The following article, written by former ABC radio presenter and commentator, Jon Faine [whose aggressive posturing with interviewees I often found distasteful] is rather relevant at this time to the ‘crisis’ [as some would describe it] facing the British Royal Family. I think enough has been presented world-wide in recent days about that issue, so I won’t dwell on it except to say, I felt Jon’s article on this occasion was worth sharing.
With respect especially to the Victoria situation and the processes that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is proposing, I think the context and history of what that issue is referring to be should be made aware to all of us – for too long, we have hidden behind the old format text-book presentations of our State [and Nation’s history] of what our education system, and governments wanted us to believe. Those views have gradually started to change and evolve over recent years, as they should have.
Jon Faine’s comments complement another article in the same edition of the Sunday Age, too lengthy to comment on here, but a useful piece of relevant reading for all who are genuinely interested in how our history really happened, rather than just simply what we were told at school!! Titled ‘Ground Rules’, the writer speaks to First Nations [Indigenous] Victorians and asks the question as to whether telling the truth of this state’s ‘real’ history of it’s response to Aboriginal communities in early settlement days, and even up to modern times in some cases, would lead to a treaty of some sort. For example, one representative states “There is a brutal history down here in the south-west [of Victoria], and that needs to be told…it was domestic terrorism, the way our mob were treated….But there’s this gap in history. This gap is knowledge”. However, as Jon Faine suggests below [on both aspects of his article] for too long, we have put our fingers in our ears and said ‘I would rather not know’!!
In any case, here is Jon’s article for the benefit of those interested in reading further..
Family – and racist past – both Victoria [the State] and the Windsors have racist pasts to face up to. Only one is doing it.
Two appeals were made this week to deal with uncomfortable truths. Meghan, ex-Duchess of Something-or-Other, asked us to believe that at least one person – someone important – in our Australian Royal Household is a racist.
Meanwhile Dan Andrews has unveiled a unique process to consider that colonial Victoria has a racist past – that early settlers held secrets to be divulged if only we go the right way about asking the right questions.
Both are compelling challenges. Both require an unflinching gaze. Both tell us something about ourselves, although many people will put their fingers in their ears and say “I would rather not know”. Here is why they should listen – here is why we MUST listen.
‘Our’ Royals are literally the most entitled people on the planet – it is not possible to be more entitled than having a title. Their insistence on the antiquated protocols and pointless archaic etiquette to match is all evidence of unfathomable privilege. Apparently, they have special blood and by reason of ancient birthright are not like their ‘subjects’.
Whether you like it or not, these feudal concepts linger in our contemporary democracy, and are the foundation fantasy of our Constitution. Despite them being the opposite of that most Australian ethos of a ‘fair go’ for all. Enough is enough. Our continuing dependence on this nonsense is embarrassing.
Meanwhile, the same day, in a case of serendipitous timing, the state government’s ‘Yoo-rrook Justice Commission’ is announced. It is astonishing in its substance and style.
A path to gradually – no doubt very gradually – move to truth telling, reconciliation with Indigenous Victorians and to heal is on offer. Underpinning the idea is the use of what is called restorative justice – like the specialist and successful Koori Court, modelled itself on Maori Courts in NZ.
No government in Australia has dared to allow these questions to be asked – until now we have been too afraid to open those wounds.
But it is not just a commitment to a ‘Royal’ Commission [there it is again … could it not be a Commission of Inquiry? Why do we need the Queen’s imprimatur, but I digress] It is also the unique methodology that Andrews has committed to for the selection and appointment of the commissioners who will do this sensitive job.
Under our Constitution, only the Premier can recommend to the Governor who will be a royal commissioner. Dan Andrews has delegated the selection of the five Yoo-rrook Royal Commissioners to an independent assessment panel. This vetting group will run a public process, seek nominations and check the credentials of those who put their names forward. A short list will be published and the public can comment – favourably or otherwise – about those short listed.
The vetting group of four – two are First Nations leaders, a third a highly qualified Indigenous lawyer who runs the Premier’s Aboriginal affairs policy unit, the fourth a Spanish international lawyer who has worked on truth and healing all over the world – will interview the short-listed candidates and then recommend to the Premier who to appoint as the Royal Commissioners. The chair of the commission and a majority of the five must be Indigenous.
This breaks the fundamental political rule to only start inquiries that find what you ask them to find and recommend what you seek to have recommended. The Premier’s strategy, backed by focus groups and polling, is to press on with reform, to follow the voluntary assisted dying laws, supervised injecting centres, medicinal cannabis, abortion law changes, banning gay conversion ‘therapy’ and a raft of similarly progressive policies. Reconciliation will take time, but that time starts now.
Dan Andrews’ short-term absence resulting from his fractured vertebra has accentuated the dominant role he plays in this administration. As always in politics, senior colleagues keep an eye out for any opportunity for advancement should the Premier retire, move to the private sector or pursue a career change to professional golf. But possible successors are not too animated just now.
His enforced rest will afford him and his family a chance to sample life without the daily stress and hurly-burly of political life and whether he emerges re-invigorated or tempted to leave is anyone’s guess. What is abundantly clear though is that his stamp on this state will continue with the work of Yoo-rrook Commission and other landmark reforms enduring.
.In contrast, the House of Windsor, self-obsessed and more concerned about their showbiz credentials than the well-being of their ‘subjects’, are on borrowed time. Anyone interested in some truth telling in London? If we are going to tell the truth about what happened a few hundred years ago, we must also tell the truth about our no longer fit-for-purpose constitutional monarchy’
[Jonathan Eric Faine AM (born 21 September 1956) is an Australian former radio presenter who hosted the morning program on ABC Radio Melbourne in Melbourne. Faine is recognised as a prominent and influential member of the Australian Jewish community]…
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