Andrew Bolt Racial Vilification Trial

Larissa Berhrendt

Andrew Bolt if being sued in Federal court by a a number of "Aboriginal" people who claim aboriginal identity, while the racial component is very minor compared to the other racial elements in their biological makeup. Larrissa Berhrendt is one of them. She looks very caucasian to the eye. But then there's Pat Eatock.  She is described in the Australian Womens  register as follows:
She began to publicly identify as an Aboriginal in 1957 when she attended a meeting of the Union of Australian Women at which Faith Bandler spoke, but her political activities were limited by her family commitments until 1972, when she attended a FCAATSI land rights conference in Alice Springs with her sixth child. 


Eatock clearly is the type about which Bolt refers. She is reported to have first publically  identified as Aboriginal when she was 19. (Womens register) What does this mean ? "Identified"....Publically.  According to Mr Merkel her attorney, she was surrounded by Aboriginal culture from a young age.. so why did she need to 'publically' identify so, if it was her natural heritage?  

Pat Eatock

Because the identity of Aboriginality involves what are reported to be signficant economic and political opportunities, Bolt is, I think, quite within the bounds of reason to at least raise the question that this might be a reason for the apparent alleged late blooming of this aboriginal identity who looks white.(to paraphrase Bolts article) At least on the balance of probabilities.

Justice Bromberg went to considerable lengths to point out that the genuineness of these Aboriginals is not on trial. This might be so in the Federal Court of Australia, but in the court of public opinion? aah..that might be another story.



One can't help but wonder though, why Ron Merkel QC sank to such depths as to relate this to the "Holocaust" implying and inferring that we are only a few more Bolt articles away from a full scale anti Aboriginal holocaust and genocide. His motive in using this tactic might possibly be explained by his  known background of Justice Bromberg who happens to be Jewish. Well..that's my opinion anyway.
Justice Bromberg appears to be one of the nicest, fairest people you could ever meet, and I doubt his judgements could be swayed by any 'cheap trick' by any lawyer.  Mention of the Holocaust and Nazi Eugenics by Ron Merkel QC certainly tested the patience of Andrew Bolt. (and I suspect, Justice Bromberg)


It seemed to me,  that Merkel QC had some hidden agenda to extract large compensation out of Bolt as he tried to 'guide' the Judge into 'not ruling- at this stage' on the issue of individual compensation. Bolts lawyers pounced on this as not being in any way part of the original complaint.


The case continues.....