Education in NSW prisons -- L-edukazzjoni fil-ħabsijiet ta' NSW

 

Currently, for those condemned to spend time in NSW prisons, there are opportunities for education that some inmates in this state decide to take.

 

As probably everyone can appreciate, a good level of education is of great help (though not essential) for one to be able to form part of society, participate productively in the nation's economic life and provide materially to the daily needs of family and self.

 

On the other hand, a low level of education reduces opportunities during life, is a major factor in a low income and may lead to criminality.

 

Therefore, one can understand that education is a platform of the struggle against crime, both in avoiding one being attracted to participate in a criminal act, and if one has already fallen into this trap, to have a foundation to take part in new activity which is not criminal.

 

The most fundamental education is naturally that of literacy and numeracy.  In fact, one might be surprised to read that today, in 2016, you could encounter so many people in whom this ability is lacking, and especially so in prison inmates.  Statistics show that 10% of prisoners in NSW say that their literacy level is an impediment to their search for work and/or further study.1

 

Today, in certain jails and under several conditions, inmates can learn a number of trades, such as warehousing, forklift driving and others.  Currently, 21.9% of those eligible participate in such education.  Until the end of their period of custody, these inmates finish their sentence, not only with ugly memories of a long time away from their family, but with a TAFE certificate recognised around Australia that can help them find work as soon as they step out of their jail.

 

I'd like to add that, exceptionally, there are 0.6% of eligible prisoners who are also studying in advanced educational programs, which includes a university degree.  One cannot not see in the inmates undertaking this study, a will (at least while being in jail) of changing their lives radically as soon as their sentence is over.

 

I remember, while in Malta, a particular inmate who was studying at the University there while serving time, and was impressed by his newfound sense of having an aim in life, an acceptance that his past life had to change, and an appreciation of the opportunity that was being provided him.

 

Here in NSW, this year the state government has just announced a radical change in the correctional services education system.  The government has stated2 it aims to double the rate of prisoners participating in literacy and numeracy (which today amount to 3.8% of eligible inmates in NSW)3, and that this kind of tuition does not necessarily need to be provided by professional teachers4, which includes those qualified in adult education.

 

I understand the government intention being that non-professional teachers be employed by private education operators, which are paid less than teachers today so that the government can pay less per inmate than it does today, resulting in the service being potentially more widespread.

That the tuition be done by non-professionals is far from being ideal, however this is not what is worrying me most.

 

Although the government is saying that it also wants to increase vocational education (i.e. the learning of trades) by 20%, the NSW Federation of Teachers is saying that the government intends to stop industrial courses leading to a TAFE certification, such as First Aid, forklift driving, Food Hygiene and Safety and others, and reduce other courses like carpentry, laundry and others.5

 

I don't know whether this termination or reduction of courses is really happening, however if so will be a big blow to the prospects of prison inmates after they are released.  Apart from this, I think this step would go against government policy to reduce the reoffending rate by 5% by 2019.6  The positive of having more inmates having literacy and numeracy would be offset by the negative of other inmates being unable to take a further step beyond that, and therefore this step would be counter-productive.

 

Until today, inmates studying and obtaining a trade certificate while in prison, have the prospect of an adequately paid career after leaving jail.  With the proposals that are being mentioned, this possibility seems no longer to be there, always if what's being reported by the Teachers Federation is correct.

 

I say, is this really the limit of society's ambition for those people who have their brush with the law?  What will happen to those inmates who already have a basic level of education and would like to utilise productively their period locke up by improving their education?  Shall we take away one of the few prospects of positive activity they have in jail?

 

Is it possible that at the same time of the government investing a $3.8 billion expansion in corrective services,7 is there a need to cut investment in teaching of trades?  Is not the use of non-professional teachers to teach literacy and numeracy not enough?  When one recalls that NSW is the wealthiest state in Australia, and this year is estimated to have a surplus of around $4 billion, is there really the need for this step?

 

I think this is penny pinching gone too far.  As a society that has a corrective services system, where jails are a place for correction and rehabilitation, I believe we all have an interest that a prison inmate, if he/she enters a jail, does so once and once only.  If what is being said about the NSW government's intentions is true, this would be one step forward and another back.

 

My hope is that the reduction in vocational courses reported by the NSW Teachers Federation is unfounded.

