Alan Tudge MP Acting Minister of Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs 12 November 2020 Dear Minister Tudge, This letter is to request your Government take immediate steps towards addressing Senator Eric Abetzâs conduct during the Senate Hearing held on Wednesday, 14 October 2020 on Issues Facing Diaspora Communities, where he explicitly asked⦠âHave you not read the terrible trolling that I receive? Catch up on SBS On Demand. The Good Sauce is the first right-of-centre source of videos and podcasts by so many independent voices from Australia. âThe ethnic or cultural background of a judge of the American Supreme Court is irrelevant to the gentlemenâs judgements.â It wasn’t about your physical ethnicity, but your political toxicity, evidenced by your first thought in your written submission. Again, these hard-to-credit-as-well-meaning folks are confusing ideas (the proper business of politics) with identities. Ms Jiang, an ANU researcher, told SBS News she was "very, very shocked to hear that question". ... (Twitter/ABC News) The line of questioning received a swift backlash on social media, and was criticised by Australiaâs Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan. While at University, Eric worked as a part-time taxi driver and farm hand. What’s so hard about that, you may well ask. The Energiser Bunny of perpetually-offended victims hyperventilated that being asked to condemn human rights abuses was “McCarthyist racism”. Ms Chau, a Labor candidate for Melbourneâs deputy mayorship, voiced her disappointment that Chinese Australians had been singled out to denounce the regime, asking Senator Abetz if his allegiance to Australia had been questioned because he was born in Germany. Passed by a small majority. âIt is absolutely very tiring to be having to answer all these questions - not only do you have to answer them in public, you also need to answer them in a public Senate hearing,â she told SBS News. The only guaranteed way to guard against corporate censorship is to go direct to the source and bypass the strangers deciding what you shouldn't see & read. âIf Mr Chiu, a prominent Chinese-Australian from a 'progressive' think tank ⦠cannot bring himself to denounce a regime that continually and systematically commits human rights abuses, there is no hope for the Chinese diaspora in Australia to speak out.â, My views on China are on the record but Iâm not gonna be goaded by a right-wing Senator into a gotcha loyalty test. "No Australian should have their loyalty to this country questioned or undermined because of their ethnic origin, nor should they be required to prove their loyalty,â Commissioner Tan said. Eric Abetz is a strong and effective advocate for his home state of Tasmania and for the Liberal values espoused by Sir Robert Menzies. That’s not the greatest irony in this story though. I have wonderful news which can quickly salve their aggravated wound: there is no lack of representation. Eric Abetz voted No. "Treating people prejudicially based on race or ethnicity is contrary to Australian democratic values of equality, and to our fundamental human rights.â. Get the news that matters straight to your inbox. Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz has denied claims his questioning of three Chinese Australians during a Senate inquiry was "racist" after he demanded they condemn the Chinese Communist Party. Eric Abetz. No rebellions 82% attendance View all votes Possible Friends Shows which Senators voted most similarly to this one in the Parliament. A top Chinese community leader Dr Tony Pun, who was highly critical of Eric Abetz was silenced by the Senate committee looking into diaspora communities, while a pro-Trump Chinese media outlet was welcomed to make public comment. The only evidence this likely pair needed to clutch their pearls in gasps of horror was that an ‘old white male’ had asked an Australian with Chinese heritage if he could muster the courage to condemn the CCP. Eric Abetz on senate inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities railroading Chinese Australian witnesses into condemning the CCP before he's willing to engage their views. 11 November 2020. Outspoken Australian writer Yang Hengjun formally charged with âespionageâ in China. Eric Abetz was the youngest of six children of. ... Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Twitter Or sign in with email. âAt no point did I question the loyalty of anyone - I did not even mention the word âloyaltyâ,â he said in a statement. Disgusting. Dave's show, "Pellowe Talk", is live streamed Tuesday nights, and he also hosts "Not Q&A" Thursday nights. He was born on January 25, 1958. Following her appearance, Ms Chau described the questioning on display as ârace-baiting McCarthyismâ. Remember me. It was a test, Osmond â and you failed. âEric Abetz is a dinosaur, he holds the views of a dinosaur,â Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told a press conference in Melbourne. Ms Jiang responded to Senator Abetzâs question by saying she condemned the âgrievous human rights abusesâ committed by the Chinese Government, but also remarked it was not fair out to force all Chinese Australians to clarify their political position. Dave Pellowe is a Christian conservative writer & commentator, editor of The Good Sauce, and convener of the annual Church And State Summit. âIt felt a bit surreal. This is measured from 0% agreement (never voted the same) to 100% (always voted the same). Skip ... Twitter Search jobs Digital Archive Guardian Puzzles app World Europe US Americas Asia We love feedback: help us improve by rating the app and sharing your suggestions at apps@sbs.com.au. So did anyone else got asked to condemn the CCP in the senate inquiry on diaspora issues, or was it just Chinese-Australian individuals? Eric Abetz family migrated to Australia in 1961. Ask Amazon Alexa for the latest SBS News or listen to SBS Radio. “Criticism of a dictatorship that holds one million people of an ethnic minority in concentration camps and unapologetically commits a wide range of human rights abuses has nothing to do with race and everything to do with values. GetUp is not a completely impartial charity. He lived in Germany for 16 