Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "Civil Disobedience in Queensland" [1982] AboriginalLawB 13; (1982) 1(3) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 14

• Civil Disobedience In Queensland

---

Civil Disobedience in Queensland

In a recent Weekend Australian (6-7 February 1982), well-known columnist Max Harris declared his support for civil disobedience at the forthcoming Brisbane Commonwealth Games in order to highlight the living conditions of Aborigines in Queensland. The following is an abridged version of the statements made by Mr Harris.

Civil disobedience is not political violence if it fulfills certain criteria. It must demonstrably be an act of last resort, when there is general agreement that all the normal channels of moral persuasion are closed. Secondly, the actions taken must be non-violent. Mr Gary Foley's proposed Queensland campaign fulfills these criteria. There is no alternative way of effecting change. The moral cause is just, and of world importance to Australia's reputation as a democracy. It is the most effective and least socially destructive form of civil disobedience. It is also symbolically the most apt form of action.

Queensland is still perversely racist, a disgrace to the overall quality of modem Australian humanity, while the political leaders blindly and arrogantly deny that Aborigines are socially and economically disadvantaged by public attitudes and political policies in that State. I don't think there is any argument about the extant racism of Australia's deep north. People of liberal conscience in Queensland admit it freely. The membership of the Liberal Party don't dispute that Queensland is Australia's area of shame, and that no pressures will move Bjelke-Petersen from his demogogic and intransigent dogmatism.

Disputes will prove to the rest of the world that Australia is out to eradicate racism, root and branch. And, for the first time, Australians as a whole, and civilised Queenslanders, can hit the Premier where it hurts. He is impervious to anything except global exposure. He will become even cockier, more intransigent, more arrogantly self-righteous if he pulls off the coup. Besides, his power base is amongst the yobs, the thickheads, the ockers, the sporting mob on the proverbial Hill. Their little walnut brains will have to chum out the semblance of a thought if their spectator pleasures are interfered with.

I can't see any obvious flaw in this line of reasoning as applied to the intolerable state of the dominant psychology of Queensland. True, I would be placing myself in the hands of organisers and activists whose methods and motives I distrust. But in the case of the Commonwealth Games the activists will be leading the right cause for the wrong reasons. That doesn't matter.

What distresses me is that I am lonely in coming out and declaring myself. And I don't mind admitting I'm scared witless. Who wants to be roughed up by brawny Queensland bushies or rough-neck Brisbane cops?

Will Jim Cairns, Bill Hayden, Don Dunstan, Neville Wran, Bob Hawke, and 10,000 Young. Liberals be there to express their solidarity with the Queensland Aboriginal cause? Will Neville Bonner be first to jump the fence?

The deafening apathy of our community leaders suggests there is something wrong with my line of reasoning. If there is I wish someone would explain to me the error of my thinking ways.