 

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Bħalissa, għal dawk li jiġu kkundannati fil-ħabsijiet ta' NSW, hemm xi opportunitajiet ta' edukazzjoni li wħud mill-ħabsin ta' dan l-istat jiddiċiedu li jutilizzaw.

 

Bħal ma probabbilment kulħadd japprezza, livell ta' edukazzjoni tajba hija importanti (imma mhux essenzjali) sabiex wieħed ikun jista' jifforma parti mis-soċjetà, jipparteċipa b'mod produttiv fil-ħajja ekonomika tal-pajjiż, u jipprovdi materjalment għall-bżonnijiet ta' kuljum tal-familja tiegħu u tiegħu nnifsu.

 

Mill-banda l-oħra, livell ta' edukazzjoni baxxa tnaqqas l-opportunitajiet matul il-ħajja, hija fattur prinċipali għal dħul baxx u tista' twassal għall-kriminalità.

 

Għalhekk, wieħed jista' jifhem li l-edukazzjoni hija pilastru tal-ġlieda kontra l-kriminalità, kemm li nevitaw li wieħed jitħajjar jipparteċipa f'att kriminali, u jekk wieħed ikun waqa' f'din in-nassa, biex ikollu l-pedament biex jieħu sehem f'attività ġdida li mhix waħda kriminali.

 

L-iktar edukazzjoni fundamenta naturalment hi li bniedem ikun jaf jikteb, jaqra u jgħodd (literacy and numeracy).  Fil-fatt, wieħed jista' jiskanta jaqra kif illum, fl-2016, għadek issib tant u tant persuni li din l-abbiltà m'għandhomx, u l-ħabsin b'mod partikulari.  L-istatistika turi li 10% tal-ħabsin f'NSW jgħidu li l-livel ta' litteriżmu tagħhom huwa impediment fit-tiftix tagħhom għax-xogħol u/jew għal studju ieħor.1

 

Illum ukoll, f'ċertu ħabsijiet u taħt diversi kundizzjonijiet, ħabsin jistgħu jitgħallmu diversi snajja, bħax-xogħol fl-imħażen, is-sewqan tal-forklifts u oħrajn.  Bħalissa, 21.9% ta' dawk eliġibbli jipparteċipaw f'edukazzjoni ta' dan it-tip.  Sat-tmiem tal-priġunerija tagħhom, dawn il-ħabsin jispiċċaw is-sentenza tagħhom, mhux biss b'memorji koroh ta' żmien twil 'il bogħod mill-familja tagħhom imma b'ċertifikat tat-TAFE rikonoxxut mal-Awstralja kollha li jista' jgħinhom isibu xogħol malli jgħaddu 'l barra mill-għatba tal-ħabs.

 

Inżid ukoll li eċċezzjonalment, hemm 0.6% tal-ħabsin eliġibbli li qed jistudjaw fi programmi avvanzati ta' edukazzjoni, li jinkludu lawrja minn università.  Wieħed ma jistax ma jarax f'dawk il-ħabsin li qed jistudjaw, rieda (talinqas waqt li qiegħdin il-ħabs) li jibdlu ħajjithom radikalment malli tispiċċalhom is-sentenza tagħhom.

 

Jien stess niftakar, meta kont Malta, lil ħabsi partikulari, li kien qiegħed jistudja l-Università t'hemmhekk waqt li kien qed jiskonta s-sentenza tiegħu, u kont impressjonat bis-sens ġdid ta' skop f'ħajtu, bl-aċċettazzjoni li l-ħajja tiegħu tal-imgħoddi kellha tinbidel, u tal-apprezzament tal-opportunità li kienet qiegħda tingħatalu.

 

Hawnhekk f'NSW, din is-sena l-gvern statali għadu kif ħabbar bidla radikali tas-sistema tal-edukazzjoni fil-ħabsijiet.  Il-gvern stqarr2 li jrid jirdoppja r-rata ta' ħabsin li jipparteċipaw f'programmi ta' litteriżmu u numeriżmu (li llum ilaħħqu 3.8% tal-ħabsin eliġibbli f'NSW)3, u li dan it-tip ta' tagħlim m'hemmx għalfejn jiġi mogħti minn għalliema professjonali4, li jinkludi dawk li huma kkwalifikati fit-tagħlim tal-adulti.  

