Racial Villification

THE Aboriginal teenager facing the first charges under Western Australia’s new race-hate laws claims she spoke back to a white woman only after being racially abused herself.

The 15-year-old girl could face up to six months’ detention for allegedly calling 19-year-old Mellissa Blackney a “white slut” during a confrontation in the mining town of Kalgoorlie.

This point-counter point quotes obscures the basic premise that racial villification laws are not the answer. Politicians hold this fond view that legislation alone can change a society but in real life their are a host of other factors.

The case has sparked outrage among some Aboriginal leaders, who say the charge is not in keeping with the intent of the new racial vilification laws.

I beg to differ; the laws as gazetted are all about one race putting down on another. It is not just about whites putting down on blacks. Remember – one country, one law.

Racial Villification laws, like Land Rights are not the answer but the debate will take a year or to arrive at that conclussion