From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 12 December

“It’s un-Australian”, whatever that means? Erroneously, one hears it from politicians wanting to condemn a situation, or a happening, which does not accord with their own political agenda.

ETYMOLOGICALLY, un-Australian dates back to the 1850s; however in modern vernacular its definition has changed from simply defining something, principally art or literature, as lacking Australian character, to a broader, more derogatory connotation – suggesting an activity, behaviour, belief, or policy that might be interpreted as disrespectfully breaching conventional Australian cultural mores. In this sense, its usage is generally subjectively applied to reinforce the user’s viewpoint. The use of the word in political campaigning is disingenuous. It is intended to spark confusion and divisive, nationalistic sentiments in the general public, with a view to generating political support.

The former Prime Minister, John Howard, is somewhat responsible for the proliferation and contamination of the word, having used it in the 1980s to describe the proposed Australia Card legislation. It is difficult to know what is un-Australian about an identity card. The Americans have a green card. In Australia a driver’s licence has become a quasi-identity card.

A lack of willing to share an odious political ideology does not make you un-Australian. Throughout his term as Prime Minister, Mr Howard repeatedly, and inaccurately, used the term un-Australian to describe striking workers.

Recollect, the Gdańsk Agreement was reached as a direct consequence of the strikes which took place in Poland. At great personal risk, and led by electrician, Lech Wałęsa, Baltic shipyard workers took control of the workplace and demanded labour reform and greater civil rights – including those of freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion, as well as the release of political prisoners. Its success eventually led to the creation of Solidarity.

Withholding labour is not un-Australian.

Anti-globalisation protestors are called un-Australian.

For many, globalisation is the rapacious process by which the world is becoming inextricably interconnected as a consequence of massively increased trade and cultural exchange. The fiscal aspects of globalisation are not necessarily in the best interests of Australia, or many of its people.

Egregiously, anti-war protestors were labelled un-Australian.

Only twice in its recorded history has Australia has been invaded. First in 1788, and then 1942-43 when the Japanese bombed Darwin more than 100 times, killing an unknown number of people.

War is a collapse of civilisation. There are many who believe Australia should not have been involved in the Vietnam War. That is not un-Australian. It is, quite simply, pacifistic. We should not be invading another country.

What could be deemed un-Australian is the way successive governments treated returned soldiers from their Vietnam tour of duty, and more recently, Afghanistan.

Conversely, the Howard Government’s policies regarding asylum seekers were described as un-Australian. They were callous, obscene, and totally lacking in any human compassion. Those traits are, one would like to believe, very un-Australian.

MP Bob Katter being denied entry to a hotel because he did not have his COVID documentation is not, as he bleated, un-Australian. It was simply a case of an employee following a public health directive, the application thereof being problematic in a developed democracy.

For the want of better knowledge, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson uses the term repetitively.

When next you hear a politician use the term un-Australian, you should consider positive but civil action. Take the time to telephone their electoral office; send an email; write a letter to a newspaper. The term is alarming and is used, persistently, as a tool to divide the nation – to set one Australian against the other – and to bring the public around to another point-of-view.

It is a duplicitous bastardisation of the language. Be wary!

CAROLS IN THE CATHEDRAL – St Paul’s, Melbourne, is back after a year-out for COVID. Together with Julie Houghton, I have been a reader at the Carols for 12-years.

Under the musical direction of Maestro Andrew Wailes, the performances will feature The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir; members of Melbourne University Choral Society; Box Hill Chorale; the spectacular RMP Brass Consort; Vanessa McKeand concert harp; Stefan Cassomenos pianoforte; percussion, organ; pipers and drummers of The City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band; and the acclaimed Australian soprano, Greta Bradman.

It will be a fantastic show of inspiring Christmas words and music!

Performances: are Friday, 17 December at 8.30pm and Saturday, 18 December 2pm, 5.30pm and 8.30om. Online bookings via trybooking.com/BVDMX.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald each Monday and 10.45am on radio 3BA and contacted via [email protected].