 

Jien nifhem li l-intenzjoni tal-gvern tkun li jiġu mpjegati  għalliema li mhumiex professjonali ma' operaturi privati tal-edukazzjoni, li jitħallsu inqas mill-għalliema tal-lum u għalhekk il-gvern ikun jista' jħallas inqas għal kull ħabsi, sabiex is-servizz ikun iktar mifrux.

Li t-tagħlim isir minn min mhux professjonali huwa l-bogħod milli jkun ideali, imma din mhix l-iktar ħaġa li qed tinkewetani.

 

Għalkemm il-gvern qiegħed jgħid ukoll li jrid iżid l-edukazzjoni vokazzjonali (jiġifieri tas-snajja) b'20%, qed jingħad mill-Federazzjoni tal-Għalliema ta' NSW li l-gvern beħsiebu jwaqqaf korsijiet industrijali li jwasslu għal ċertifikazzjoni mit-TAFE, bħall-Ewwel Għajnuna, it-sewqan tal-forklifts, l-Iġjene u s-Sigurtà fl-Ikel u oħrajn, u jnaqqas korsijiet bħal dawk ta' mastrudaxxa, londri (laundry) u oħrajn.5

 

Jien ma nafx jekk dan it-twaqqif u/jew tnaqqis ta' korsijiet hux minnu, imma jekk iva naħseb li dan ikun daqqa ta' ħarta għall-prospetti tal-ħabsin wara li jispiċċaw is-sentenza tagħhom.  Mhux hekk biss, imma nara li dan il-pass imur kontra l-politika tal-gvern li titnaqqas ir-rata ta' nies li jerġgħu jidħlu l-ħabs (reoffending rate) b'5% sal-2019.6  It-tajjeb li iktar ħabsin isiru jafu l-kitba u n-numri ikun mnaqqas sew jekk oħrajn ma jitħallewx javvanzaw ftit iktar minn hekk, u għalhekk dan il-pass ikun kontra-produċenti.

 

Sal-lum, ħabsin li jistudjaw u jakkwistaw ċertifikat ta' sengħa waqt li jkunu l-ħabs, għandhom prospett ta' karriera adekwatament mħallsa meta joħorġu mill-ħabs.  Bil-proposti li qed jissemmew, din il-possibiltà tidher li mhix se tibqa' hemm, dejjem jekk dak li qiegħdin jgħidu l-Federazzjoni tal-Għalliema huwa minnu.

 

Jien ngħid, possibbli li dan hu l-limitu ta' ambizzjoni tas-soċjetà tagħna għal dawk in-nies li jxellfu difrejhom mal-ġustizzja?  X'se jiġri minn dawk il-ħabsin li diġa għandhom livell bażiku ta' edukazzjoni u jixtiequ jużaw produttivament iż-żmien ta' qafla tagħhom billi jtejbu l-edukazzjoni tagħhom?  Se noħdulhom waħda mill-ftit prospetti ta' attività pożittiva li għandhom fil-ħabs?

 

Possibbli li fl-istess żmien li l-gvern se jinvesti espansjoni ta' $3.8 biljun fis-settur tas-servizzi korrettivi,7 hemm bżonn li nqaċċtu investiment fit-tagħlim tas-snajja għalihom?  Li jintużaw għalliema mhux professjonali biex jitgħallmu l-litteriżmu u n-numeriżmu mhux biżżejjed?  Meta  wieħed jiftakar li NSW hu l-iktar stat għani fl-Awstralja, u li din is-sena huwa stmat li wara li jitnaqqas il-ħruġ mid-dħul se jibqa' madwar $4 biljun, verament hemm bżonn ta' pass bħal dan?

 

Jien dan narah tqanċiċ żejjed.  Bħala soċjetà li għandha sistema korrettiva, fejn il-ħabsijiet huma postijiet ta' korrezzjoni u rijabilitazzjoni, nemmen li lkoll għandna interess li l-ħabsi, jekk jidħol il-ħabs, jagħmel hekk darba biss.  Jekk hu veru dak li qed jingħad li huma l-intenzjonijiet tiegħu, il-gvern ta' NSW ikun qiegħed jagħmel pass 'il quddiem, u ieħor lura.

 

Ix-xewqa tiegħi hija li t-tnaqqis fil-korsijiet vokazzjonali rrappurtat mill-Federazzjoni tal-Għalliema ta' NSW huwa infondat.

