There are two things that Australia is really, really good at: focusing our entire political discourse around confected moral panics feverishly imagined by conservative politicians and columnists, and taking the piss. This evening we saw a wonderful nexus of the two as bemused Melbournians hit back at (newly-minted Minister for Home Affairs) Peter Dutton‘s absurd claim that they were too afraid of “African gangs“.
In a very clear sign that an election is coming up, the Victorian Liberals are leaning heavily on the tried-and-true ‘you could die at any second unless you vote for us’ strategy, and folks aren’t having a bar of it. Those who found that, actually, they were pretty alright with leaving the house to chow down took to the hashtag #MelbourneBitesBack to (politely) tell Dutton and his Voldemort-looking bonce to fuck off.
https://twitter.com/Warnskagz/status/948496281147662336
@PeterDutton_MP Been out 3 nights in a row to a restaurant. No fear here. #auspol #vicpol #MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/YHn2xgQcda
— 🕯Lt Wenchy🕯 (@lt_wenchy) January 3, 2018
Hey @PeterDutton_MP. Melbourne isn’t buying your cheap scaremongering and racism. Utter fabricated bullshit. #yum #melbournebitesback @GetUp pic.twitter.com/KSI1MEGEfp
— Paul Edbrooke MP (@paul4frankston) January 3, 2018
Our editor went out for desert and not a gang in sight, who’d’ve thought. Guess they’ve taken the evening off ay @PeterDutton_MP ? Or maybe you’re just an ignorant piece of crap?#MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/2UoYiLfhQu
— Djed Press (@djed_press) January 3, 2018
Absolutely fearing for my life now as I finish my dinner in a Melbourne restaurant #MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/5u9rJXnb9b
— Tim (@TimothyJ_23) January 3, 2018
Had a lovely Ethiopian meal for dinner out in Melbourne tonight. Everyone else in the packed restaurant certainly didn’t seem scared of ‘African’ street crime! More dinner less @PeterDutton_MP I reckon #MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/1UA5CcIsBM
— Olivia Hartigan (@OliviaBHartigan) January 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/matttburke/status/948479074095083522
We’re not afraid of your fear mongering, @PeterDutton_MP Melbourne won’t stand for your racism. #MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/A3pXdbbVCF
— GetUp! (@GetUp) January 3, 2018
At dinner in beautiful Melbourne local pub, full of people who are #notafraidofPeterDutton #MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/XPmGR7D8cj
— Lisa (@LDMelb) January 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/Chemu18Cheryl/status/948472827996286979
Absolutely terrified of this amazing meal, @PeterDutton_MP, you flog. #MelbourneBitesBack pic.twitter.com/wsWSqR5QLP
— J Bragas 💉💉 (@nightshadefan) January 3, 2018
Fuck, now I’m bloody hungry again.
Nice work Dutton, a bunch of people just had a lovely evening because of you, you fascist weirdo. Also: fun reminder that Victoria saw around a 6% reduction in crime from 2016 to 2017.