Courage to say sorry to anyone wrongly offended is an invaluable quality in personal relations and in the cement which builds a dignified civil society, but courage and dignity is still absent in the treatment of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane.
Shaoquett was suspended from the ALP in mid year, returned to the State Parliament in September and on Thursday November 22 was readmitted to the ALP.
Humiliation and false accusations have been heaped on Shaoquett despite the AFP repeating that, following raids on his home in June, he was never a suspect nor a person of interest. Those raids were allegedly justified on the grounds that the Labor MP might have been influenced by a certain foreign interference, code for supposed Chinese interests.
The stereotyping of Shaoquett had begun in April when journalists and shock jocks demonised Shaoquett as though he was a foreign agent. Sky News’ Peta Credlin had broadcast ‘If we really have foreign agent laws, why isn’t Moselmane being looked at?’
With his taste for sensation, Sydney Morning Herald’s Nick McKenzie wrote in mid June that the early morning presence of large numbers of police raiding Moselmane’s home was evidence of ‘one of the most significant raids in recent ASIO history.’
The massive injustice surrounding the treatment of someone repeatedly told he was not suspected of any wrong-doing has been compounded by the failure of Shaoquett’s accusers to say sorry.
It is difficulty to know why journalists who had rushed to judgement can’t find the courage to admit being wrong. When Shaoquett returned to parliament in September, the SMH and The Australian reported his return but referred to his presence in parliament under the shadow of a continuing investigation.
Why the fifty cents each way fence sitting when earlier they had reported as though this principled politician was a threat to national security. The same cowardly search for a sort of ‘man for all seasons’ explanation has been given by the AFP whose recent letter to parliament says they are ‘neither confirming nor denying Mr. Moselmane’s status with regard to the investigation.’
Lack of courage and principle is all too apparent in the conduct of the leader of the NSW Labor Party, Jodi McKay. On April 3 during a bullying session with Ray Hadley of Radio 2GB, the shock jock demanded of Ms McKay, ‘Can you shut him ( Moselmane) up?’ McKay, perhaps trying to placate Hadley, ‘ Ray, his actions have been appalling.’
On April 7, Shaoquett resigned as Assistant President of the Upper House of the NSW parliament and was subsequently suspended from the ALP.
Six months later following further negative publicity but repeated AFP insistence that the MP was suspected of nothing, Shaoquett has been readmitted to the Labor Party and with characteristic generosity plus no sign of rancour declares he is happy to be back and looks forward to continuing to work for constituents, not least the most vulnerable.
On November 12, leader McKay declares that following a meeting with Shaoquett Moselmane, she welcomes him back to the parliament and to the ALP, but there’s no sign of an apology which, if it had been given, would have significantly changed public perception of this leader.
Instead, the parliament, the public and anyone who cares about civility, courage and dignity in Australian society are given more of the fifty cents each way, man or woman for all seasons technique. To her credit Jodi MCKay said she looked forward to working with Shaoquett in the future but added, ‘If new information arises in the future, I will be prepared to take appropriate steps.’
Will all the head kickers and false accusers please apologise to Shaoquett Moselmane. It is not too late.
Stuart Rees AM is Professor Emeritus at the University of Sydney & recipient of the Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize.
Comments
8 responses to “Apologising to Shaoquett Moselmane – a touch of courage needed”
An excellent article!
AFP leaks?
I do not know who was responsible for the leaks : I just know that when Mr Moselmane’s premises were raided, there was a full court media attendance there including television crews to watch and report on the spectacle: a frequent occurrence with such raids.
Gladys Maguire isn’t the only NSW politician adept at shredding. Jodi McKay played a key role in trying to shred that which is imperishable- Shaoquett Moselmane’s integrity and honour. Speaking of…true to form, Stuart Rees has lifted the Moselmane matter to the level of honour- an apology is a mark of respect, courtesy and an honourable acknowledgement of a moral failure and of responsibility taken for inflicted pain. Keating & Rudd were capable, but McKay & NSW Labor are lesser beings with no shred of courage or loyalty.
I applaud Stuart Rees’ championing of Shaoquett and applaud Pearls and Irritations for providing Australians with an ethical media alternative.
The halfhearted and conditional apology to Shaoquett Moselmane from his party leader Jodi McKay, and the silence from the media journalists who hounded him, egged on by unlawful ASIO and/or AFP leaks , tell us all we need to know about how the new McCarthyism operates in Australia. I am glad that I hold no public offices, am retired, and have a secure pension income. These are the only reasons I enjoy a measure of free speech still , to express currently unpopular ideas about Russian and Chinese relations with Western nations including Australia . This has not stopped a number of people from doing their best to discredit me as a ‘useful idiot’, ‘Putin puppet’ and ‘panda hugger‘ . I have learned to rise above such attempts to intimidate me and suppress my ideas. I feel sympathy and admiration for Mr Moselmane . His dignity is the best revenge. I am glad to see him still in the NSW Parliament and I wish him well there.
That an individual, Shaoquett Moselmane, has been grievously harmed by scoundrels is far less shocking than the fact that those scoundrels were officials of Australian democracy, in cahoots with employees of its “free” media.
We live in uncertain times, despite our democracy and despite many Australian service personnel had sacrificed their lives in the world wars so we can have a better life, free from oppression, freedom of expression and a healthy respect for another persons point of view. It is these values that immigrants from 150 different countries choose to make Australia their adopted homeland and also for their descentdants. Our multicultural society is a global showcase for unity, cohesion ndhoarmony. In these dark hours, there is light at the end of the tunnel where people like Prof Stuart Rees & Prof Peter Manning, who have the moral courage and dignity to stand up against what’s done to Shaoquette Moselmane MLC.
I leave the readers 2 quotes: Einstein: Hail to the man who went through life always helping others, knowing no fear, and to whom aggressiveness and resentment are alien, AND Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
Unfortunately we live in the disguised era
The era of :
Shedding a tear watching the news when a cat get stuck behind a wall but killing 500k iraqi and blocking medical aid to Iranian and Palestinian makes you turn the channel to watch cricket
An era when a hipocrite racist half brained get more than 70ml votes and rule the world
An era When a PM go a step further ahead of the American when it comes to china and does not think of the national interest of our country and get applauded for that
And era when a journalism become paying your mortgage rather than witnessing the events
An era when you get back stabs from your own party people and getting the extended hand from your opposed party fearing losing few votes
Shouqet I said it before a man of roses ???? and they are people of thorns
Ali kawtarani