• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

•*.' V7 Paranoia & Reds under the Bed Dear People, 1 read with much sadness the some people who are members QiMtnttntO't MtAti-Ctnvut Wt*t*r Nempwtt articles in your/ excellent first of the "organised left" happen Wla|*tf>«^.- •J1*'AMN»r III* J'* fMl edition on AUS (pages 8 and 9). to be involved in anti-uranium Both Mr Herzog and Mr mining groups, it makes the anti- Campbell fall uito the diatribe uranium mining issue an "ex­ of language which only alienates tremist campaign." people. Mr Campbell made some unwarranted assumptions about ANS is the only widely the attitudes of his audience- chculating news service available for example: a pro-homosexual­ to campus based newspapers, INFORMS NEEDED, BUT ity bias, and assumed that stu­ research groups and mterested dents automatically will take a people that presents a different pro-Timor, pro-Thai students, view of issues and events. LAWS GET HARSHER pro-anti uranium mining line. Mr Herzog has cleariy shown This is a mistake common in the how he supports established Why does the law in Queensland remain 100 years behind the rest of Australia? progressive clement in AUS-we media by writing often for the Gamut never ceases to be amazed at the basic lack of citizens' rights here, the so- assume a view of people and the Australian. A narrow view of called "police state." world, and then feel that it is so events and issues as seen from This week Gamut looks at three areas where people have been disadvantaged and obvious that it is assumed of all the establishment point of view. discriminated against by the inadequacy of the law. students. Some students, dare I Mr Herzog assumes that students say most students, just don't -you readers-arc too stupid lo Queensland is lagging other States in reform of laws concerning rape. TJicrc were know all the facts and in such a signs that some of the reforms adopted in South Australia could have been instituted discriminate between propagan­ situation, naturally students ally da and different points of view. here-ifthe Criinina! Law Inquiry had been interested-but it wasn't with the status quo. The differ­ What is Mr Herzog's reality? Public reaction to the disclosure of pack rape in Ingham showed that the greatest ent views arc couched in loaded He claims that the discussions at hurdle may be overcoming the prevailing double standards and mores tlial allow rhetoric which all too often AUS Council were "quite divorc­ people to say that the women somehow deserved to be raped. But at least a change in polarises. ed from reality." Mr Herzog has the laws would allow woinen some redress, eg a woman cannot be raped by her never, ever given us a view into husband because she is slill, in 1977, considered his property. Gaimtt will be following However, it is .Mr Herzog's his perception of reality. the proposed changes to the rape laws here, and pressing for their urgent implementa­ allegations that disturb me most. What is Mr Herzog concerned tion. Mr Herzog is cleariy using the about, really'! Is it that some It is also outrageous to know that prisoners arc caught in u Catch-22 situation that smoke screen technique of his student money goes to causes friends in the veited-intcrest prevents them from obtaining the services of Legal Aid. he and his friends do not sup­ groups of our country. "Rxtrcni- port? Is it that he and his A prisoner m Boggo Road Jail has not the money to pay for a solicitor-a vital ist campaigns" is a very evocat­ prerequisite for obtaming Legal Aid assistance. friends do not like the idea of ive phrase. Reds under the bed, a student money being used for communist conspiracy hatching any political or social causes? Is Queensland poHce already have the power to enter any house on the "reasonable in every AUS office in Australia, it an over-developed conspiracy suspicion" that drugs may be found. But the Criminal Law Inquiry now is considering trained communist operatives complex or a considered and masquerading as AUS officers- dramatically increasing the powers of the police, so that they may detain, for 24 deUberate position, articulated such is the .stuff of paranoia. Mr hours, people suspected of having committed serious crimes. for years by the National Party Herzog makes, it seems to me, a At the same time, Attorney General Ellicott is proposing leglisation to guarantee and the National Civic Council number of unconnected, and and only lately finding articu­ more citizen's rights. grossly distorted assumptions, To "increase police efficiency," Queensland police Commissioner Lewis wants to which I will deal with here: late support on campus? waive the rule requiring police to warn detainees