The topic of conversation across many pages on Facebook, across newspaper forums and even current affairs shows has been a statement from ex-ALP Minister Gary Johns
“Former Labor Minister Gary Johns suggests linking the dole to contraception.”
The comments from a wide and diverse range of people regarding this topic has certainly been an eye opener.
Firstly, I need to get something off my chest….. I find it absolutely remarkable, that an overtly sexist comment from an “Ex-ALP Minister” hits the headlines three days after the polls screamed loudly that Tony Abbott is falling out of favour with women. Now call me a conspiracy theorist if you like, but I do find that linking an extremely sexist and controversial statement to the ALP three days after polling highlighted that women would rather #putyourironout rather than vote for Abbott again, an attempt at political strategy by the right. #diversion.
John’s originally wrote his article as opinion for The Australian and they labelled John’s as an ‘ex-ALP’ Minister whereas the Australian Newspaper could have labelled him either senior fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) (Abbott linked right-wing think tank) or the Associate Commissioner of the Commonwealth Productivity Commission from 2002 – 2004 under the Howard Government. I find it interesting that the Murdoch press chose to link John’s to the ALP instead, although he hasn’t been a Minister of the ALP and has been critical of the ALP since at least 1996. The Australian may as well have gone onto social media and asked some random their sexist opinions on welfare and contraception.
Which takes me to my next point. I have taken a selection of comments via Facebook, across various pages and groups. This is just a small sample and if you could quantify the negative comments supporting this argument, I would estimate it was approximately 70% (in favour) 30% (not in favour) across the board. The narrative in this country is something that we need to look at a lot more closely.
Some of the themes from those on social media go something like this (hit it)
Only the rich should breed (or why I shouldn’t exist)
Facebook Comment: “Still my point is valid…. There are other ways to prevent people from having children! Sterilisation is a good one! Some people have children completely dependant (sic) on the government… Those people need to be told NO!”
According to this Facebook User (and many like this person) I should not exist. You see, my father was an invalid pensioner (completely dependent on the Government) and my mother on the wife’s (carer’s) pension. So going by what this person is saying, because my father had a disability and mum looked after him, she should have been sterilized. This is the type of person who would vote for a Government to forcibly sterilize a woman because that woman is not ‘their ideal woman who should be breeding.’ But give her a job and she will be Mother of the freaking year!
In fact, with this line of thinking, I should not exist and neither should my two sisters or three brothers. Why? Because we are not the product of a ‘born to rule’ ideology that salivates at the thought of social cleansing, where only those ‘not in need’ have a space in society? This person and many commenting like this person, obviously dream of a society, where the ‘undesirables’ (aka those on welfare) are left to rot or be eliminated altogether.
What these sort of people don’t understand is when you have kids and you are on welfare, it is usually the mother who goes without to accommodate the needs of the children. People just make do with what they have. They don’t scream and ask for more to live a wealthy lifestyle.
Bludgers and deadshits (Or how those with privilege seek to label the disadvantaged)
Facebook Comment: How anyone can disagree with this is beyond me. Bums breeding more bums! And so the cycle will continue.
and this gem
Facebook comment: What about the rights of children not to be born to deadshit parents?
According to this Facebook user all children of welfare recipients should be cast aside as ‘Bums’ before they are even given a chance in society. In my own lived experience as a child of welfare, every single one of us has gone on to achieve a full and productive life. I have worked in Management across private, public, community, vocational and higher education sectors. I have gone on to postgraduate education and also have a partially completed PhD which may or may not ever get finished. My brothers and sisters have all worked in either a professional capacity or in management. We all have families and children. My family is not a unique example. Many great leaders have also come from very poor backgrounds. To deny a child a life, because others seek to cleanse society of children not born to “Women of Calibre” is beyond the sickest ways of thinking.
What people like this do not understand, is that there is more to life than money. Sure, we lived in commission, didn’t eat fancy meals, but the values that our parents instilled in us, cannot be bought with money. How one parents is not governed by how much money someone has. In fact, there was more love in my home growing up, than what I had witnessed in some of my much better off friends homes growing up. Turn to any Youth Agency and you will also see that young people who need assistance come from a wide and diverse background. Not just welfare.
This type of person believes that people born into welfare are Bums or their parents are ‘deadshits’ and have nothing to contribute. Please tell that to Oprah Winfrey and J.K. Rowling, just two successful women with links to welfare.
