CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
In the Outback Queensland town of Yawannagokun, there aren’t many residents left who will admit that they miss Gough Whitlam.
After years of free-marketing Labor governments and neo-Liberal Coalition alliances, Rural Australia doesn’t actually need to explain why they don’t enjoy singing kumbaya with Adam Bandt and Penny Wong.
All they have to do is point to the millions of regional agricultural and manufacturing jobs that are never coming back.
Unfortunately for anyone that wants to actually improve the lives of their fellow Australians, the term ‘progressive’ has been greatly stigmatised by the type of politicians who ban greyhound racing and live cattle exports the moment an online petition reaches 10,000 signatures in the northside of Melbourne.
It’s for the reason that the last remaining lefties in Yawannagokun are either quick on their feet or quick with their fists.
A recent report by SCRAPPER (the State Centre for Rural Australians Partial To Progression, Environmentalism and Roo-Shooting) has found that Outback lefties are increasingly under siege at the pub and footy club – as regional Australians gradually confuse conservative opinions for having a personality.
Professor Fred Paterson, leader research for SCRAPPER, says that once upon a time having a quick wit was enough to keep the rednecks off your back in the bush.
“What we are finding now is the lack of etiquette regarding politics in rural Australia is making it much harder for anyone with different opinions to find a home in the community” says Paterson.
“Once upon a time, the rule was no politics or religion at the pub… But nowadays they are playing Sky News at the pub on a big screen TV. So what can ya do? Complain about gay marriage and Muslims I suppose”
“Mind you, if you wanna talk etiquette, the same could be said about Bob Brown and his merry convoy of Melbourne yuppies who decided to come up here and humiliate the coal miners”
The study has found that this lack of social cohesion now means the remnants of rural Labor in towns like Yawannagokun are either hiding in plain sight, or they are rusted-on old union boys who can fight like fuck.
Local publican and staunch non-voter, Brian, agrees.
“The election will be interesting. But not in this town” he says.
“There’s about 6 blokes who back Albo and none of them can use their government names because of a few scabs that went missing when the shearers were striking over the wide comb dispute”
“and all the Librarians and teachers keep to themselves”