they may remain silent, and to have 0 He seems to make no distinc­ jury decisions by majority, not consensus. tion between an issue and the Finally, one mm or pomt. At While Gamut felt outrage, this caused very little comment in the press. Citizens people who support it. Uranium AUS Council, Mr Herzog gave is an excellent example. Because rights are beuig quickly v^ttled away, and every day is one day closer to 1984, you UQU's speaking rights to Greg know. Abbot from Sydney University when he had to leave Council. The UQU delegation had five or six members, all of whom were quite capable of arguing What k Herzog abouf? the UQU case in Mr Herzog's absence. So why did Mr Herzog The editors, DLP supporter from Sydney give away our speakmg rights to John Herzog ("AUS Debate" University, Tony Abbott, apolo­ one of his NCC friends and not Gamut No 1) fails ui his rcspon- gised to council for Bland- to one of your elected delegates .sibllity as AUS secretary on the thorn's behavior. An executive from this university? Does he University of Queensland statement confirming this was distrust and detest us so much campus to report to the student accepted unanimously by coun­ that he cannot allow us tO' body accurately and fully the cU speak. events and decision of the 1977 A second incident occurred AUS Annual Council. This jaun­ on the same evenmg when Tony' Please answer us, Mr Herzog. diced view of the events at Abbott met with a group of stu­ In the interests of rational council is a deliberate attempt to dents and observers outside the debate. discredit AUS in front of people council chamber. One of these Mark D. Hayes who had no opportunity of people in particular led a barage AUS Environment attendmg council themselves. of verbal abuse directed at Officer, UQU John Herzog has betrayed the Abbott, There was some physi­ mandate given him by his cal contact when ABBott and election ^ AUS secrtary in this this person tried to kick each way. I would like to set the other. Another DLP member, record straight. Anne McCosker, appeared on tion campaign or Black libera­ the scene and tried to interpose speech which councU fuUy John Herzog says that AUS Firstly, if 1977 wiU be tion, as John Herzog would implements and defends.. But- is undemocratic because it does "most remembered for its viol­ herself m this clash. No other wish, then that could only be violence occurred at council. John Heraog would no/ support.' hot involve students on campus ence and confrontation" it will achieved by makmg it less This elementary right when it Ul decision making. He says the only be because the Australian It is clear that these uicidents democratic, that is, less repre­ were provoked by DLP support­ came to the questioh of allowing way to overcome this is through newspaper in collusion with sentative of students generally, the Palestinian people to come "regionalisation." in each case, John Herzog and others who ers at councU, with, I must add, and brought under right wing "Maoist" supporters and dele- to this country and put their notidng could be further from made up the "entrenched NCC- .. control by bureaucratic means. case themselves. the truth. Firstly, AUS Annual led right faction" fabricated and gates wilhng respondmg to their. Tj,is jj ^j,at Herzog reaUy wants. Councts is a delegated confer­ distorted the real events (as did provocations. It is interesting to note what He does not think AUS ence so that all students may Herzog in Gamut)., All the ought to oppose the miUtary be represented democraticaliy- incidents he alluded to occurred John Herzog, in true red- j^^n nerzog does and does not baitmg style, pUys heavily upon support from council. For invasion of Timor by the Indo­ how else can it be done? By a on one evening of the 10 day so-callcd "communist" mfluence example, he fmds it "pleasing" nesian generals, despite Austra­ conference of the whole council. They began when a at council-it is a matter of that $22,000 wUl be spent on lia's key role in that operation. 250,000 members? student from one of the Adel­ great, concem to him it seems. "cultural" . activities (ie aide campuses was prompted by Biit what he really regrets is Secondly the practice of entertainment) but questions He does not ihink we ought to Extraordinary' Resolutions takes John Herzog's suspicious be­ that council, as the Union's why the "Union does not support "extremist" organisa­ havior to state to Council that highest decision making body, most most major questions back require every form of control tions Uke the Pacific People's to campus where a// students he considered Herzog an democratically decides to over the $40,000 given to Black Action Front.

Load more

  19

Copy Link