Politics in Australia is all but dominated by the rise of the One Nation party. The following report from today's "Australian" newspaper is forwarded for info.
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Alliance forms to fight Hanson By KIMINA LYALL 27aug98
PROMPTED by former prime minister Bob Hawke's latest foray into
consensus-making, an unlikely alliance of business, union and
religious leaders yesterday made a public declaration urging
Australians to "decisively repudiate" One Nation.
The statement, signed by the Business Council of Australia, the
Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Council of Social
Service, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Catholic and
Anglican archbishops, said Pauline Hanson's immigration policies
"simply do not recognise the demographic, social or economic
realities of our nation".
"They threaten Australian jobs by undercutting the growth that flows
from an open economy," the statement said.
One Nation spokesman David Oldfield immediately attacked the
group as "representatives of the elite establishment".
"They are all supporters of multiculturalism and therefore they are all
on the opposite side both politically and socially of Pauline Hanson's
One Nation," Mr Oldfield said.
The action by the community leaders came as One Nation is
struggling to regain its support in the electorate, with the lastest
Newspoll last week placing its vote at 7 per cent.
Business Council president Stan Wallis yesterday said although his
organisation was most noted for its stance on "hard-edged economic
issues" he had no hesitation in joining the action because the
"statements, attitudes and policies of the One Nation party . . . put
Australia's future in jeopardy".
ACTU president Jennie George yesterday said the statement showed
the union movement and the business community "can on occasion
put aside our differences and assert jointly what we think is good
about our nation".
Ms George, whose Russian parents came to Australia as displaced
people after World War II, said under Ms Hanson's immigration
policy they would not have passed a language test, but she had
since proved she could make a contribution to Australia's future.
She acknowledged that many unionists were attracted to One Nation
and warned the major parties to be aware there was "some reason
for their disaffection".
But she said "intolerance and racism have no place in Australia's
union movement".
Mr Hawke, who was not at the launch because he wanted to leave it
to the organisations to speak, said yesterday he was inspired to ask
the group to come together after he reflected on the alliance formed
by business and unions in support of immigration after World War II.
He said at the time unemployment was high, and Australia's
population was about six million. About the same number of people
have since migrated to Australia.
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Kevin LaPalme wrote:
> > Kevin assumes I show "epistemological arrogance" the emphasis >I put on racism.
>
> Overconfidence, not arrogance. Personally, I wouldn't mind being
> described as overconfident now and then, but "arrogant" might
> offend me. Then again, it might not.
>
> My guess is that awareness of racism would probably be more
> important as an organizing tool in Bloomington, Indiana than it
> would in, say, a small town in Vermont.
>
> I'd certainly make it an issue while organizing a workplace beset by
> racism. Of course, if you believe that every workplace is beset by
> racism... (edit)