The Australian's been pushing it's own barrow for a while, though. Allowing Phillip Adams one column a week does not make for balanced commentary (although they're not as crass as Fox to make the claim).

Isn't Noel Pearson having trouble with his scheme in Queensland? We never see any factual commentary on that, all we get are sucky "Pearson for Australian of the Year" comments (and articles, really).

Perhaps the Australian has discovered, as so many others before, that being Aboriginal, educated and highly paid are not the only prerequisites for a job looking after their fellows. Most of the members of ATSIC fell into that category and we saw a resounding lack of success in the way that they managed to look after their bailiwick.

Truth has a habit of overcoming bullsh-t.

David

“…The Oz adopted a policy agenda which it would pursue aggressively through selective reporting, sanctimonious editorialising and shrill columns.”

Ring is familiar with, and practises, these things himself; he just doesn’t get the coverage of his object of sanctimony. He sneeringly describes two of Australia’s leading aboriginal identities as “pin-up boys” because Australia’s only national newspaper reports their utterances on matters concerning descendants of aboriginal Australians.

For Ring, it appears, there are aborigines and aborigines.

“But readers could search in vain for thoughtful discussion of the policies advocated by those on the left”, peals Ring.

Agreed. Readers could search in vain anywhere for ‘thoughtful’ policies advocated by the left. There is plenty of emotion and ideology from the left, just no thought.

What is it, I wonder, with these left wing ideologues, who think that they are making a point of some kind by including the second names of people they hate – in this case John WINSTON Howard and Malcolm THOMAS Brough? It must be hard for them to denigrate someone without a middle name!

Not surprisingly, questions asked of relatives and friends in Alice Springs about Ring have come up with a blank. One “might have heard the name”.

To be frank, none of my friends or relatives in the centre are aborigines, but I don’t think Ring knows any either.

“The Australian” has nothing to fear from Graham Ring

The author seems disappointed in The Australian. Why? It has always been a right-wing rag that subtly, and not so subtly at times, has belittled anybody concerned about any aspect of social justice. As does its other Newscorp spawn, papers such as the Daily Telegraph, The Sun etc.

Too right Mr Right. The new soft left doesn't have ideas and policies it has warm fuzzy feelings and politically correct form.

The Australian may seem like it has a right wing flavour but that is only when held up to the obvious left wing bias of the ABC and the obnoxious far left wing tendencies of the BBC and the Age newspaper.

Graham writes about 'the policies advocated by those on the left.' As Gandhi is reported to have replied, when asked (I think by John Gunther?) what he thought of British civilisation: 'I think it would be a good idea.'

As a lifelong member of the Left, I was struggling to think of what coherent policy my mob had put forward in relation to Indigenous affairs, except policies to let people continue their fictional hunting and gathering and stay out of towns, while their kids learn only up to Grade Two only in their own languages and nothing much in English, the common language of power; while the adults have full access to all the grog and drugs they want while beating their beloveds. Meanwhile, economic projects are abandoned (so bourgeois, so Western)and rapid cultural change (in a sociological sense) renders custom irrelevant.

Let's face it: the policies of the Left, our policies, our ideologies, our paradigms, are bankrupt - they didn't work, and they have done tremendous damage to tens of thousands of Indigenous people, perhaps irreparable damage. It's time for us to take a good hard look at ourselves and admit that we got it wrong. And then try to nut out where things might go from here, what options Indigenous people might have, if it's not too late.

Joe

Paul.L

Correct. “The Australian” is not right wing in the minds of anybody but the loony left.

Neither was the Howard-lead Coalition Government right wing in the minds of anyone except the loony left.

The Australian loony left – and I’m not referring to people who vote Labor or Australian Democrats (while that failed party still exists), but to the likes of Robert Manne and other left wing historians, along with the gender-benders, the eco-nuts, Greens etc. – are living in a time warp.

Their ridiculous ideology has failed all over the world. It does not work; end of story. Yet, they still persist with their childish ranting.

Their patronising attitude to the descendants of indigenous Australians has been the same for the past 200 or so years. It hasn’t worked. Did this stop them from rubbishing the first real attempt to put right the wrongs via the Howard/Brough intervention in the NT? No. The action was ‘racist’ and was called just about everything else the loony left has in its limited vocabulary.

Most posters ignore Graham Ring. Most posters ignore the urban, academic aboriginal contributor Stephen Hagan.
They’ve probably got the right idea. Better for the blood pressure.

Interesting post from Loudmouth.

I agree with the commenters that say that The Australian's position on Indigenous affairs is motivated by the consequences of government policy, rather than a leftist "noble savage" view.

I can't remember the exact rant the author refers to. However, I imagine the point The Ox was making is that its easy for wealthy Indigenous peoples, who have acquired success on the back of affirmative action of the Aboriginal welfare industry, to stand back and advocate the same old leftist gibberish because they are no longer affected personally by the dysfunction in Aboriginal communities.

Would someone like Calma forget his roots? Perhaps he lives in a community that was somewhat function. Or perhaps instead the (mostly left-wing) views he was exposed to at university influenced him greatly. It's hard to say because I don't know the man. But what I can say is that you can't be strongly concerned for the plight of Aborigines if you aren't willing to even consider the merits of the NT Indigenous intervention.

Never ignore the creepy Ringy, who is a clever & manipulative sycophant.

