A gallery of rogues, or just blessed with short memories?

[The member for Brennan] spoke nobly in the House yesterday on the subject of building a relationship with Aboriginal people, but today he is out there bashing the drum again. Yesterday he talked about a new relationship with Aboriginal people. Today, less than 24 hours later, he sees political advantage in playing the race card yet again.... It is rubbish. The truth is this that government is reaping what it has sown. For decades, they have abused the relationship with Aboriginal people and they have destroyed any sense of trust. That underpins what is happening now.”

- NT Chief Minister Clare Martin, in parliament on October 20, 1999 (while in Opposition) during a debate over Native Title.

“The mischievous use of Aboriginal issues or the race card has long been a favourite political tactic of the CLP. It might not necessarily be overt. It is something that has been referred to.”

- Dr Chris Burns, ALP Member for Johnston in NT parliament on October 8, 2002 during a debate on Aboriginal customary law.

“Let’s throw this hand grenade of a black/white issue. Let’s accuse the new government... of blatantly favouring Aboriginal people over whites and Asians’. These were the lines - very carefully crafted lines to take the CLP back to its perceived heartland and to win back the northern suburbs. Let’s not ask a single question on the biggest single issue that is being debated in the Northern Territory at the moment - which is the state of the economy.... You cannot come in here tomorrow with crocodile tears about the economy when the old race card, which is the legacy of 26 years of CLP government, was played so blatantly in here today.”

- Paul Henderson, ALP member for Wanguri, in parliament on February 26, 2002 during a debate on the ALP government’s ‘Vision for a Stronger Territory’.

“We say [the ALP can create better Aboriginal employment outcomes] because the government we have at the moment uses every opportunity during election periods to play the race card. You’re not going to get cooperation from a group of people you clobber once every four years just to get yourself back into power. There’s not only divisiveness, there’s real antipathy out there, and a negative attitude from Aboriginal groups to any government approaches that are made.”

- Former NT ALP leader Maggie Hickey, speaking to the Alice Springs News, August 27, 1997.

“Under a Labor government we would have had far more projects under way now. The government knows that and they should hang their heads in shame at the missed opportunities that they have forfeited to the Territory because of their ideological bent and their determination during every election to promote themselves and to retain government by using the race card.”

- Hickey in parliament on August 10, 1999 during a debate on the NT economy.

“It is absolutely true. It has gone on for 2 decades in this place. At every election in the Northern Territory bar one, the Country Liberal Party has ensured that the race card has been played well and truly.”

- Hickey in parliament on February 17, 1998 during a motion by the ALP for an apology to the Stolen Generations.

“I have previously mentioned in this House the lost opportunities in economic and social outcomes for Indigenous people under the CLP regime. It was a period of confrontation, of marginalisation, and exclusive responses at the expense of Indigenous people but, most sadly it was a period of political expediency. (Member for Macdonnell, John Elferink interjects). I would not be saying too much if I were you, member for Macdonnell, because you, more than anyone in this House, had an opportunity, as a part of a government over 26 years, to do something about it... and you chose not to do a thing. You are a hypocrite! You have marginalised people. You are very good at it; you are an expert... you have played the political race card.”

- Elliot McAdam, member for Barkly in parliament which convened in Alice Springs in April 2003.

“The reality is, yes, the CLP is a racist party. It is the only party in Australia that preferred to preference One Nation at the previous election. Yes, they are a racist party.”

- Kon Vatskalis, ALP member for Casuarina, during a parliamentary debate on May 5, 2005 over grants to multicultural groups

“It is not the ‘stinking drunks’ who are responsible for the serious property crime that is being complained of. The ‘stinking drunks’, or most of them - and the member for Greatorex as a medical doctor should give an in-service briefing to the members of his party - are actually sick. They have an illness which is called alcoholism.”

- Aboriginal minister for Community Services, Marion Scrymgour reacting to CLP member Jodeen Carney referring to alcoholics in Alice Springs as “... stinking drunks who obstruct, spit, swear and make life unpleasant for all of us”.

BARBARA McCARTHY: Do you think that there will be a race card in the upcoming federal election?

BOB COLLINS: I hope not, I mean I hope it doesn’t rear its head.

Do you expect it might?

I hope it doesn’t - I mean I had enough of that in the NT for decades, I don’t want to see it done at a national level.

- ALP candidate for the seat of Arnhem, Barbara McCarthy in her job as a journalist for ABC TV’s Stateline program, during an interview with former NT Opposition leader and federal minister, Bob Collins on April 2, 2004.

BARBARA McCARTHY: Terry Mills, in the past the CLP has used the race card to win elections. Are you going to do that?

TERRY MILLS: Certainly not.

