Feminist icon Germaine Greer has long been an easy target for the rantings of Australia’s conservatives, and that’s a group I like to stay clear of. But with hesitation I join their ranks now in deriding Greer's latest diatribe.
Greer has used Britain’s The Guardian to dymythologise Australia’s so-called 'progessive' choice of Governor-General, Quentin Bryce.
Firstly, a concession. Greer makes some good points in her article. Racism in Australia lives on and Aboriginal disadvantage is a national shame. Australia is also well behind other countries in recognising its non-Anglo citizens.
But Greer, unless Australia adopts two governor-generals then we can only take one step at a time. Would you be arguing that Australia is sexist if we instead made an Aboriginal man governor-general?
The truth is, she probably would. But she would be wrong to do this.
Greer should instead be celebrating Australia's first female Governor-General. They make up half of Australia’s population. Indigenous Australian’s make up roughly 2.6 per cent of the population.
Yes, both women and Aborigines deserve to be governor-general. Women have gotten there first. Does this in itself reveal dark intentions against Aborigines? No.
Greer shouldn’t be complaining that an Aborigine isn’t governor-general. She should focus on questioning whether an Indigenous Australian even could be governor-general. Because on that point she has a strong, perhaps even a winning argument.
She should know better than placing symbolism above reality though.
Written by Michael Collett
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