Page 3517 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 22 October 2014
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You have to bring him down with ridicule, because if you stand on a soapbox and you match him with rhetoric, you’re just as bad as he is, but if you can make people laugh at him, then you’re one up on him. It’s been one of my lifelong jobs to make the world laugh at Adolf Hitler.
When the Canberra Liberals were making much to-do about this back in February, I say again that not one person who was at the fringe festival made contact with my office saying they were offended by the act. I will read some comments from the Canberra Times:
I was front and centre at the fringe (I’m even in the above picture!), this was one of the better performances of the night, and was a huge parody making fun of Hitler and the Nazis. I seriously doubt any of the wowsers making a big fuss about this have seen it or have the slightest idea what they are talking about.
Another:
I was at the show, and how a Jewish person or in fact anybody could be offended is beyond me. If Giulia Jones wants to stop people making fun of Hitler because it could damage our multicultural society, I think Ms Jones is the one that has serious questions to answer.
And:
Mr Hanson, one would think you’d find some real issues to address. Does this mean that the current ACT government is doing a reasonable job if this is the best you can come up with?
Or:
Shame on the Canberra Liberals for using such a sensitive tool as this to achieve their political goals and for defaming artists or arts organisations.
That is telling, and it continues here. Mr Smyth also mentioned the review. He should know this is scheduled for review in 2014. The processes of that review are being finalised, and we will talk with many community organisations about the best way that we can check this is delivering the aspirations.
I could go to many more examples about how this government is supporting our artists in creating works that are thought-provoking. I will not take the role of a censor. I will not step in the way of creative artistic development. I will always support innovation and arts that provoke and get the community talking. It is a cheap political shot at me from Mr Smyth bringing in his textbook and challenging me to have an intellectual debate. He had no interest in an intellectual debate; this was always to be an insult.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (6.24): I intend to keep my remarks brief, mostly because I cannot wait to hear Mr Smyth’s response to Ms Burch’s claim of his focus on strippers and underwear. I saw Mr Smyth pick the pen up and start making some notes; I can only imagine that it is going to be a witty response, but I will wait and see.
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