What are you going to use?

MILLS: I am going to be the representative of Territorians.... I am more than proud to represent every Territorian, wherever they be, the centre of Australia or up in the islands.

- McCarthy, again on ABC’s Stateline on November 14, 2003 interviewing newly elected CLP leader, Terry Mills.

And meet the undisputed king of parliamentary ‘race card’ claims

By far, the undisputed king of accusing the CLP of playing the race card is retiring ALP minister, John Ah Kit - the very man the government brought out last week to publicly back the ALP’s new policy. Here’s just a small sample of the countless occasions Mr Ah Kit has used parliament to accuse the CLP of ‘playing the race card’.

“I can also tell the member for Drysdale that in respect to his comment about playing the race card, you have priors for playing the race card. You have priors, especially... the member for Millner. Be careful. We are working hard to bring the Territory together. We want you to come with us, not fight us, not play the race card. You do have priors, and we need to get away from that.”

- Ah Kit on October 7, 2003

“In eight elections the CLP has played the race card. It has it down to a fine art.... The member for Millner is a classic example.... He ought to be ashamed of himself, sitting with the government. He is married into a proud Aboriginal family, he has a beautiful Aboriginal kid....”

- Ah Kit on April 9, 2000

“I think that this minister is trying to push this through so he can pick another fight with the land councils, to drag the Labor Party into it and point the finger at [the ALP] as they head towards another Territory general election and play the race card. It will be a sad day for the Territory if we are going down that path.”

- Ah Kit on November 17, 2000

“I pick up the point made earlier by the member for Sanderson, to the effect that members of the opposition use the race card and cast slurs on the government in regard to racial policies or racial attitudes taken by it.”

- Ah Kit on February 24, 1998

“... it goes to show that what we thought was happening over the years, that you are a government that will continually play the race card as much as you possibly can to continue to get over the line, and you should be ashamed of yourselves! You should be ashamed... that is the stuff you thrive on. That is the stuff you are proud of, and that is the stuff that you will continue to run. Because that’s what you’re about. You are about continuing to win government because you want to play the race card.... You want to divide Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and Territorians...”

- Ah Kit on December 1, 1998

“Mr Ian Viner QC... says successive Territory governments over the past 20 years have been disgraceful in their unremitting opposition to land rights. Mr Viner has also condemned successive CLP governments for their repetitive anti-land-rights propaganda and their use of the ‘race card’ in elections. This comes from a former minister in the federal Coalition.”

- Ah Kit, in April 2000

“...contrary to what Peter D’abbs pointed out in his comments to the NT News the other day - which I thought was spot on, because it went straight to the heart of what the CLP does in the Northern Territory and has continuously done over the last elections, run the race card. Run the race card, and we have a person who took issue with it and decided that that needed to be told to Territorians, and I dip my lid to him.”

- Ah Kit, on June 1, 1999

“We have seen native title work in a couple of instances with the Merlin diamond project, with the railway... We would have had more successes if the government had been able to take the decision to negotiate more native title issues. I believe that it is not something that Cabinet want to do. They hold that card up their sleeve, and we know... what the card will be used for. It is obviously going to be used for the upcoming 2001 election where the race card will be played again and Aboriginal people... Opposition interjects: Ah Kit: Mr Deputy Speaker, this government has been accused in this Chamber on a number of occasions that eight out of the last nine elections in the Territory have been run on the race card. You have taken that on the chin a few times, yet today you are sensitive. Have I touched on something?

- Ah Kit, in Parliament on February 20, 2001 during a debate on native title issues. Ironically, the CLP under the leadership of Denis Burke, did not play the race card in the 2001 election.

Mixed reviews, but not without charm

John (Jack) Ah Kit is getting mixed reviews in Territory Aboriginal communities, but he’s not without some personal charm.

This exchange in parliament occurred last month after Opposition member Stephen Dunham likened Ah Kit to a cane toad.

Madam Speaker: Withdraw that, member for Drysdale! That was a personal remark and you know it.

Dunham: I withdraw it, Madam Speaker, notwithstanding I have been the butt of exactly the same joke from this man here.

Ah Kit: Madam Speaker, I might be slightly obese but he will still be ugly when I lose weight.

Dunham: When hell freezes over.

Madam SPEAKER: Order, order! Why do I get the feeling that you are all getting very restless?

Baldwin: It is getting close to an election, Madam Speaker.

Madam SPEAKER: I think it must be. Very intuitive of you, member for Daly. Minister, please continue.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org/election2005.html
Pubdate: Thur, 09 Jun 2005
Source: National Indigenous Times
Author: Chris Graham
Website: http://www.nit.com.au
Email: mail@nit.com.au