http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-18/anna-funder-hits-out-at-media-companies/5032444
Ms Funder is working on a new novel and is also among a group of authors who have contributed to a new anthology about dispossession – A Country Too Far, edited by Tom Keneally and Rosie Scott.
The Melbourne-born writer said Australia had successful multicultural policies that were reflected in society, but that she was saddened by the recent treatment of asylum seekers.
“It saddens me to think we are not recognising people who have an absolute legal right, a human right, to come and seek asylum here and we are denying them that, that we are locking up men, women and children in prison camps and they haven’t done anything wrong,” she said.
A former constitutional lawyer, Ms Funder criticised the Government’s legal action to prevent asylum seekers landing in Australia.
“The absurdity of excising mainland Australia from the Migration Act that would allow them to claim asylum boggles my mind and makes me very sad,” she said.
Window Dresser's Arms, Pig & Whistle 
Hi Waz. It’s excellent to hear from you. Wait until we tell Foodge – I’m sure he’ll start demanding a piece or two from you.
Thanks also to Gez for another reflective piece.
In some ways it’s good to stop floundering in the sinking ship of Labor and to start to learn how to swim properly. But it’s a pity that the main focus on boats now will be the next America’s Cup challenge. Lucky we are that there are alternative Murdoch press, but it begs the question as to what the mainstream will publish when they lack a government to whip to death every hour of the day. I’m putting my money on resurrection of Bob Santamaria in the press and reruns of World Championship wrestling on the box, by way of a protracted love fest honouring Howardian pablum.
It says a lot about Australia when motoring enthusiasts can get elected on the basis of nothing at all. Clearly artists have a lot to learn from petrol heads and perhaps Ben Quilty’s meteoric rise is a beacon. Take up your pallet knives and re-birth the Torana.
All the best to your young friend and all yards activists.
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This is a tangential issue related to Funder’s point about the growing notion that somehow being involved with the arts is some kind of hobby; a pursuit more akin to psychological aberration than a serious job like a tradie or media commentator. Something to be casually indulged, but not really valued.
If only I had a dollar for every time that Sche has been asked by a fan when she is just off stage, glistening with perspiration, having given her all, whether the classics or the standard catalogue, what she does for a day job.
They have just been emotionally moved, transported by her performance, to places within themselves that they are generally unaware of and yet they cannot encompass the idea that this might only be the result of years of disciplined rehearsal and practice. I guess because it’s so easy to play piano like Sche does.
Well things can change if you want them to.
A young friend of mine and some of his cohort are attempting to create a new political grouping which they are calling The Arts Party. I thought that they might find friends amongst our august little group. I haven’t had a chance to talk with Nicholas about his plans but given his intelligence and energy I’m sure they’ll be more than interesting.
You can contact them here:
http://www.theartsparty.org/tap/join-us/
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Thanks Warrigal,
I have contacted theartsparty and will join the queue. I always got paid for the ABC Drum pieces but not the last one. That makes 39 payments out of the 40 published. I suppose, even though they were very small amounts ($150.- a piece), with a bit of financial squinting I could imagine a modest return for a small edition of a published book!
Who would have thought that?
It is a fiercely fought world out there. It is little wonder that journalists are licking their employers boots and with kids and mortgage there can’t be too much room for individual expressions.
Even so, I am happy to see that my earliest mentor and teacher, John Olsen, has made a good living out of his art and…growing old enough to enjoy the fruits.
Nice to see you back Warrigal.
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So nice to see you again Waz, Hoping Sche and youself are in rude health.
I’ll pass this onto the younger. She’s a budding artist and in intending to study at the National Art School in 2015. She’d be right into that even though she’s a year off being able to vote. It saddens me that the fat one decided to strip funding out of Fine Arts in TAFEs because their was no value to it and no chance of making a living. Forget that its the lifeblood of many a country town and many do make a comfortable living
Yet there are those who wonder how she’ll make a living out of it. She has a wonderful mentor who has given her many good ideas as well as some she has herself. The HSC to get through first though and the artexpress entry she desires.
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Good to see you back, Warrigal Mirriyuula. The Arts Party is just what we need .
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Hi Gerard. This is something we just have to continue to endure. Now that we don’t have Abbott & Co in opposition constantly yarping about illegals and boats etc etc it is just possible that the population as a whole will start to see that this is all wrong. Labor should never have caved in to re-opening Manus and Nauru and then the Rudd PNG horror. They put it in the too-hard-basket. The people in the boats are still coming. Global Mail are publishing some enlightening stories and photos.
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Ain’t that the truth vivenne, Labors reopening of these gulags was a bridge too far for mine.
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