Daily Telegraph Editorial: Australia is united against GetUp

In these divided times, it takes a special effort to bring together Australians of all political beliefs. Achieving genuine unity on almost any issue is all but impossible. So take a bow, GetUp, because you have truly deliv­ered. Yesterday, Australians across the political and social spectra stood proudly as one.

In these divided times, it takes a special effort to bring together Australians of all political beliefs. Achieving genuine unity on almost any issue is all but impossible. So take a bow, GetUp, because you have truly deliv­ered. Yesterday, Australians across the political and social spectra stood proudly as one.

But there is just one problem. All of these people were united in revulsion at GetUp.

The left-wing activist group lately thought it a splendid idea to depict former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as a lifesaver refusing to rescue a drowning swimmer from the surf.

The GetUp video which attacks Tony Abbott on climate change.

Somehow this mirthless not­ion made it beyond GetUp’s ­initial ideas session and all the way to YouTube. Along the way, any number of GetUp personalities must have approved. This might reveal something of the group’s infantile worldview.

In response, Liberal ex-PM John Howard, Labor leader Bill Shorten and independent candidate for Abbott’s seat of Warringah, Zali Steggall, all poured scorn upon GetUp.

“I don’t approve of that kind of advertising. I think you need to focus on policies and not smear campaigns in relation to people,” Steggall said.

“So I thought that was of quite poor taste.”

John Howard agreed, pointing out that Abbott volunteers as a firefighter and surf lifesaver.

“I thought that was outrageous to suggest a man who has given years of his life to volunteer organisations would allow somebody to drown while he sat there and sneered at it and made some clever remarks,” Australia’s second-longest serving Prime Minister said.

Both Tony Abbott and Zali Steggall criticised the video. Picture: Dean Lewins

“I think that was an appalling ad and it was inserted by GetUp and they are fellow travellers with the Labor Party in this election,” Howard added.

But Labor’s Bill Shorten, too, was revolted. “I think it’s a really stupid ad and grossly disrespectful to 150,000 surf lifesavers,” Shorten said. “This ad is well out of line. You can have your disagreements with Tony Abbott but I respect the fact that he’s a surf lifesaver.”

In the face of this universal disgust, GetUp yesterday withdrew their hateful ad from circulation and said sorry to maligned lifesavers. Yet there is something else for which they must apologise.

For all the good it did bringing Australians together, GetUp’s attempt at satire wasn’t the least bit funny.

AN HONOURABLE ANZAC DAY

Perhaps the federal election campaign is giving Australians all the politics they need, for Anzac Day in 2019 seems not to have been burdened with too great of a political aspect.

This is to be applauded, for whatever the reason. Anzac Day, more than any other day, deserves respect and reverence and should always remain above political disputes.

Today may provide an appropriately solemn Anzac Day, as in the manner of far earlier Anzac Days. Political brawling over this day has mainly been a feature of the online age.

Let us honour our fallen, and lest we forget their sacrifice.

RICH, SCHOOLED AND DEADLY

Ever since the horrific events of September 11, 2001, various apologists for Islamic terrorism have offered excuses for deadly attacks.

One of the earliest and most pervasive held that terror was caused by economic inequality. Yet Osama bin Laden was ­extremely wealthy, and all of the 9/11 attackers were well-off.

Another blame-the-West line claimed that terrorism would be reduced if Western nations were more welcoming to Muslims.

The Sri Lankan bombers studied in Australia. Picture: AP

But Sri Lanka’s defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene now points out that one of the Easter Sunday bombers studied in the UK and then Australia.

This sounds like a welcoming move. Yet it did not stop the bomber from carrying out his bloodthirsty mission.

Moreover, Wijewardene also indicates that many of the nine suicide bombers, of whom eight have been identified, were “well educated and come from upper middle-class and so they are ­financially independent”.

The excuses just don’t work. Terrorism isn’t caused by poverty or rejection. Terrorism is caused by fanatical beliefs, even to the point of dying for them.

The Daily Telegraph, printed and published by the proprietor, Nationwide News Pty Ltd A.C.N. 008438828 of 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, at 26-52 Hume Highway, Chullora. Responsibility for election comment is taken by the Editor, Ben English.