And never compare the creepy Ringy to Steve Hagan, who is a straight talking, honest bloke who speaks his own mind & sometimes has useful insights, unlike the aforementioned dissembler Ringy, who is beholden to both the cliche & some of the most accomplished conmen & bullies of our time.

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How amusing. Somebody named 'Mr Right' who refers to the left as the 'loony left' appears to believe he's in a position to judge whether the Australian has a right wing political bias.

For the record, I believe The Australian is the best paper in Australia (once upon a time, the Financial Review could compete, but in the last year or so it's taken a dive).

To deny The Australian is a right wing paper is wilful stupidity, I'm sorry - The Australian itself has admitted it is dedicated to conservative principles.

Both the editor in Chief Chris Mitchell, as well as the Editor at Large, Paul Kelly, have admitted that the paper is unapologetically from the centre right.

So they're quite happy to be categorised as right wing - they don't see it as an accusation.

Whether that is a positive or negative can be argued, but to try and pretend that they're not a right wing paper, Mr Right, is political myopia.

Terms like 'loony left' get so very tiresome, just as the 'rabid right' does.

The left is so broad, it doesn't have to mean socialism, then there's the social issues of conservatism versus liberal thought. These cliched old 'the left is wrong' or the 'right is wrong' attempts at pigeonholing ideological opponents before you can consider their stance, really does get in the way of intelligent conversation.

WEll someone had to bring up the non-existent Heiner affair didn't they? Heiner was not investigating child abuse, he was investigating bad management at the John Oxley centre in 1988.

Get over it.

Why pick on HREOC Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma who provides rhetoric required by HREOC for promotion of its' acceptable racism and undesirable thinking philosophy... they benefit from his ethnic tag.

Suggestions Calma and Scrymgour lack some insight into “real needs” of some of "their people" is ridiculous. Same for Alison Anderson and others.

We each have some insight, whilst few if any full insight.

The blind are those believing possess full insight, or is the one eyed man king ?

Insulting is refusal address ongoing concerns, when denial of basic needs like security of tenure for families in their housing. Without such security improvements are hard.

Many -particularly of left, find it SO important in their process of understanding what ink-written in front of them to know author's ethnic identification and history.

February 16 Australian editorial:

"As we prepare for the 2020 summit, let's return civility to the national conversation. We should be able to respect our opponents even when we disagree with their ideas, counter them with argument, not argumentativeness."

This desirable civility is about listening to argument presented then addressing issues presented within argument, not attacking authors.

When suggested an author's ethnicity effects validity of their argument presented, can be sure we are listening to a racist.

Graham Ring may be in Alice Springs, however wonder his apparent inability to consider, discuss, town camps as urban developments.

These developments where respective landowners (title deedholders) fail satisfy reasonable requirements expected from urban developers.

These landowners demanding expenditure of public monies, for their private benefit.

Do "National Indigenous Times" columnists feel need maintain public face of ethnic arguments to protect employment ? In preference to substantive argument ?

Housing projects around Australia problems when allow improper influence of ethnicity on substantive decisions.

When community residents denied valid leases, denial of valid leases denies basic rights held by tenants around Australia, eg ability have tradesman come fix something, ability have relations come visit.

When decisions to issue, or not issue, such leases determined by ethicity exists racism.

.

I think Tom Calma works hard for Aboriginal People in exposing deficiencies in government policy in their pursuit of Rights and services we whites take for granted .

Would Pearson or Warren Mundine put their hand up to do his job , even if it came with a half decent Government salary - I don't think so.

It sounds as though the [un] Australian has cranked up again with more unhelpfull press ,inspite of the demise of Howard and the wishes of the Australian Public demanding a better deal for Aboriginal Australians .

Calma was appointed by Howard's mob, then they didn't like the message.

Great article!

I had only noticed The Australian's catch-phrase "The heart of the nation" recently. In my naivety, I had assumed that it had always been there until I read this article. If the Australian is truly the 'heart' of this nation, then I had better consider emigrating.

Anyhow, I think it is good that Graham has drawn our attention to the insidious role that the unAustralian plays in our political system. I think more of us should follow Graham's lead. I try to do my part at http://candobetter.org/PropagandaWatch

Propoganda watch?

More like the Propaganda Times or the Grievance Mongers Weekly.

Paul.L,

If you believe that any of the material on my web site (http://candobetter.org/PropagandaWatch) has not been fair to the Murdoch newsmedia, the Gympie Times, Pravda, the Völkischer Beobachter, or whoever, you are welcome to state why either there or here.

---

This may be slightly off-topic, but I have started a thread "Martin Luther King a population control advocate" at http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=1645&page=0

My understanding is the with public service jobs, the applicant would have had to address all criteria for the position and impress the selction panel. I unsure about the Public Service but in private enterprise, some applicants need to interviews by three separate people in three different location [3X3 rule].

Moreover, the other applicants, indigenous on other Australians, can appeal. SES positions usually require already demonstrated managerial capacities, budgeting ability, teamwork and development skills and a strong academic record. The applicants can appeal and see if the original decision holds or was seen to be invalid.

Race should not play a part in slection or non-selection.

I think the selection procedure in the public service at least is completely insane.

The amount of energy that needs to be expended by man job applicants in order to have a small chance of being selected for one position should be considered scandalous.

There was a time when changing jobs required no more than a few days effort at most for most people. These days it has become an ordeal which can last months.