As part of the massive task of sorting out the extensive files of Pete Steedman , some of the many taped lively debates in which he was involved in his long career as an activist , publisher, ALP politician ,media commentator , within Australia and London , starting as the editor of dissenting Melbourne university publications in the l960s , have recently been digitised.
One of particular current relevance , viewed by this blog, shows him strongly opposing Paul Keating's plan to sell Qantas at an ALP National Conference on Privatisation.
In his pull no punches delivery, Pete rightly stated one person who would benefit from the government sell off of Qantas would be the airline's CEO.
Another relevant , powerful video covers a 1980s clash with Tasmanian Liberal lawyer Michael Hodgman , Shadow Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs , on the subject of racism and Fascism in Australia , which was remarkable , partly because of Steedman's attire.
He had long been known in Melbourne as the Black Knight because he usually got about in a black leather jacket , jeans, no tie , a beard , long unruly locks , cowboy boots, with sunnies. In the corridors of parliament house this scruffy looking apparition verbally stirred up Hodgman on occasions .
However, in the debate , for some strange reason, Steedman was actually wearing a three- piece suit , a tie !, was clean shaven and he had just had a short back and sides. Hodgman seemed taken aback by Pete's new kempt image- like that of a member of the junior chamber of commerce .
Also recenly unearthed in his files were forgotten further details relating to the time when Steedman , expecting a violent visit from some heavies , jumped out brandishing a knife when American singer Bob Dylan knocked on his door in Melbourne at night. Steedman's wide ranging files and books are going into the Victorian state library .
