Too dumb for words

MY dear readers with white skin, you must have heaved a huge sigh of relief when one of our state’s elected senators moved the motion that it is “OK to be White”. All those years of oppression, of discrimination, finally brought to our nation’s highest house.

Really? Where are the adults? I have tried so hard, so very hard, to be positive; and this column was going to be devoted to the magnificent work of one of the current ministers of the crown in the Federal Government. But then last week happened.

I will deliver the positive piece in the future and not sully it with Canberra nonsense. I’m not even going to dissect the “It’s OK to be White” thing. It’s just too dumb for words and I’m not wasting them here.

Far worse than the fact that government senators initially voted for this rubbish was their justification. Like a Year 3 schoolboy caught doing the wrong thing, “It wasn’t me, sir, I was just following orders; it was an administrative error.”

Really? You didn’t hear the other senators in the chamber speaking out against this nonsense?

You didn’t hear them tell you this is one of the favourite lines from the extreme loony right?

Speaking of which, you didn’t stop to think who the author of said motion was? Somehow some Canberra magic dust had settled on Senator Hanson and she was putting forward an idea that would bring peace and harmony to the nation. Really? Again I ask, where are the adults? Next time a similar motion is presented and you don’t have the insight or courage to vote No, could I just beg you to get locked in the parliamentary toilets, to lose your security pass, or just suddenly find it difficult to do up your shoelaces. Just go missing in action!

As a taxpayer, I know you feel beholden to me to be in the house when there is a vote on – but when similar motions to “It’s OK to be White” come up, you have my permission to take the afternoon or evening off.

Speaking of adults in the house, I hope that the newly minted Member for Wentworth, Dr Kerryn Phelps, immediately makes her way from the crossbenches to join forces with the

‘‘ WE HAVE COME TO A PLACE AS A NATION WHERE DOCTORS HAVE TO GO TO THE HIGH COURT TO BRING DANGEROUSLY ILL CHILDREN TO AUSTRALIA TO RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT.

Member for McMillan, Russell Broadbent.

Russell Broadbent, along with Julia Banks and Craig Laundy, have more moral courage than the two houses of parliament combined.

Last week they stood up and called for the children and families on Nauru to be urgently brought to safety.

We have come to a place as a nation where doctors have to go to the High Court to bring dangerously ill children to Australia to receive medical treatment.

We are talking about a 12 year old dousing herself with fuel, a child whose bodily functions have shut down due to the extreme hopelessness of her situation.

Dr Paul Bauert, a paediatrician who has treated a number of children in this situation, shared the unfolding health crisis with federal politicians last week.

Organisations across the country have called for all children on Nauru to be brought to safety by November 20, which is Universal Children’s Day.

Dr Bauert’s view is that some of the children will not last this long. They simply do not have weeks left to live. May those who have ears, truly listen and act.

I understand there was a kerfuffle in council chambers last week around who would be the best councillor to chair the soon to be formed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee. I have been around way too long to believe I have the answer.

But I conclude with the paraphrased words of the one of the wisest first nations women I know.

It is a good thing that Councillor McDonald brought about the formation of this group and it makes sense that he be there, as, after all, it is in his portfolio.

It is also good that Councillor Cahill, who is proud of his first nations heritage, is a part of this committee.

Isn’t it wonderful! Who could have imagined that we could come to a place where councillors were squabbling over who should be on this most important committee?

Amen to that.