Susie O’Brien: There is never an excuse for race vilification
The latest incident of racial vilification that unfold in Mildura is another depressing example of the race-based abuse experienced by indigenous people that must be called out, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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Neighbourhood spats aren’t illegal, but racial vilification is.
The sacking of McDonald’s franchisee Rob Vigors shows racial abuse will not be tolerated. Vigors was fired after he was filmed accusing his neighbour, indigenous artist Robby Wirramanda, of not being Aboriginal.
The episode shows the devastating effect of racial vilification.
It also reminds us that the things workers do and say in their own time can get them sacked. A police conviction isn’t necessary if it’s caught on a phone camera and put on the internet.
The incident unfolded in an up-market Mildura suburb over the weekend when two local business owners, Vigors and Karen Ridge, walked into Wirramanda’s front yard.
Ridge was filmed by Wirramanda trying to tear down his Aboriginal flag.
“Take this s--t down, it’s a disgrace,” she says.
In response, Wirramanda calls her “a drunken f-----g bum” and a “racist pig”.
“It’s too strong for you, Karen,” he says.
Vigors is heard in the background saying Wirramanda is not allowed to fly the flag.
Ridge responds that she’s not racist and then says: “Which half of you is Aboriginal? You are not Aboriginal.”
Vigors also asks Wirramanda “which one per cent of” him is Aboriginal.
“Mate, you’ve got nothing in you that’s Aboriginal,” he says.
“You claiming to be Aboriginal? You make me laugh … People like you make a mockery of true Aboriginals.”
Wirramanda, who was filming the encounter, says it will go viral.
“I want to show racists like you to the world,” he tells them.
Vigors says he has friends who could give Wirramanda “a lecture on what Aboriginal is”.
Wirramanda then says “good night, Karen” a number of times.
She tells him to “go and live in a f-----g humpy down the river”.
The two families allegedly have history — Wirramanda says it’s about his neighbours’ dog. Ridge has been quoted as saying her neighbour “caught my cat and ate him”.
But such spats are irrelevant once one neighbour starts racially abusing another.
Racial vilification is illegal and it’s good to see companies like McDonald’s stand up for their policies of diversity and inclusion.
Under Australia’s racial vilification law, it’s unlawful to insult, humiliate, offend or intimidate another person or group on the basis of their race.
There are a few qualifiers.
The act must be done in public, any offence or humiliation must be reasonable and it must be done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the group against whom it is directed.
The video was posted by Wirramanda on social media, which led the hashtag #toostrongforyoukaren to start trending on Twitter.
Within hours, McDonald’s announced Vigors had lost his job.
His actions, although not on work time, “do not reflect the beliefs of the company as an inclusive workplace for our employees and customers”, a statement from the fast-food giant said.
It’s the same principle that applied in the Israel Folau case: vilification and abuse can be a sackable offence if it is in violation of an employee’s code of conduct.
Even the expensive and ridiculous capitulation by Rugby Australia doesn’t change that fact.
Wirramanda said he posted the video on social media hoping it would help combat racial “ignorance”. No doubt it will.
This latest incident of racial vilification is another depressing example of the race-based abuse experienced by indigenous people.
They’re “allowed” to be Aboriginal as long as they don’t put up indigenous flags like Wirramanda, or call out racism like former Sydney footballer Adam Goodes.
As Ali Cupper, independent for Mildura, pointed out, Aboriginality is not a matter of skin colour, but family connection and cultural identity.
Vigors and Ridge took it upon themselves to judge, vilify and abuse Wirramanda because of the colour of his skin.
Wirramanda’s website explains that he has spent his whole life “having to justify why I am Aboriginal”.
He says he had a white grandfather, the only white person in his family, and was raised by his grandmother.
“You know about the White Australia policy — rape by white men has a lot to do with why Aboriginals in Victoria are whiter,” his website says.
Vigors and Ridge might not be aware, but Wirramanda is part of the Wergaia people from northwest Victoria.
He is a well-known artist whose work has been depicted on a grain silo and sold in city galleries.
He’s represented by The Torch, an organisation that promotes indigenous artists who have been in jail.
The Torch’s board is chaired by former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett and the director is Catherine Andrews, the wife of Premier Dan Andrews.
Let’s hope this debate, as it unfolds, is respectful.
Ridge claims she has had death threats, which is worrying.
There is no excuse for those standing up for Wirramanda to be abusive in return.
Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist.