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You will, I hope, join me in sending thoughts, prayers, and positive energy to those running the Victorian branch of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. As we saw last week, its Melbourne office was besieged by angry and violent anti-vaxxers posing as workers. Windows were smashed, projectiles were thrown, and protesters brawled in the street.
Worst of all, abuse was hurled at CFMEU state secretary John Setka. “Please calm down,” he begged the mob to no avail. It did not matter to them that he was conciliatory and polite, or that he was trying to negotiate with them, or that he was simply highlighting that a shutdown of the construction industry was imminent unless workers observed the government’s vaccination mandate.
But they could not be placated. Setka reiterated his opposition to mandatory vaccinations, yet as he conceded to 3AW host Tom Elliott a few days before, “It is one of the prices we have to pay”. To the dismay of this gentle giant and peacemaker, the protesters were contemptuous of his attitude, effectively saying, “You’re either with us or against us”. Where this obtuse and bullying philosophy comes from is a mystery.
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Surrounded by the hostile mob, Setka was subjected to expletives most foul, his manhood and resilience derided. I do not know about you, but my first thoughts were something along the lines of “Forgive them, John, for they know not what they do”. To top it off, the CFMEU building has been listed as a tier one exposure site, meaning Setka, through no fault of his own, has been forced into isolation. You could say he’s been black-banned.
At first I feared the good name of the CFMEU had been besmirched by this militancy, but apparently this was a plot by far-right activists seeking to discredit the union movement. “They’re not really unionists, they’re just the scum of the earth as far as I’m concerned,” Setka later said. Likewise, Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus claimed the attack on the CFMEU office had been “orchestrated by violent right-wing extremists and anti-vaccination activists”.
“Those exploiting this pressure and seeking to divide people are a danger to us all,” she said. It is refreshing to see McManus is a believer in the rule of law. That wasn’t always the case. Soon after assuming her position as ACTU secretary in 2016, McManus brazenly told the ABC that it was acceptable for unions to disobey “unjust” laws. “I don’t think there’s a problem with breaking it,” she said. At least she and the protesters she condemned last week agree in that respect.
READ MORE:Border wars and Covid histrionics gone to the dogs|Premier faces losing political skin over riots|‘Anti-fascists’ seem to be anarchists, leftists and Jane Caro|‘We don’t know who Jane Caro is’|Press Gallery’s history lesson|As for the claim the protesters outside the CFMEU building were mostly extremists disguised as unionists, turn it up. Investigative journalist Ben Schneiders of The Age noted that “Senior [CFMEU] figures estimated that about 80 to 90 per cent of the protesters were construction workers,” while “Others said they knew many of the people at Monday’s rally as union delegates and members”.
The prize for the ultimate delusion belongs to Guardian columnist Van Badham. “The union was attacked because that’s what fascists do,” she said last week. “This is exactly what happened in Nazi Germany, everybody: the very first place you attack if you’re an incipient fascist movement is a trade union office.”
Some of you will recall the riots at Parliament House at Canberra on August 19, 1996, when an ACTU-organised protest by unionists resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars damage to the building, the smashing and looting of a gift shop, and the injuring of over 60 police officers.
As the Sydney Morning Herald noted on August 31 of that year “ … the CFMEU’s leaders have disassociated the union from the melee, blaming a violent minority of hardline Maoists and builders’ labourers”. Minority my hat. “But an investigation by the Herald has confirmed that CFMEU officials were among those who took part,” the article continued. “Other CFMEU officials were present.” Sound familiar?
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Well you work to earn a living / But on weekends comes the time / You can do whatever turns you on / Get out and clear your mind / Me, I like football / Now there’s a lot of things around / But when you line them up together / The footy wins hands down
Written by Mike Brady and first performed by The Two-Man Band in 1979, the song ‘Up There Cazaly’ is the anthem of Aussie rules. The lyrics resonated even for those of us who grew up in the rugby league-dominated states of NSW and Queensland, as we gradually came to enjoy watching that southern game hitherto in the category of ‘other’.
Following both codes makes for a glorious September. You do not have to be a sports nut to put every weekend aside that month for the footy finals. Elimination matches are by nature captivating and chaotic, such are their heightened tension and unpredictability. When the last match of the season has been played – as will be the case this Sunday following the conclusion of the NRL grand final – it is not unusual to feel a sense of regret verging on ennui. But that quickly dissipates in the knowledge that summer approaches, and with it a season of Test cricket. What’s not to love?
For some, organised sport holds no interest. To suggest, however, that it is a character deficiency on their behalf is nonsensical. Far preferable they freely admit it bores them rather than pretend otherwise, which in the case of public figures is excruciating. Asked on radio in 2008 which club he favoured to win the AFL grand final, then opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull replied, “Well, I have to confess I support in Australian rules the Roosters, who of course aren’t in the grand final”. And most likely they won’t be doing the victory lap at the MCG for a very long time, especially if they insist on remaining a rugby league team.
As for those whose interests are outside sport, we should not fret about how they kept themselves occupied on Saturday evening when the AFL grand final took place between the Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs. Most people in that category undoubtedly were perfectly content doing their own thing. Except for one commentator and author, who was not so much perplexed at this plebeian fascination but instead anxious we should know she felt excluded by it.
“Dear most Aussies, who are the Dees,” a plaintive Jane Caro tweeted during the game. “What is the thing you all care so much about? Actually, no, please (PLEASE) don’t explain. This tweet is just for all those kids like I once was who could not give a toss & felt weird & had to pretend. It’s OK. One day you can just ignore it.”
The enormity of this revelation cannot be stressed enough. Had I the wherewithal, I would have implored officials to end the match, or at least suspend play for a minute’s silence to acknowledge Caro’s suffering. Need I remind them she is a Member of the Order of Australia? Irrespective of the game’s enormous support, AFL CEO Gill McLachlan must personally conduct a review into all facets of the code to ascertain why it marginalises the self-appointed conscience of this country.
As Caro generously added, we would be far better off reading the works of Dickens, Austen, and Gaskell instead of partaking in this vulgar pastime. Regrettably, not all welcomed her advice. Some, no doubt ill-bred types, even reminded her these activities are not mutually exclusive.
At the risk of being labelled impertinent, I would suggest to Caro that she is asking the wrong question. You can appreciate the dynamics of team sports without necessarily being a fan of them. An egocentric individual, however, would have difficulty comprehending this.
And if we are to make judgment about how others occupy their leisure time, then all I will say is enjoying the footy is far preferable to having a skinful and angrily labelling fellow Australians “truculent turds” because they voted for the Coalition. As for all faultfinders who cannot let others enjoy their preferred pursuit because they do not see the worthiness of it, allow me to finish with a paraphrasing of Brady’s stirring chorus. Up yours, complainers.
The Mocker
Follow TheAustraliaThe Mocker amuses himself by calling out poseurs, sneering social commentators, and po-faced officials. He is deeply suspicious of those who seek increased regulation of speech and behaviour. Believing that jou... Read more@Oz_MockerBecause you're following The Mocker, we think you might like more stories from this author. To manage which journalists and stories you see, go to manage followingCommentaryComing to 2022: Dark Igloo, Caro’s Labor pain, Whoopi time
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