Andrew Bolt on Trial

29 April, 2011 08:53 by Dave

Hi all,

It’s been a while since I posted. Things are moving along rapidly here. The team continues to expand and the designers’ drawings are coming through thick and fast! Steve—our artist-in-residence and photographer extraordinaire—will be posting some photos of us all hard work soon.

In the meantime, I just wanted to see if you’ve all been following the Andrew Bolt trial that’s been going on the last couple of weeks. The Herald-Sun columnist and blogger is in hot water over a number of blog posts in which he questioned the Aboriginal identities of a number of Indigenous leaders and artists. His posts accuse a number of leading Indigenous activists and artists of “choosing” to identify as Aboriginal for personal and professional gain. Among those that Bolt targets are artist Bindi Cole, law professor Larissa Behrendt, academic and Yorta Yorta activist Wayne Atkinson, and his brother Native Title Services Victoria chair Graham Atkinson.

Bolt’s posts imply that Aboriginal identity is solely related to biological or racial categorisation. For communities and Aboriginal people themselves, Aboriginality is a much deeper and much more complex question, related to cultural backgrounds, familial and community ties, and self-identification. Bolt has been taken to court by nine Aboriginal leaders and artists who have taken exception to his approach to Aboriginal identity, and he has conceded that he made some major factual errors. He does, however, stand by his claim. The nine claimants are not seeking financial compensation, but rather are asking Bolt and his newspaper for a formal apology, and for the blog posts to be removed.

Here are some articles around the trial. Many commentators, both from the left and right, argue that the outcome will have major implications on journalism and free speech in the press. Others claim that if Bolt is found guilty, it will help promote the complexity of Aboriginal identity and all the cultural, historic, and political factors that influence its formation today.

Dylan Bird in the Sydney Morning Herald:

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/aboriginal-identity-goes-beyond-skin-colour-20110406-1d40r.html

Aboriginal responses on crikey.com.au:

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/04/08/aboriginal-identity-i-never-had-a-choice/

Michael Brull on ABC’s The Drum website:

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/45746.html

Chris Berg in The Age:

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/silenced-in-court-20101002-161x9.html

Open letter from Kungarakan & Gurindji woman Dr. Sue Stanton:

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/2011/04/12/an-open-letter-to-andrew-bolt-from-a-%E2%80%9Chalf-caste%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Cyella-fella%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%9Chalf-breed%E2%80%9D-kungarakan-gurindji-woman/

Also check out this interview with Wathaurung artist and photographer Bindi Cole on how she understands her identity. The interview appears in the upcoming exhibition at the Immigration Museum, 'Identity: Yours, Mine, Ours'. Don't forget to click onto their website to see what they're up to.

Let us know what you think. Do you think this is a matter of free speech? Is cultural identity more than skin colour and how you look? Do you have stories to share about your own experiences?

Dave

<< New Photographs - Eliza Gregory | This weekend in Melbourne >>

Comments (17) popular | oldest | newest

What an appalling situation! You use taxpayers funds to question Bolt's right to free speech, whilst indulging in that very cherished facet of Australian life yourself!!! Utter hypocracy sir!

This is a totally inappropriate post from a government organisation about a matter that is still before the courts. I really would have expected more professionalism from Museum Victoria.

This is a serious contempt of court. What a disgrace. Bolt can't comment but a publicly funded Musuem can.

What an incredibly biased piece! One token conservative and the rest on the other side of the debate for a case that isn't even finalised. Is this an attempt to influence the outcome of the trial? Is this even legal? And even if it is, what is the Museum doing getting involved? Regardless of which side of the debate you sit, this is entirely inappropriate. Just made up my mind about where I'm not going on my holiday.

Shame on you. Take this rubbish down. Of course it's free speech.

