On Saturday I attended the protest meeting in QE2 Square in Albury. It was called to allow several experts the opportunity to provide insights into the impact of Tony Abbott's rotten budget full of broken promises and for anyone at all to voice their views.
Not a single person rose to defend Abbott, yet virtually every single criticism was directed at HIM [ie. not at his ministers, his staff or even the Liberal Party]. He was described as being 'un-Australian'.
The Minister who spoke passionately from his heart described how the desperate people they assist have increased in number, are losing hope and now feel demonised and increasingly alienated. He was distressed at the lack of compassion from Abbott's government towards those down on their luck in our society through the use of language such as "leaners", "loafers" and "bludgers".
A US environmentalist described how Australia under Abbott has become a sick joke overseas, with people asking her questions such as; "What the hell is going on in Australia?" and "Is Australia anti-intellectuals?". She begged the question as to whether Abbott actually realises how big green investment already is overseas and just how much he will damage Australia by turning his back on it.
But the most moving address was from a speaker who expressed outrage that both major parties have been incarcerating minors in detention centres, locking asylum seekers into cells on navy ships and even returning them to the nation from which they fled. This begged the question as to whether Australia can any longer claim to believe in 'giving everyone a fair go' and to actually practice that belief - he expressed concern that our very identity as Australians is being destroyed by Abbott's government.