 

 

 

1Statistitical Profile: Characteristics of NSW Inmate Receptions; Corrective Services NSW; 1st Edition; February 2013

2http://www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CSNSW%20Fact%20Sheets/better%20prisons/Better_Factsheet_8_InmateEducationVocationalTraining_INTERNET_050516_2.pdf, retrieved 13/12/2016

3Report on Government Services 2016; Australian Government; Table 8A.21

4http://education.nswtf.org.au/education18/news-features-1/prison-teachers-strike, retrieved 13/12/2016

5Prison teachers appalled as Baird Government slashes gaol education; NSW Teachers Federation Media Release; 1/12/2016

6https://www.nsw.gov.au/news/inmates-get-more-training, retrieved 13/12/2016

7http://www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Better-Prisons, retrieved 13/12/2016

1Statistitical Profile: Characteristics of NSW Inmate Receptions; Corrective Services NSW; 1st Edition; February 2013

2http://www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CSNSW%20Fact%20Sheets/better%20prisons/Better_Factsheet_8_InmateEducationVocationalTraining_INTERNET_050516_2.pdf, retrieved 13/12/2016

3Report on Government Services 2016; Australian Government; Table 8A.21

4http://education.nswtf.org.au/education18/news-features-1/prison-teachers-strike, retrieved 13/12/2016

5Prison teachers appalled as Baird Government slashes gaol education; NSW Teachers Federation Media Release; 1/12/2016

6https://www.nsw.gov.au/news/inmates-get-more-training, retrieved 13/12/2016

7http://www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/Better-Prisons, retrieved 13/12/2016

18C

 

A current hot topic in Australia is referred to as 18C, which is a section of the Racial Discrimination Act1 that does not permit a citizen of this country to insult, offend, humiliate or intimidate a person or group, based on the race, (skin) colour, national or ethnic origin.  This Act was passed in Australia in the 1975 parliament during the Labor administration of Gough Whitlam and amended a number of times since.

 

A reasonable proposition, I would have imagined, but not according to some of our parliamentary representatives and other commentators, which look at this restriction as going against freedom of expression.  There are currently two initiatives in the Australian Senate - one to reduce the protection of 18C, by removing references to humiliate or offend, and the other to remove all protections.

 

The government has also initiated an inquiry into this law.  I ask, why all this interest?  Whom are we trying to accommodate?

 

I have always learnt that when speaking, I need to show respect with those whom I'm addressing.  This does not mean not saying what I want to say, but saying it while conscious as much as possible of the sensibilities of the individual, his beliefs or those of the ethnic or cultural group he identifies with.

 

A country often includes several ethnic minority groups, when compared with the population of the predominant culture (which in Australia is not even aboriginal).  Because this situation easily lends itself to cultural misunderstandings which can in turn lead to disputes between groups, especially between members of the predominant group with the others, wise leaders in democratic countries interested in harmonious coexistence between the groups, present laws in parliament that limit freedom of expression with this aim, with limits that are felt to be reasonable.

 

The United Kingdom, for example, also has similar provisions in the 2010 Equality Act, where Article 26 prohibits someone from creating an environment which is intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive, based on a number of characteristics, which includes race but are even broader in scope2.

 

I used to think, and accept, that freedom should come with responsibility, failing which we would have anarchy.  However it seems that several influential persons in this country are of the view that these limits are not reasonable, have no place, or need to be diminished.

 

From the current members of parliament, Cory Bernardi (white, Liberal Senator) has petitioned to remove the references to offend or insult3; George Brandis (white, Liberal Senator) is known for his position that people have a right to be bigots4; and I could go on with David Leyonhjelm (white, Liberal-Democrat Senator) and others.

 

It was interesting to note that these views were being expressed mainly by white people.  I've always noted how white people, when asked, will say that they never felt some form of racism, discrimination, or even that subtle contempt in the attitude of someone from the predominant culture.  In the past I had mentioned some examples5.  It is so difficult for these people to appreciate the sense of sadness, disappointment and discouragement for those on the receiving side.

 

Pauline Hanson (forgive my observation of being white, Senator for One Nation) even implied in the Senate that it's been good that the country's immigrants to have been labelled wogs (which was a pejorative term from white Anglo-Saxons to all those that weren't, like the Maltese, Italians, Chinese, Yugoslavs etc) as this was an incentive for these groups to become part of the community and assimilate6.