years. By subscribing, you agree to SBSâs terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS. Thousands call on Scott Morrison to denounce Eric Abetz's "disgraceful" comments At 2pm on Thursday, November 12, ⦠Senator Abetz defended his line of questioning on Thursday, arguing his request for witnesses to denounce the Communist Party had ânothing to do with race and everything to do with values". At University he was a member of the Student Representative Council for 5 years, president of the University Liberal Club and the first Tasmanian to be president of the âIf heâs not going to do so, I can only hope that the Prime Minister intervenes because otherwise it signals that Senatorâs behaviour is tolerated,â Mr Chiu said. Hon. 21/10/2020. You didn’t even comprehend the question, such is your distractability by imagined racists everywhere. Become a Good Sauce supporter today. Per Capita think tank research fellow Osmond Chiu. Politics Veteran Liberal Senator Eric Abetz pays tribute to wife Michelle after she loses long battle with cancer Many of his articles are syndicated across Australia and New Zealand. In a statement, Senator Abetz confirmed his wife had succumbed to cancer from which she had been suffering since 2015. Well to a leftist racist, everything is about race. His comments drew agreement from Senator from fellow Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who told the inquiry "there is an overwhelming under-desire among people from the Chinese Australian community to participate in politics". Eric Abetz is a strong and effective advocate for his home state of Tasmania and for the Liberal values espoused by Sir Robert Menzies. Who knew? Eric Abetz Wiki-Bio. âClearly, he did not take that into account at all and just repeated the exact behaviour that I said was concerning,â she said. The answer you gave contextualised the rest of your testimony. I am astounded that you would ask that question.â. THE EU was accused of being "stifling" and "uncooperative" by Australian Senator Eric Abetz in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk. What we should have been taught was how to have a civil conversation about a difficult topic.â, © Copyright The Good Sauce. Eric Abetz likens China to the rise of Nazi Germany. Conservative voices are constantly being deplatformed and shadow-banned from the most popular social media platforms. Like & follow is no guarantee you'll see the posts you need & want. Watch SBS World News live daily at 6:30pm on TV and on our app. âI did look at what questions were asked previously in the same inquiry as well, and similar questions were not asked of other people," she said. Together, we can’t be censored. Would you like to help? | #MyGenWillEndAbortion. John Sandeman from Eternity News | Pellowe Talkâ #42. Abetz shocked to discover GetUpâs true motives, cleverly hidden on Twitter. Matthew Verschuur rsvped 2020-05-21 16:57:22 +1000. Eric Abetz on senate inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities railroading Chinese Australian witnesses into condemning the CCP before he's willing to engage their views. Will someone please place a link in the comments to the SMH editorial where Senator Abetz subsequently engaged in the navel-gazing exercise of bemoaning the invitation to condemn evil? Of course, he carefully didnât mention that of the nearly 30 hours allotted for debate, almost all the Oppositionâs speeches boiled down to nothing more than, âGillard lied to us and we should have an electionâ. âBeing taught to avoid talking about politics and religion has led to a lack of understanding of politics and religion. For the national and international news that matters. Twitter Instagram Edit Testimonials. Senator Eric Abetz's controversial questions about loyalty rattle Chinese communities in Australia By Bang Xiao and Stephen Dziedzic. That’s why they accuse everyone they disagree with â on any point â of being ‘racist’, without the slightest ounce of evidence or relevance to the topic at hand. Consider generously supporting The Good Sauce today & help us plan our growth with as little as $10 per month. Fight fake news! THE MORNING NEWS. To get a regular digest of articles, interviews & news direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE NOW! Good on @redrabbleroz for standing his ground against McCarthyist racism. Many were also afraid to speak out, fearing consequences for family members in China. Osmond Chiu, Wesa Chau and Yun Jiang say they were questioned about their loyalties by Senator Eric Abetz and asked to "unconditionally condemn the Chinese Communist Party dictatorship". Incidentally, little Timmy (and I refer to his stature not physically but emotionally, lest he vainly imagine that also to be racist) attempted a weak jibe at German-born Abetz: “Put it this way: we donât ask Australians with German ancestry to unequivocally condemn Nazi Germany.”, âNumerous times throughout my life I have been asked this question [to be loyal to Australia because you were born in Germany]. Senator Abetz said other ethnic groups have faced similar questions, saying Italian Australians are often asked if they are âpart of the Mafioso". Editorâs note: After publication of this article on the APAC.News website yesterday, the Senate released a transcript of evidence... Continue reading » He told SBS News Senator Abetzâs questions represented a concerning trend of rhetoric. “It felt like a gotcha loyalty test, an attempt to goad me, reducing me to a foreigner who needed to show which side I was on.”. The best comparison I can think of the top of my head is it like an inquisition or show trial,â Mr Chiu said. Our articles also transparently distinguish between opinions and news; honesty without "progressive" agendas or euphemisms. âOh absolutely,â the Senator responded. Every time I think about that goose Eric Abetz wanting to have coming out parties for heteros I convulse with laughter. Senator Eric Abetz schools outraged leftist on basic patriotism by Dave Pellowe | 16 Oct, 2020 | Opinion FORMER Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tim Soutphommasane, took to Twitter to share an opinion published in the Sydney Morning Herald this week by leftist academic Osmond Chiu.