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July 7, 2010
Excellent article by Lindsay Tanner on African refugees and Australia’s history of integrating refugees. Like other migrant groups before them (Southern European, Balkans, Asian), I strongly believe they will inevitably become part of the rich multicultural fabric of Australia. They might even integrate faster than others given their sporting prowess – the Socceroos in 5-7 years time might have some Liberian and Sudanese representation.
What part will African-Australians play in the Australian community in 50 years’ time?
That largely depends on what the rest of us do. We’ve managed to integrate numerous groups of increasingly different people from all over the world, with results of which we can all be proud. Is there any reason African-Australians should be any different?
The now-former ALP stalwart Phillip Adams, on why he quit the ALP
I don’t know Julia Gillard, but accept that she was coerced (or seduced) into her challenge. Yet I was uneasy with her cleverly calibrated victory speech. First of all, some victory. Second, she justified the coup by talking of a government losing its way. But it was HER way! As Deputy PM she had more than a casting vote in the Gang of Four. And at least one of the most calamitous decisions was hers. Rudd resisted, she insisted.
Rudd and I talked regularly. The last time we spoke he was urging me to resign from The Australian to protest its editorial line, advice I declined to accept. And we argued about his climate change strategy. I by no means agreed with other policies and tactics. But nothing would have persuaded me to support a move against the leader who’d defeated Howard, made that superb “sorry” speech and handled the GFC with such skill. The right to dismiss a PM belongs to the electorate at an election, not to a drunken governor-general or factional bullies drunk with power. Rudd goes, so I go too. Seems the lethal Latham was right.
