today's Australian, Cassandra Wilkinson*, lacking journalistic integrity and an informed knowledge of the Israeli occupation of Arab lands, took aim and attacked me. In an example of sloppy reporting and sloppy journalism, she quotes a statement she attributes to Mr David Shoebridge MLC that was actually made by Dr John Kaye MLC. Perhaps because Dr Kaye is of Jewish descent Ms Wilkinson conveniently attacks others in the NSW Parliament who simply dare to criticise - as any ethical or moral person would do - the state of Israel's illegal and criminal practices against the Palestinian people. I applaud all Muslim and Arab leaders for speaking out on these and other issues. I call on the Australian Arab Muslim community to unite and for once speak with one Australian voice. I ask them to protect the right of their community to speak out and deliver a message of peace and citizenship on behalf of their community so that neither they nor their messages are misconstrued or misunderstood."
In an article in today's Australian (Attack on Israel's backers puts ALP in damage control, Christian Kerr & Mark Coulton), quoting snatches of the above speech, we get some idea of the pressure Shaoquett Moselmane is coming under to toe the party (Likud?) line. One is reminded of the pressure to which the courageous and principled federal Labor MP Julia Irwin was subjected whenever she spoke up for the Palestinian cause:
"Clashes on Middle East policy are expected when the NSW Labor caucus meets tomorrow after a Muslim MP attacked supporters of Israel as 'cancerous' and 'malicious'."
(You'll note here that Moselmane was referring to the Israel lobby, not mere supporters of Israel. He's in good company in this regard: Fairfax columnist Mike Carlton has called the lobby a "ferocious beast," and another former Fairfax columnist and broadcaster, Terry Lane, described it as "malicious, implacable, mendacious and dangerous." (See my 12/6/10 post A Ferocious Beast.)
"MLC Shaoquett Moselmane was slapped down by Opposition Leader John Robertson after he used a speech in parliament about religious tolerance and multiculturalism to attack his critics, including columnists in The Australian... 'I comprehensively reject the allegations made by Mr Moselmane. I have made this clear to him', Mr Robertson said, adding that he had contacted Mr Rotem and Yair Miller, the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. NSW Labor general secretary Sam Dastyari called the remarks 'completely inappropriate'. Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes condemned Mr Moselmane's comments as 'contrary to the policy of the Labor Party'. Mr Moselmane declined to return calls from The Australian."
Watch this space.
[*See my 23/5/13 post Cassandra Wilkinson & Herstory.]
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Marching Orders
"NSW Labor leader John Robertson has slammed the BDS movement ahead of a key vote at the University of Sydney tomorrow [8/5] - but at least one of his backbenchers is refusing to toe the line. Members of the Student Representative Council will push to overturn a call for an end of relations between Sydney University and [Israel's] renowned Technion... Labor-aligned students could decide the outcome and The Australian understands they are being lobbied by Labor MPs." (Labor split over Israel boycott, Christian Kerr, 7/5/13)
Thus slammed Robbo:
"I and the ALP unequivocally reject the BDS and academic, cultural and commercial boycotts of Israel and Israeli institutions. We successfully campaigned against the BDS in the state seat of Marrickville at the last election, and I've proudly visited a Max Brenner outlet in an act of solidarity against the BDS movement." (ibid)
OK, that was in yesterday's Australian. Let's see what revelations Christian has for us today:
"Moves to counter a motion of support for the BDS movement in academe are expected to fail when the University of Sydney SRC meets tonight." (Anti-BDS move at Sydney Uni tipped to fail)
Really?
Now it just so happens that I've acquired a 'Made in the Technion' listening device which looks to the untrained eye just like an ordinary house fly - fell off the back of a truck if you must know - and it's currently rubbing its little legs together atop the bagel sitting on CEO Vic Alhadeff's desk over at the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies HQ* and transmitting his half of an extraordinarily cryptic phone call:
'Listen, Robbo, this is serious, existential actually. It's not enough just to talk the talk like you did in yesterday's Australian, OK? Students don't read the Murdoch press. You've gotta walk the walk, know what I mean? Right! So get your ass into gear and head over to the campus NOW and kick ass or head or whatever other part of the student anatomy takes your fancy, understand!'
