OPINION: Fuck Tony Abbott

OPINION: Fuck Tony Abbott

timscrivenTim Scriven

The attacks against Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) for using the word “fuck” on a recent poster are so ridiculous that something has to be said.

First up, let’s deal with the absurd complaints about democracy and representation. CAAH doesn’t claim to represent the queer community. It’s not claiming to speak on your behalf. You don’t have to agree with everything it says. CAAH meetings are open and publicly advertised; everyone is more than welcome to participate. It certainly hasn’t “hijacked” the same-sex marriage campaign, it’s been at the forefront of the campaign from the very beginning, often in the early days it was the only group campaigning on the issue after more mainstream gay groups wrote the cause off as too “extreme”.  CAAH has been consistently organising rallies and actions drawing in hundreds, sometimes thousands of participants. Meanwhile other groups have favoured largely invisible and seemingly meaningless lobbying campaigns. On balance I think it is figures like Roodney Croome who have hijacked the movement, declaring themselves leaders and holding court over what tactics are and aren’t allowed.

Secondly, let’s get real on what the queer rights campaign is going to look like in this environment. Tony Abbott is going to be an ugly, ugly Prime Minister for pretty much everyone who isn’t part of the ruling class. His election signals the determination of Murdoch, Rhinehart et al. to commence a vicious program of austerity, held together by a politics of hate, fear and division among the working people. We all know this to be true, even if we wouldn’t use precisely those words to say it. We need to push back early if we want to limit the damage and reduce the number of items he ticks off his agenda.

CAAH has taken the admirable step of signalling early that they won’t nod sagely while he destroys lives, mumbling that at least he has a “mandate”. They’re carving out a space for a resistance to Tony that is stiff and fierce – not some pliant “loyal opposition”.  They’re getting in early, setting the tone, and not waiting till it’s too late.

The advocates of moderation keep saying that tone matters, and I agree. The pleading, falsely “positive” tone they suggest; fiercely on message and fiercely single issue, will at very best scrape through marriage equality. It definitely won’t create the kind of fight-back we need to defend our community against broader attacks on youth services, community organisations and Medicare.

We need to energise opposition if we want gay marriage passed, let alone if we want to protect our community from Abbott’s broader agenda. Any idea that we’re on the home stretch and just need to do a little sweet talking should have been thoroughly discredited by Abbott’s election.  It’s time to toughen up.

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7 responses to “OPINION: Fuck Tony Abbott”

  1. If CAAH does not seek to represent or speak on behalf the the queer community I have to ask who are they acting on behalf of in thier fight against homophobia? Dolphins? Stick insects? And lemmings? What is thier cause? Or purpose? It sounds like a political recruitment operation to me. I wish them luck and hope that maybe thier cause will one day also represent the queer community and the people being subjected to homophobia as well.

  2. First up Tim Scriven the name your group uses is COMMUNITY Action Against Homophobia. This title implies that you ARE speaking for the community and because of that you need to do it in a respectful manor. If you can’t communicate your point without using profanity, vulgarity, intimidation or violence then you are not providing a very good argument and you are descending to a lower moral position than those you attack.

    Secondly while you might think someone like Rodney Croome has ‘hijacked’ the movement, most of us remember Rodney working for the GLBTI community for well over 20 years. If you didn’t know that maybe you should do some research.

    Thirdly it is only your opinion that Abbott is going to be ‘an ugly Prime Minister’ so I’d prefer that you don’t project your opinions into the wider community on my behalf.

    Lastly your wild conspiracy theories about some kind of conservative cabal of Abbott, Murdoch and Rhinehart show me and probably many others that you are just a little unhinged and probably not the person to be speaking on behalf of well meaning community organisations.

  3. Sorry, this is a poor response – the language is wrong for marriage equity. You are not the forefront you are just the people who launched into it first, how can another group compete with the rent a crowd you bring

    Listen to the community – throttle back

  4. I understand you wish to help but swearing and acting like a child will not open the path for dialogue . We need a grown up approach with sense . Not name calling and badgering . If u want to use it you won’t be acting on my behalf . Thank u very much