 

Yes, indeed!  The Maltese should really be grateful to the residents of the country for making their lives hell as soon as these wogs arrived.  The 214 Maltese on the Gange ship were surely filled with passionate haste to become one with their new society when they weren't allowed to disembark after their long voyage at sea in 1916, and instead of making port at Melbourne had to go to shore in Noumea, New Caledonia, where they remained in exile for 3 months7.  This was done in an environment of extreme pressure by the Australian Workiers Union and the then Labor Party, about an 'invasion by the Maltese' which were coming to take the work of Australians.  Familiar?

 

Perhaps these Maltese were the first example of the turn-back-the-boats policy for asylum seekers, a policy of both the Liberal and Labor parties of today.

 

The offence caused by continuous slurs of 'wog', and the discrimination shown to him by the whites inhabiting Australia, were such that my uncle never accepted to become an Australian citizen, even when this was his right, even after having lived around 50 years in this country having come here in the 1950s.  He kept maintaining this until his death, speaking about his early years in this country with evident hurt in the tone of his voice.  He never felt accepted in this country.

 

Insults and racial slurs hurt, and have no positive effect, Mrs Hanson.  They reflect upon the incomprehension and ignorance of those who make them, not on the minority on the receiving end.  Furthermore, they might provoke a reaction, and with one word leading to another the situation may quickly deteriorate.  Do we want to live in a tolerant society, where discussions are held with respect, or a society of stigmas, shouting, insults and fights?  Isn't there enough tension already?

 

To answer my own initial question, I consider this interest in reducing protection against racial discrimination as another attempt of right wing forces in this country, to stop the haemorrhage of votes which are being attracted by the extreme right today, starting with One Nation.  The latter are clearly delighted to be observing members of established parties, supposedly centrist, adopting their extremist policies.

 

I note that the law in question already has protection, in the next section, 18D, for what is said reasonably and in good faith in works of art, in the national interest, or that scrupulously and justly reflect the facts.

 

It is therefore my view that there is no need for any substantial changes.  The fear of an increase in racial attacks (triggered with words or some image) in this country, as has happened in the United States after Donald Trump's victory there, I believe should encourage our representatives to be prudent and not fan the flames of intolerance.

I say that these changes, as proposed today, should be resisted.

 

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Fl-Awstralja, bħalissa hawn suġġett jaħraq u topiku, irreferut bħala 18C, li hija sezzjoni tal-Att tal-Liġi fuq id-Diskriminazzjoni Razzjali1 li ma tippermettix lil ċittatidin tal-pajjiż milli jinsulenta, joffendi, jumilja jew jintimida lil persuna jew grupp, minħabba r-razza, il-kulur (tal-ġilda) jew l-oriġni nazzjonali jew etnika tiegħu jew tagħhom.  Dan l-Att kien għadda fl-Awstralja fil-parlament fl-1975 ta' żmien l-amministrazzjoni Laburista ta' Gough Whitlam u ammendat diversi drabi.  

 

Ħaġa raġjonevoli, kont nimmaġina, imma mhux skont uħud mir-rappreżentanti tagħna fil-parlament u kummentaturi oħra, li jaraw li din ir-restrizzjoni tmur kontra l-libertà tal-espressjoni.  Bħalissa hemm żewġ inizjattivi fis-Senat Awstraljan - wieħed li titnaqqas il-protezzjoni tal-18C, billi jitneħħew referenzi għal li wieħed jumilja jew joffendi, u l-inizjattiva l-oħra hi li jitneħħew il-protezzjonijiet kollha.

 

Il-gvern ukoll fetaħ inkjesta fuq din il-liġi.  Jien nistaqsi, dan l-interess kollu għaliex?  Lil min irridu naġevolaw?

 

Issa jien dejjem tgħallimt li meta nitkellem, għandi nuri rispett lejn dak li miegħu qiegħed nitkellem.  Dan ma jfissirx li dak li għandi ngħidlu ma ngħidux, imma ngħidu konxju kemm jista' jkun tas-sensibbilitajiet tal-individwu, tat-twemminiet tiegħu jew tal-grupp etniku jew kulturali li jidentifika ruħu miegħu.