Culling of Humans (or Eugenics and the sick mind in favour of it)
Facebook Comment: Besides there needs to be a cull of the human race anyway. Weeding out bottom feeders bogans just plain right pieces of crap from society. This is why we have such a f u ked (sic) up society because of all the bottom feeders who have kids that dont (sic) bring them up with morals and values respect this is why there is alot (sic) of kids on the dole its (sic) all they know (Just imagine the punctuation is there. You can do it!).
and this gem
Facebook Comment: Agreed. The rats have a screw and produce a rat might be different size whatever u still breed a rat a bottom feeder (Once again, use your magical powers so this makes freaking sense!)
Once again, we have the mentality that thinks Eugenics are a fine thing to implement in society. Do these people really believe that only a certain ‘type’ of person should be allowed to have children? Do they really believe that the Government should have the right to stop the bloodline of those that are in need of social supports?
The rat comment is also even more chilling, as the Jews were referred to as rats during the Holocaust, a time where there were those that thought a blond haired blue eyed race was the only race that should exist.
What these people do not realise is, if Eugenics, Social cleansing or the likes were adopted, there will always be someone ‘at the bottom of society’ and that person could very well be you.
Then we move on to the ‘related topics’ that show how people’s mind link other negative societal behaviors to those on welfare.
Those drug-addled welfare recipients (or how to stigmatised those already stigmatised through negative association)
Facebook Comment: Totally agree and don’t forget to drug test as well
This comment is actually from a person who is well known in a certain town and aspires to be a Lord Mayor. You know – making decisions about people and their lives in an entire region/community. As Keating said, “God help us….God help us.”
This type of (let’s face it) brainless idiot, touts this sort of rubbish, because it gives them a sense of self-importance. The problem is it only feeds the ego and not the brain, as statistics on drug use are completely contrary to what this person is implying. This type of person seeks to further stigmatise the already stigmatised in society, as it makes them feel so much above everyone else when in reality, they are the lowest of the low.
I won’t go any further into this one, as I have already published two articles on this topic of welfare and drug testing.
Drug Testing and the LNP’s Ongoing Stigmatization of the Poor and The LNP’s agenda for welfare. A clarification of what drug testing really means
Those heathen young girls who have babies (or how to slut-shame women because you are a judgemental moron)
Facebook comment: Dude it’s what is happening. It’s not only adults popping kids out now a days it’s teenagers. You walk in to centrelink and there’s 16 year olds sitting every where with kids on there hip
It always fascinates me how people specifically target young women who are mothers as the primary burden, almost a parasitic burden on society. It also fascinates me that although we now have Google and no longer need to trawl through the Funk and Wagnells, people just can’t be bothered checking facts before they open their bigoted mouths.
Only 10% of lone mothers are aged 15 – 24 and the peak group for lone mothers is age 35-44 years of age and the major contributor to sole parenting is the break down of marriage. 12% of sole parents are men, and are usually over 35. Doesn’t this indicate to people that if a relationship breaks down for a younger woman, that it is the younger woman who is most likely left to care for the baby? Let’s not target and label bright, young enthusiastic women, because they have the extra responsibility of sole motherhood. They have much to contribute to society.
Having a child out of wedlock is not a crime and the only people who are bastards are the people who think this way.
After reading comments across so many different forums yesterday; it is quite evident that the Australian narrative needs to be scrutinised further and Australians themselves need to be openly challenged in their thinking. If we did not have the safety net of unemployment benefit, what impact would this have on the economy? It could be assumed that most people would keep spending to a minimum so they could support themselves in the event of job loss. So many people are so judgemental, yet, never question the tax payer funded benefits of big business, but feel it is just and moral to kick the boot in to the already disadvantaged. The derogatory vilification of people in dire circumstances, simply needs to stop. To quote my most favourite politician Anthony Albenese:
It’s time for a more serious debate on welfare – one that goes beyond dog whistling and demonisation of the poor
One theme very evident through all the comments, is that taxpayers feel they have some type of ‘ownership’ over the lives of those on welfare. Kind of like the Master / Slave mentality. It is quite appalling really, that these people think they can dictate to others how they can live their lives. Most people who are on welfare at one point in their lives, have contributed to a tax system, which is used to pay for welfare. For those that never have and never will pay, it is the duty of the Government of this country to ensure that these people are supported and they simply do not deserve the disrespect dished out to them.
(taken from a Facebook user on the Sunrise thread) I will end with this post with his comment:
Facebook Comment: Some of you seem to think that unemployment benefit isn’t a right… well, you are not correct. It’s right there in Hansard.