Can't imagine what that'd be all about.
[*"Our response to BDS forms part of a coordinated national strategy... endorsed by counterparts abroad and Israel's Foreign Ministry. That response has included... engagement with civil society and politicians, patronage of boycotted outlets, cooperation with police, shop owners and centre managers, and exposure of the motives behind the BDS movement." (BDS explained, Vic Alhadeff , AJN, 29/7/11) See my 15/9/11 post Wielding Zionism's Big Stick in the Senate.]
Thus slammed Robbo:
"I and the ALP unequivocally reject the BDS and academic, cultural and commercial boycotts of Israel and Israeli institutions. We successfully campaigned against the BDS in the state seat of Marrickville at the last election, and I've proudly visited a Max Brenner outlet in an act of solidarity against the BDS movement." (ibid)
OK, that was in yesterday's Australian. Let's see what revelations Christian has for us today:
"Moves to counter a motion of support for the BDS movement in academe are expected to fail when the University of Sydney SRC meets tonight." (Anti-BDS move at Sydney Uni tipped to fail)
Really?
Now it just so happens that I've acquired a 'Made in the Technion' listening device which looks to the untrained eye just like an ordinary house fly - fell off the back of a truck if you must know - and it's currently rubbing its little legs together atop the bagel sitting on CEO Vic Alhadeff's desk over at the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies HQ* and transmitting his half of an extraordinarily cryptic phone call:
'Listen, Robbo, this is serious, existential actually. It's not enough just to talk the talk like you did in yesterday's Australian, OK? Students don't read the Murdoch press. You've gotta walk the walk, know what I mean? Right! So get your ass into gear and head over to the campus NOW and kick ass or head or whatever other part of the student anatomy takes your fancy, understand!'
Can't imagine what that'd be all about.
[*"Our response to BDS forms part of a coordinated national strategy... endorsed by counterparts abroad and Israel's Foreign Ministry. That response has included... engagement with civil society and politicians, patronage of boycotted outlets, cooperation with police, shop owners and centre managers, and exposure of the motives behind the BDS movement." (BDS explained, Vic Alhadeff , AJN, 29/7/11) See my 15/9/11 post Wielding Zionism's Big Stick in the Senate.]
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Pollies in Love
While most people prefer to keep their love lives private, this is not always the case for our movers and shakers. We have The Australian Jewish News to thank for the following sizzling confession of undying love from NSW Opposition leader John Robertson:
"It is an eternal truth that the state of Israel and the Jewish community will always have a proud friend in NSW Labor. I am reminded of this every day as I go about my official work. In 1974, the Jewish Board of Deputies presented a mace to the Legislative Assembly to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the NSW Parliament. More recently, I was privileged to attend the permanent unveiling of a menorah in the Parkes Room - a beautiful gift to the Parliament from the Yeshiva Centre and Chabad NSW. These gifts are not simply symbols. They speak to the underlying bond between Australia and Israel." (Rosh Hashana greeting, 14/9/12)
Now it may be river deep and mountain high for Robbo, but what about his opposite number, Premier Barry O'Farrell? Alas, I'm afraid this is about as good as it gets:
"And as our history reflects, Australia is strongly committed to strong, bipartisan support for Israel to be able to live in security and peace." (ibid)
Boooring, Barry!
"It is an eternal truth that the state of Israel and the Jewish community will always have a proud friend in NSW Labor. I am reminded of this every day as I go about my official work. In 1974, the Jewish Board of Deputies presented a mace to the Legislative Assembly to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the NSW Parliament. More recently, I was privileged to attend the permanent unveiling of a menorah in the Parkes Room - a beautiful gift to the Parliament from the Yeshiva Centre and Chabad NSW. These gifts are not simply symbols. They speak to the underlying bond between Australia and Israel." (Rosh Hashana greeting, 14/9/12)
Now it may be river deep and mountain high for Robbo, but what about his opposite number, Premier Barry O'Farrell? Alas, I'm afraid this is about as good as it gets:
"And as our history reflects, Australia is strongly committed to strong, bipartisan support for Israel to be able to live in security and peace." (ibid)
Boooring, Barry!
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