 

F'pajjiż ġieli jkun hemm diversi gruppi etniċi f'minoranza żgħira, meta mqabbla mal-popolazzjoni tal-kultura predominanti (li fl-Awstralja lanqas mhi dik indiġena aboriġena).  Minħabba li f'din is-sitwazzjoni huwa faċli li inkomprensjonijiet kulturali jistgħu iwasslu għal inkwiet bejn il-gruppi, speċjalment bejn membri tal-grupp predominanti ma' dawk tal-oħrajn, mexxejja għaqlin li jinteressahom l-armonija u l-konvivenza bejn il-gruppi, f'pajjiżi demokratiċi, jressqu liġijiet fil-parlament li jillimitaw il-libertà tal-espressjoni b'dan it-tir, b'limiti li jinħassu raġjonevoli.

 

Ir-Renju Unit għandha provvenimenti simili fl-Att tal-2010 dwar l-Ugwaljanza, fejn l-Artiklu 26 jipprojbixxi li persuna tikkrea ambjent intimidanti, ostili, degradanti, umiljanti jew offensiv, abbażi ta' diversi karatteristiċi, li jinkludu r-razza imma huma anke iktar wiesgħa.2

 

Jien kont naħseb, u naċċetta, li l-libertà għandha tiġi mar-responsabbiltà, inkella dan ikun libertinaġġ.  Imma jidher li hawn diversi persuni influenti fil-pajjiż li jidhrilhom li dawn il-limiti mhumiex raġjonevoli, m'hawnx posthom, jew hemm bżonn li jitnaqqsu.

 

Mill-membri parlamentari preżenti, Cory Bernardi (abjad, Senatur Liberali) għamel petizzjoni biex jitneħħew ir-referenzi għal li wieħed ma jistax joffendi jew jinsulta;3 George Brandis (abjad, Senatur Liberali) huwa magħruf għall-posizzjoni tiegħu li n-nies għandhom id-dritt li jkunu bigotti;4 u nista' nibqa' sejjer b'David Leyonhjelm (abjad, Senatur Liberali-Demokratiku) u oħrajn.

 

Kien interessanti li ninnota li dawn il-veduti qed jiġu vventilati l-iktar minn nies ta' karnaġġjon bajda.  Jien  dejjem innutajt kif ħafna nies ta' karnaġġjon bajda, meta tistaqsihom, jgħidulek li qatt ma ħassew xi forma ta' razziżmu, jew diskriminazzjoni, jew talinqas dak id-disprezz sottili fl-atteġġjament ta' min jiġi mill-kultura predominanti.  Fil-passat jien kont semmejt xi eżempji5.  Kemm hu diffiċli li japprezzaw kemm ħaġa bħal din hija ta' dieqa, diżappunt u skuraġġiment għal min qed jaqlagħha.

 

Pauline Hanson (skużawni nosserva li wkoll bajda, Senatur ta' One Nation), saħansitra implikat fis-Senat li hu tajjeb li l-immigranti fil-pajjiż kienu jiġu mgħajra wogs, (li kienet tabella peġorattiva applikata mill-bojod Anglo-Sassoni tal-pajjiż għal dawk kollha li ma kinux, bħall-Maltin, it-Taljani, iċ-Ċiniżi, il-Jugoslavi eċċ) għax din kienet inċentiva lill-dawn il-gruppi biex isiru parti mill-komunità u jassimilaw.6

 

Iva, tabilħaqq.  Il-Maltin għandhom għalfejn jirringrazzjaw lin-nies tal-post fil-pajjiż talli għamlulhom ħajjithom infern malli waslu dawn il-wogs.  Il-214 Malti fuq il-vapur Gange aktarx imtlew bil-passjoni tal-ħeġġa li jsiru ħaġa waħda mas-soċjetà il-ġdida tagħhom meta ma tħallewx jinżlu l-Awstralja wara passaġġ twil fuq il-baħar fl-1916, u minflok f'Melbourne kellhom isalpaw f'Noumea, New Caledonia, fejn damu eżiljati tliet xhur.7  Dan sar f'ambjent ta' pressjoni kbira mill-Australian Workers Union u l-Partit Laburista ta' dakinhar, dwar 'invażjoni mill-Maltin' li ġejjin jieħdu x-xogħol tal-Awstraljani.  Familjari?

 

Forsi dawn il-Maltin kienu l-ewwel eżempju tal-politika li jiddawwar it-tmun tad-dgħajsa ta' dawk ġejjin lejn il-pajjiż biex ifittxu l-ażil, politika li l-Liberali u l-Laburisti ta' llum iħaddnu.