(He sounds NOTHING like the Liberals of today – who are these people?)
The Red Window 
Eugenics is evil shit… and what an underhanded way to try to introduce their agenda into Australians minds. If you don’t want kids to have poor parents,stop exploiting their parents. Even though this is a grubby development in the Murdoch press, I get a sense that Abbott’s Catholicism may help stifle it. Even if his grounds are religious, social justice might just be an unintended byproduct???
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Posted by Jade W | January 1, 2015, 1:16 amWell, this gave me a surprise – that last comment you referred to (with the graphic) was mine, and yes, I really was something of a lone voice in the wilderness. Sunrise has run this story over and over, deliberately inciting hatred for the unemployed. But then channel 7 (and channel 9) have a very long track-record of demonising the out-of-work. And I have to wonder how many of their viewers were ever taught how to think independently, so many were regurgitating the same discredited rubbish almost word-for-word.
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Posted by Kat | January 1, 2015, 8:31 amYes, I saw people complaining about the multiple posts when I was trawling through the comments. Sunrise is owned 33% by Sky / Murdoch. I’m deeply saddened by some of the comments and it was more in favour than not in favour. Thank you for posting your comment, To me it was like “Well you can all shut up now and stop being so ignorant, unemployment benefits are a right!”
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Posted by trishcorry | January 1, 2015, 1:29 pmThank you for this article- I was so relieved to read it. I cannot believe how every twist and turn that this governments ideology (and the ILP) takes- the damage that is done is primarily to women. (Including women from minority groups) For examples, the Uni de-regulation- hurts or deters women, the media/govt beat-up terror Sydney raids left identifiable muslim women targets to abuse and attack, removal of bins in Brisbane was a nice touch…and this latest nonsense about birth control and welfare- demonises women, yesterday one comment I read was ‘hahahaha- they usually take the money to open their legs, so this is a nice change’ – very sad mentality. And never a comment on the Dads who leave and start new families, or withhold child support because the woman dared to leave him or has a new partner. And some of the indigenous communitiesI have worked in, the girls who had babies were 13-16 year olds to white men of around 30 who then steal their pensions and leave these kids (and their babies) adrift. I had pent up breath all day yesterday because I could not believe a Labor minister -ex- I know, could think this way. I even googled him briefly because I could not believe it, the commentary was awful, my disappointment intense. I thank you for writing this article and I will share it. I hold little hope we can change things but I will keep trying.
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Posted by Angela | January 1, 2015, 9:45 amThanks Angela. I am not sure if he is still a member of Labor, but the intention is there to link him to Labor. I still say it is very suspicious this comes a few days after the poll that shows women do not favour Abbott in general. I was going to do include the comments on Muslims and Indigenous, but I think that needs its own focus, so I deleted that section. The strongest pattern in the comments to demonise were young women in general (the highest) Muslim women, then women from particular suburbs (I will need to research these as I am not from Sydney to identify the demographics) and Indigenous women. However, the highest theme in Indigenous women I could find was people saying “it wasn’t about race” yet in his article he states that it would affect the Aboriginal and Islander population significantly.
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Posted by trishcorry | January 1, 2015, 1:36 pmExcellent article TRISH CORRY.
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Posted by winstonclose | January 1, 2015, 10:22 amThanks Winston
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Posted by trishcorry | January 1, 2015, 1:37 pmLast count our country is up to 5th generation of welfare dependents. There should be a law to have DNA on ever child that is born and parent/parents on welfare benefits and if it’s the same father then tax payers will not have to support them, both parents will have to do it without welfare support. As there r many that are claiming single parents and still falling pregnant to the same father.
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Posted by Norhayati | January 1, 2015, 10:35 amHi Norhayati. As a liberal feminist and as an egalitarian, I believe that it is a person’s life choice to procreate with whomever they please. I don’t believe being a bastard is a crime for the child or the mother. That kind of stopped being mentioned when I was a girl in the 70s. Our brains should have developed beyond that mentality. As an egalitarian, it is not fair to stipulate one rule on one group of people and not on all groups of people. Welfare to provide support and assistance to a child should not have any weight on if the parents have had more than one relationship. If a woman married at 20 and had two children and her husband died at the age of 25 and she went on to meet a man and had another two children to that man, then he upped and had an affair and left her, are you saying, she should not be allowed have happiness with another man from say 30 years to her death? What if that third man wanted children? We should not pass judgements on women based on their sexual activity. One it is their right to have relations with whomever they please and two sometimes circumstances are more complicated than our rumour milled minds will let us contemplate.