I think it's unseemly and irresponsible for a curator at a public museum to present an exhibition on litigation in which judgement is yet to be given. I'm also concerned (and I think all Victorian taxpayers should be) about the spin you've put on the matter. I like your loaded question at the end, "Is cultural identity more than skin colour and how you look", a question that really has nothing to do with the case against Bolt anyway. Of the five linked opinion pieces, four utterly damn Bolt (with one managing reluctantly, scathingly to support his right to free speech), and only one speaks in his favour. Either pull this exhibition, or moderate it. You should set out in full the blog posts, or at least the passages, impugned, and make a sincere effort fairly and dispassionately to set out the arguments on either side. If you insist on including others' commentary, at least make sure it is balanced.

I think Chris Berg's commentary is spot on.

Why is my tax funded Museum engaging in politics?

I think you may be in contempt of court with this article.

Of course it's about free speech. Why shouldn't a journalist be able to question someone who claims to be aboriginal, when they look 'white' and have a non-aboriginal parent? I personally don't agree with Bolt, but I can't see why he should not be allowed to express his own opinion on this matter. Surely we have not got to the stage where we must gag all debate? I think most Australian's would agree that the nine people targeted by Bolt are aboriginal and should be allowed to identify as so. I think both sides should be able to express an opinion.

Mr. Bolt has the good sense and good manners to not comment on the case until the verdict is devlivered. How is it that you as a publicly funded institution find it OK to spruik for the plaintifs. I find this to be grossly unproffesional and an abuse of taxpayers funds. Rod Harrison.

We should all hope that this case is denied. Seeking court action for hurt feelings is not what this country wants or needs. Some people may get a warm feeling in seeing Bolt punished however a precedent will be set and all sorts of unforeseen nonsense will follow.

Thanks to those who responded to this post. We haven’t been able to publish all the comments we received, as some breach our conditions of use for online contributions because they contain offensive language or abusive comments etc.

It’s great that the post has generated so much discussion. One of the things that we’re exploring in the Bunjilaka redevelopment process is Aboriginal identity. We know that this issue is a complex one, but we feel it’s important to explore these topical community issues, and to get our readers’ perspectives on them. We’re looking forward to continuing this discussion as we proceed with the redevelopment, due to open late next year.

Thank you to the curators of Melbourne Museum for this insightful summary of the issues around the Bolt case. Some people in Melbourne need to learn the definition of contempt before accusing people of such actions!

Why can't a non Indigenous curator ask the question? When people visit Bunjilaka at Melbourne Museum that's what they want to discuss and understand. It's not your museum it's everyones including the taxpaying curator. How should Indigenous Identity be discussed? Have any of you even been to Bunjilaka or discussed how an Indigenous person with fair skin feels?

Corruption of any form of funding or employment opportunities should be discussed and investigated freely no matter the race the person involved identifies as imho. I hope this court ruling will not stop the questioning of the legality of funding or employment of future persons no matter the race they identify as for fear of a lawsuit.

The matter may have focussed initially on the effects of the two articles written by Bolt, but has served to focus attention on the nature and scope of "free" speech. If, as a result, others may speak freely about politically sensitive areas such as race, then the episode may yet have positive outcomes. You have played your part by illustrating how one sided the debate on such issues has become, as it would apear that it is only your current bias that has allowed your display to be acceptable to the powers that be.

We love receiving comments, but can’t always respond.

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About this blog

The Bunjilaka redevelopment project will create new and exciting permanent exhibitions in the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, opening to the public in mid-2012.

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Genevieve Grieves is the lead curator on the project and is responsible for the exhibition's content.

Will Patten managed community engagement August–December 2010 to find out Koori communities’ ideas for the new exhibition.

Pete Wilson is the lead designer and will be designing the new exhibition.

Mary Morris is developing content for the exhibition that focuses on south east Australia.

Bliss Jensen is the producer managing the overall development, design and production of the new exhibition.

Lucy De Kretser is researching histories, stories, collections, people and places.

David Slucki is one of the curators responsible for developing stories and finding objects for the exhibition.

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