 

Tant kienet kbira l-offiża li ħass bit-tgħajjir kontinwu ta' wog, u bid-diskriminazzjoni li wrew miegħu il-bojod tal-post, li zijuwi qatt m'aċċetta li jsir ċittadin tal-Awstralja, anke meta kellu d-dritt għaliha, anke wara li għex madwar ħamsin sena f'dan il-pajjiż wara li kien ġie fil-ħamsinijiet wara l-gwerra.  U baqa' jsostni dan sakemm miet, jitkellem fuq il-perjodu bikri tiegħu f'dan il-pajjiż b'uġigħ evidenti fit-ton tiegħu.  Qatt ma ħass li dan il-pajjiż kien aċċettah.

 

L-insulti u t-tgħajjir razzjali jweġġgħu, u m'għandhom l-ebda effett pożittiv, Sinjura Hanson.  Jirriflettu fuq l-inkomprensjoni u l-injuranza ta' min jagħmilhom, mhux fuq il-minoranza ta' min jaqlagħhom.   Apparti hekk, jistgħu jipprovokaw reazzjoni., u kelma ġġib lil oħra s-sitwazzjoni malajr tiġġenera.  Aħna rridu ngħixu f'soċjetà ta' tolleranza, fejn isir diskussjoni bir-rispett, jew soċjetà ta' tgħajjir, għajjat, insulti u ġlied?  Mhux diġà hawn tensjoni biżżejjed?

 

Biex inwieġeb il-mistoqsija tiegħi tal-bidu, dan l-interess li jitnaqqsu l-protezzjonijiet kontra d-diskriminazzjoni razzjali narah attentat ieħor ta' elementi tal-forzi tal-lemin tal-pajjiż, sabiex titwaqqaf l-emorraġija ta' votanti li qed jiġu attirati mill-estremisti tal-lemin tal-lum, ibda minn One Nation.  Dawn tal-aħħar b'ħalqhom tiċrita waħda josservaw membri ta' partiti stabbiliti, suppost ċentristi, jħaddnu l-politika estremista tagħhom.

 

Jien ninnota li l-liġi li qed nitkellmu fuqha diġà għandha protezzjoni, fis-sezzjoni ta' wara, 18D, għal dak li jingħad raġjonevolment u b'rieda tajba f'xogħolijiet artistiċi, fl-interess nazzjonali, jew li jirrifletti b'reqqa u b'ġustizzja l-fatti.

 

Jien għalhekk naħseb li m'hemm bżonn tal-ebda bidla sostanzjali.  Il-biża' li jiżdiedu l-attakki (fil-bidu bil-kliem jew b'xi stampa) razzjali f'dan il-pajjiż, bħal ma' ġara fl-Istati Uniti wara r-rebħa ta' Donald Trump hemmhekk, naħseb għandu jħeġġeġ lir-rappreżentanti tagħna li jkunu prudenti u ma jħallux li jitrewħu l-fjammi tal-intolleranza.

 

Jien ngħid li dawn il-bidliet, kif proposti llum, jeħtieġ li jiġu reżistiti.

 

 

1Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Australian Commonwealth.

2http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/26, retrieved 28/11/2016

3http://www.corybernardi.com/18c_petition, retrieved 28/11/2016

4http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/brandis-defends-right-to-be-a-bigot/5341552, retrieved 28/11/2016

5Riflessjonijiet ta' Wog, Ivan Cauchi, The Voice of the Maltese, No. 103

6Australian Commonwealth Senate Hansard, 24th November 2016, p.12

7Conscription 1916: Who were the 'Maltese children of Billy Hughes'?, Barry York, The Voice of the Maltese, No. 141

1Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Australian Commonwealth.

2http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/26, retrieved 28/11/2016

3http://www.corybernardi.com/18c_petition, retrieved 28/11/2016

4http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/brandis-defends-right-to-be-a-bigot/5341552, retrieved 28/11/2016

5Riflessjonijiet ta' Wog, Ivan Cauchi, The Voice of the Maltese, No. 103

6Australian Commonwealth Senate Hansard, 24th November 2016, p.12

7Conscription 1916: Who were the 'Maltese children of Billy Hughes'?, Barry York, The Voice of the Maltese, No. 141