It is a surprise to discover that the long gone and not lamented Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen inspired Thomas Shapcott to write a three part poem in the above 1983 collection published by the University of Queensland Press . Upon reading , however, there is a strong message , applicable to Queensland , politics today and hot election issues .
Headed IN THE SYSTEM , it quotes Bjelke -Petersen , "These subversives , these Friends Of The Dirt . " A statement Joh may have made feeding " his chooks"- the local media . It is taken to mean he was obviously dismissing people who opposed certain projects as subversives . It opens by explaining the brigade who support open slather .
The Enemies Of The Dirt might dabble
in Real Estate with a nod to the Local Council
but they 'd swallow a rainforest before breakfast
and are planning to skillet the Barrier Reef
that is , after the hard work of quarrying
has been dealt with in the telex room .
In this , Shapcott refers to Joh's friend , Rona Jayner , founder of the Society to Outlaw Pornography (STOP), who circulated a list of more than 130 books said to corrupt readers, which should be burned . The list was submitted to the Queensland Education Department and published in the Queensland University independent student newspaper Semper Floreat headed , RONA'S DEATH LIST: BURN A BOOK A DAY .
Shapcott gives notice that it is hereby declared that under the Rona Joyner Act possession of any book, artefact or printing contrary to Revealed Truth constitutes an infringement of law. Already libraries of leading dissident religious bodies -those of Catholic and Anglican Archbishops-have been confiscated. Teachers found in possession of such literature will be deprived of super, holiday entitlements and long service leave - resulting in a great saving to the electorate . The Premier assures law and order will be upheld vigorously . His police have the matter under control .
Advice to a Politician ( in Queensland during Joh's reign, but applicable today on the national front ).
This part advises that a politician should not answer questions (sounds like the ScoMo style) , ask them . It is good to have an Enemy . If unable to find an enemy of the people-ScoMo repeatedly nominates Bill and calls him a liar - find one who is an Enemy of the Law , change the law . There is a lot of prejudice out there to be harvested . Hitler and Mussolini showed the voting power of prejudice . This is a wealthy place, waiting to be exploited , slip through an amendment to the Companies Act and use nominees. Brazen it out , justify nothing ...
People who live by the open sewer
forget it was once a shaded creek .
People who drive the bare road between Bulimba and the airport
forget it was once shade forest.
People who live in development brick- veneer bungalows
have forgotten whatever was once meant by words like " community".
You will go far -taking us all with you .
Born in Ipswich, Queensland, Shapcott, now 84 if still kicking , went to Queensland University , became an accountant , had a distinguished literary career , receiving a Churchill Fellowship and the Canada-Australia Literary Prize ; published a children's novel , major anthologies and wrote a monograph on artist Charles Blackman .The dustjacket blurb says he is a librettist who collaborated with composer Colin Brumby in more than a dozen works.
