Apparently I’m possibly racist!
Sue Brooks January 4th, 2010
Interesting debate on another local blog re my comments that went to air re Fraser Island driving and accidents last night on Ch 9 news.
http://www.facebook.com//video/video.php?v=106646312681721#/video/video.php?v=106646312681721&ref=mf
I made mention that International visitors, who don’t have an Australian licence, should possibly undergo a driving test, education or other application process before being “let loose on Fraser Island”. Keeping in mind that the comments that go to air on any TV news story are usually one sentence or remark taken out of a longer winded response to a question I can see why someone might take issue with what I said but racism… I don’t think so.
To explain further. Many people live on Fraser Island or own property there. Many locals or interstate visitors frequently visit the island in their own vehicles. These people should not, in my mind, be made to comply with any restrictions at all that limit their access to the island.
However almost every single business owner with interests on the island itself that I have spoken to all say the same thing to me. Backpackers cause problems. Even some business owners that profit from backpackers speak negatively about backpacker behaviour. So maybe this is ‘backpacker prejudice’? My opinion is straight forward. That visitors to Fraser Island, predominantly young International visitors, should not be given easy access to a 4wd full of luggage and passengers. How to bring about tighter restrictions to this group of travellers in order to keep them safe, is not racist is it? Yes it is generalising and for that I apologise but aren’t all our laws made in the same way? What is best for the majority of people? Not all laws suit all the people all the time to my mind.
So I apologise if people did think my comment was racist it was not intended to be and I don’t believe I am prejudiced against any group of people regardless of anything about them. I tend to make my judgements about people solely on their behaviour. I do however generalise at times and I honestly believe that young backpackers are a problem group on Fraser Island under the current regime. The challenge is how to best cater for them so that we can continue to benefit from their visitation to our lovely region and to ensure that they have a healthy and safe time while they are here. I don’t want to see backpackers restricted from visiting Fraser Island I probably want to see their visitation better managed though. I welcome any and all suggestions.
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- Comments(6)
Is it racist to say we should ban any tourist driving a hire vehicle on Fraser Island if they do not understand our language well enough to properly understand a training video? I think not. Rather, it is our duty of care.
I’m all for allowing visitors to explore the island in their own time but unless we start giving them some hands on experience whether real time or in a sophisticated driving simulator before they go to the island and not just a video, we will continue to have unnecessary injuries and perhaps deaths.
Improved driver training is not a silver bullet however it could provide the extra knowledge that allows our visitors to avoid getting into trouble.
It is high time that something was done about vehicle safety on Fraser Island. As a recent visitor to the Island I was given two pamphlets about dingo safety, and none about vehicle safety when I applied for my vehcle permit.
I was also present, in June 2009, when backpackers were being shown a safety DVD, and not one was watching. When I asked the supervisor at the Backpackers if she was concerned, her reply was “We put the DVD on, that is our responsiblity, we cannot make them watch it.” And I am forced to share the beach with these drivers?
Add this evidence to the damming evidence that has come to light following the incident with Japanese backpackers, who are reported as stating they did not understand english, therefore did not understand the safety DVD.
Millions of dollars have been spent building fences to exclude dingoes from Eurong and Second Valley and the locals, people who had been involved in not one dingo incident, yet the roads continue to deteriorate; roads that continue to claim lives.
The dingoes lived in harmony with the people of Eurong and Second Valley, and before them the forestry workers, and before them the indigenous people yet since DERM have been managing the Island the Queensland Government has been attempting to rid the Island of dingoes by stealth in the guise of public safety. If they were serious about safety they would repair the roads, and ensure the competence of all drivers on the island.
Why does the Queensland Government continue to turn a blind eye to the deterriorating roads, and increased carnage on these roads, while at the same time beating up hysteria about the danger of dingoes. I have been feeding dingoes for nearly 40 years, and it has never caused aggression. There is NO SCIENCE to support the stand of DERM that feeding makes dingoes aggressive, yet they continue with this false claim.
In 2009, how many people were airlifted from the Island due to a road accident, and how many people were airlifted due to a dingo attack? Is there any correlation between these figures and the Government expenditure on these issues.
Why does the Government continue to remain so blind to these issues? How long before someone is injured through no fault of there own, but as a result of an incompetent driver, and sues the Queensland Government or the tour company responsible for leasing the vehicle.
Thank you Dingo Lady and Ben. I totally agree with both of you especially the comments in relation to dingoes. Can I suggest Dingo Lady, that you write this comment as a letter to the local newspaper. The address is mbedit@frasercoastchronicle.com.au
I believe you are correct in your interpretation of the DERM Dingo Management Strategy and the manner in which it is being applied.
I am concerned that an interested inquisitive dingo who wants to invetigate humans is deemed dangerous and eventually ends up destroyed.
I am currently reading Dr Temple Grandin’s latest book on animal behaviour which is enlightening to say the least. I first heard about this woman as she is also known as ‘the woman who thinks like a cow’. Autistic but brilliant. When I finish her book I will write a post about it. Thanks, Sue
Sue,
We are all racist to some degree, but your comments on Ch9, certainly weren’t.
I also happen to think more needs to done to protect tourist from themselves
while driving on Fraser Island.
Personally I’d ban driving on the beach.
Sadman
Sadman.. sadly DERM and their predecessors in their wisdom failed to maintain the inland (albeit sand) tracks in the years following the end of logging on Fraser Island
This in my view was the biggest mistake. I imagine the cost of reopening the island’s inland tracks and removing the bulk of recreational traffic from the beach would be horrendous and challenging at many levels.
Improved training as I’ve already suggested and tag along tours are probable the only feasible options at this time. I only hope commonsense prevails and action is taken soon to improve safety on the island whilse maintaining the viability of our region’s tourist industry
Sue, nobody suggested that you were racist – possibly or otherwise. What was said was that your choice of words could be taken as racist comments. But once again, you play the “victim” card. Nobody was having a go at you – other than you, yourself.