ABC/ SBS

Time to replace the ABC

Some things never change, and the ABC’s anti- Australian bent has continued into the New Year.

But now in 2018, the ABC has adopted a new victim cause: African migrants, in covering victims of Sudanese crime as secondary to receivers of ill- directed, foolish comments.

So despite being funded by Australian people, and its legislative functions being to “contribute to a sense of national identity,” and providing Australia with a ‘high standard’ of ‘broadcasting services,’ the ABC is doing anything but.

As a nationalist, the notion of a national broadcaster seems appealing, in duly serving the Australian people and being above profits and popular trends of the time.

But when an institution has veered so far from its original purpose and is acting to undermine Australian interests, a new broadcaster should replace the ABC, of the ilk Senator Brian Burston has previously described.

africa.jpg

“Victoria’s African community ‘stereotyped, victimised’ for the sins of young kids”, the ABC, by Guy Stayner, January 5, 2018:

“Lock ’em all up, that’s what they should be doing.”

Those were the words of a middle-aged white man interrupting a television interview with an Ethiopian Australian in Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne’s west.

“Lock ’em all up…”

Was he talking about all youths who commit crime or was he talking about all African Australians?

He didn’t hang around to explain the nuances of his opinion, but it is the kind of comment African Australians are confronted by in the current law and order debate about “African gangs”.

The Ethiopian Australian being interviewed was Habib Gudato Tonnu.

He is 65 years old, 165 centimetres tall and looks anything but threatening.

He has lived in Australia for 31 years and has been a Boeing aircraft mechanic for the past 27.

“Africans are going to be affected — all Africans, because they are pointing ‘Africa Africa Africa’,” he said.

Africa is a massive continent made up of 54 different countries and when politicians talk about an African crime wave every African Australian from South Africa to Sierra Leone feels its impact.

Kabo Matlho is a medical scientist from Botswana who is furious with politicians who continue to use the description “African gangs”.

Mr Matlho said he doesn’t believe there has ever been anyone from Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, or Malawi associated with any so-called crime gang in Australia.

“Virtually no-one from southern Africa, yet we are all painted with the same brush,” he said.

“It’s an unbalanced representation of a whole lot of unrelated people and perpetuated by the highest office in the land.”

Many African Australians say the rhetoric of politicians, the police and the media is fuelling prejudice.

Agok Takpiny is a South Sudanese shopkeeper in Werribee.

“They assume the worst so psychologically you feel like you’re being victimised,” he said.

“Stereotyping for sins that are being committed by young kids.”

Chimene Mumbanga is a hairdresser originally from Congo.

She’s been verbally attacked by a middle-aged woman who accused her of destroying the country.

“Because I am African,” she said. “The lady said ‘Oh you African’, She didn’t say ‘Oh where are you from’ first. No she didn’t. She saw my skin — she knew I was African,” she said.

“It might get even worse — that’s how I feel.”

One thought on “Time to replace the ABC

Leave a Reply