Tie them down

Has Rolf Harris met Gerry Harvey?* Because when it comes to casting ill-natured judgement upon the voiceless and vulnerable, they appear to be of one spirit. This is from today's Age:

"Aboriginal children were never disciplined or expected to adhere to rules until adulthood, the 78-year-old [wobbleboard virtuoso] said in Melbourne. 'Till then, they have a totally carefree life to do what they want, and that quite often involves smashing everything that they have.'"

Does the former British Paints spokesperson have any evidence to back up such a broad brush assertion? He doesn't say (or it wasn't reported); but, mercifully, he does offer us a solution to the problem of generational dispossession, discrimination and disadvantage among Aboriginal peoples: they should "get off their arses."

Interesting that he now regrets including the lines "let me Abos go loose" and "they're of no further use" in the original recordings of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. He appeals to historical context when he says:

"It was a mark of the times, done totally innocently with no realisation that you would offend at all … just trying to create a fun song for a bunch of Aussies who were drinking themselves stupid on Swan Lager in London at the time."

What a shame our nation's most zany royal portraitist didn't also appeal to historical context when mouthing off about Aboriginal dysfunction.

Interesting, also, that at his Melbourne appearance yesterday he was wearing a Ken Done tie. I suppose Ken is a mate of Rolf's. One of the blokes he might have clinked Swan Larger stubbies with in a London pub many years ago.

Actually, considering that he is suffering extreme disadvantage himself at present, Ken should thank Rolf for promoting some of his merchandise.**


* The billionaire land-fill merchant who recently described homeless people as no-hopers.
** Due to an overabundance of honour (or trust, I suppose), Ken, a celebrated placemat decorator with commercial interests in primary colours and souvenir depictions of someone else's Sydney, allowed his financial advisor to whittle away a $61.5 million dollar fortune over a four year period to merely $8 million.