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Posted by trishcorry | January 1, 2015, 1:45 pmWell give us options, it’s amazing how there always comments but no solutions.
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Posted by Norhayati | January 19, 2015, 1:38 pmI agree with you Norhayati. 5th generations of people milking the public purse is just too much and has to stop!!! To make a real impact we have to identify these grubs! So who are these people? They are tax evaders, tax minimisers – and people who benefit from government donations to highly profitably corporations. They are Corporate CEO’s, the are media moguls, mining magnates. Gina Rinehart has four far too many children! Personally I’m utterly disgusted that Rupert Murdoch dared to have SIX children, while milking public purses to the tune of billions of dollars globally!!! But the apple rarely falls to far from the tree. Both of them were off spring of financial leaners on our economy – and that is why the world, not just Australia, needs these bludgers to stop bloody breeding!!!
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Posted by Jade W | January 1, 2015, 2:38 pmThis increased focus on shaming people on government payments is very disturbing.
I read some years ago that our economic model actually relies on unemployment sitting at around 4% to keep it balanced. So we are relying on keeping people below the bottom rung and then heaping the shame of it upon their narrow shoulders.
I also read recently that up to 50% of the “work” done in the average office environment is purely busy work and really unnecessarily.
As a society we have lost so many traditional jobs to machines and automation is it any wonder that there are 5 people on unemployment benefits for every job advertised. This is not going to get any better, there is machinery that can ‘print’ a house in a matter of days and another that can lay more pavers in a hour then a team of men can do in a full day. We are now happily scanning our own groceries, we pump our own petrol, even medical procedures are increasingly assisted by computers and machinery. I watched a doctor on a show test sperm mobility in 5 young men with a 5 min test, that once would of needed a lab technician with a microscope for a day.
As a society hard choices need to be made are we going to sweep people under the rug and build a society with a huge gap between the haves and the have-nots or will we restructure our society to embrace a new era where never-ending consumption and working towards some-else’s wealth until you die is a thing of the past.
Our species became successful because we embraced the value of every tribe member regardless of their ability to hunt, our culture and art grew out of our leisure time. You want to go back to our roots THAT is where our roots lie.
If you want to talk eugenics – some studies have pointed towards a genetic component to voting for right wing politics … just saying.
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Posted by ladyangua | January 1, 2015, 2:58 pmGovernments also need to invest heavily in innovation and research, so we stop being left behind.
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Posted by trishcorry | January 1, 2015, 3:36 pmI am 4th possibly 5th generation single mother, my great grandfather died of a throat infection in the days before antibiotics leaving my great-grandmother to raise six children. There was no single parenting payment back then, she had to give three of her children to family to raise and worked as a nurse to support her family until she died when she caught the Spanish flu. My grand-father left my grandmother for another woman, she had six children and raised another two children that weren’t her own… she washed dishes at a pub to support the family because there was no parenting payment. My father was violent and wouldn’t work, my mother was married to him and worked at the southern cross hotel to support us and our father. When he would beat her and try and kill us the police said he had a right to be angry because she was working in a place like that. She left him back in the sixties, there was a very minimal pension for “deserted wives” she had to work two jobs at times to support us we spent a lot of time home alone because we were too old for child care. My husband of 13 years left me for another woman, I had four children aged 9 down to 18months. He had his own company and hid his income so he didn’t have to pay child support, I did stay home with my children until the youngest was 7 and I did collect the parenting payment. I couldn’t be a good mother and work with four young children on my own…. something had to give and I chose being there for my kids. I now work full time, I live in a rural area and have to travel 130km round trip to work each day but its the only place I could get work…I am paying back what I took in payments by paying my taxes and being there for my kids so they aren’t a burden on society now, they all work and pay taxes. Single mothers do work hard and most do not chose to be single parents
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Posted by Suzie Jay | January 1, 2015, 9:03 pmThank you for sharing your story Suzie Jay.
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Posted by trishcorry | January 1, 2015, 11:08 pmNeither the lack of a job, nor the lack of a partner with a job should prevent women having the right to having a child.
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Posted by Luke Weyland | January 5, 2015, 1:45 pmGenerally people who do not like eugenics do not understand it.
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Posted by Christopher Haggarty-Weir | June 20, 2016, 10:26 pm