Oz government remains in Racist denial
by snowy Wednesday, Jan 6 2010, 7:57am
international /
social/political /
commentary
Like a recidivist alcoholic Kevin Rudd’s CENSORSHIP government continues to avoid the RACIST REALITY in Oz, and as every therapist would advise, you can’t cure a problem without first acknowledging it exists! The entire world is aware of xenophobic, racist, backward Australia thanks to former PM John Howard’s OVERT racism making headlines around the globe. However, an opportunity to HEAL and take the nation forward presented itself to pathetic little Kevin Rudd, who seems more concerned with CENSORSHIP issues and DENIAL than FACING leadership challenges!
The current situation (plummeting enrolments) requires leadership to instill CONFIDENCE not avoid the issue – are you reading this deputy, Gillard?
So, where do we go from here, Kevin? Do we continue to seek recognition on the international stage for wobbly policies OR do we CLEAN our OWN BACKYARD and LEAD by EXAMPLE?
When the nation requires leadership our show pony PM is standing in front of a mirror practicing his smiles and blow-drying his fuckin’ hair!
However, it appears Victoria POLICE have ceased evading their responsibilities; a recent report (below) confirms Vic police are supporting an Indian government safety advisory to its citizens visiting or residing in Melbourne.
Police acknowledging the REALITY ‘on the ground’ is a confidence-building move in the RIGHT direction! It’s a shame the message AND INITIATIVE is LOST on a thoroughly INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT!
Report by Milanda Rout and Andrew Trounson, from The Australian, follows:
Police back Indian travel warning
VICTORIAN police have backed assertions made in an Indian government travel warning to students about the dangers of increasing violent crime in Melbourne, putting them at odds with state and federal governments intent on promoting Australia as a safe place to travel and study.
Victoria Police yesterday said it supported the general statements made in the advisory that the city had seen an increase in violence, that this was often "accompanied by verbal abuse, fuelled by alcohol and drugs" and that the offenders were "mainly young people in their teens and early 20s".
The travel advisory, issued after the stabbing death of 21-year-old Indian student Nitin Garg in a park in Melbourne's west on Saturday night, instructs students to take precautions given the several incidents involving robbery and assault on Indians in Australia.
It suggests that students should not travel alone late at night, avoid carrying large amounts of cash and not make it obvious if they have expensive items like laptops or iPods.
The warning met a cool response from Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who said the "factual situation" was that Australia remained a safe country with a low homicide rate by world standards. "In big cities around the world we do see acts of violence from time to time," she said. "That happens in Melbourne, it happens in Mumbai, it happens in New York, it happens in London. That's a matter for the Indian government, what it puts on its travel advisories, but the situation here is we are a safe country, we're a welcoming country, we certainly seek to welcome international students."
Victoria's acting Premier Rob Hulls also defended Melbourne as a safe place to study, saying crime rates had dropped.
Victoria Police has previously conceded that Indian students may be considered soft targets by opportunist thugs. "We have recognised some time ago that there has been an increase in assaults and knife crime," Victoria Police media spokesman David Spencer said. "We support the assertion."
India's Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra VK Sharma declined to disclose what information, apart from media, was used to justify the warning.
Deakin University criminologist Darren Palmer said the advisory risked inflaming political tensions amid Indian-held concerns that racism is motivating the attacks on students. "Until we can have an investigation that tells us whether racism was a motivating factor or not I think it is better for everybody if we just hold back for the moment," Dr Palmer said.
Indian student spokesman Gautam Gupta said about 30 students were considering returning home, despite thousands of dollars in wasted fees.
© 2010 News Limited.