Greg Clancy exposes the truth about Al Grassby, "Father of Multiculturalism" and past Minister for Immigration.

This article was originally published as a pamphlet by Sunda Publications - see end of article for further details.

Q: In which national capital was a statue recently unveiled glorifying a criminal?

A: Canberra.

Q: Who was responsible for spending $70,000 of public money to pay tribute to this criminal?

A: The Stanhope government.

Q: Why would elected representatives of the people, who swear an oath of loyalty and honesty, use public funds to commemorate probably the most corrupt individual to set foot inside an Australian parliament since Federation?

A: Well, this is where it becomes murky. When a government decision lacks logic, truth, common sense, and the most basic level of public morality, questions arise but sensible answers cannot be found. The Grassby statue is an unashamed exposure of the brazen political indecency that continues to support a man whose divisive community policies were exceeded only by his greed and criminal behaviour.

Grassby was not brought to account for his crimes. A combination of influence and "the system" that operates in favour of current and former politicians ensured that he would never serve a day in jail. But like everything else, political protection has its limits. The truth about Grassby slowly eased its way through the protective filters, but the exposures were intercepted by another form of protection - a silence by the large majority of those in the media whose duty to report was replaced by a greater perceived duty to support a man to whom they had grovelled for decades. This echoed the ignorant belief that Grassby was actually working for the common good. Rather than publicly admitting their mistake, it was preferable to ignore the criminal behaviour and fantasise about the invented and misguided intentions of the past.


Grassby the Criminal

The full extent of Grassby's crimes will never be known. One only knows what public exposure and private research will allow. Cover-up and protection have looked after the rest. Grassby's record ensures that many questions will never be answered. How many people bought their way into Australia via a Grassby connection? How many criminals entered the country with the personal blessing of the man himself? How much cash passed into Grassby's hands from minority groups seeking "special favours" from within the Immigration Department while Grassby was minister, and for the years that followed?

It goes on and on because the nature of Grassby's known crimes and connections only raises more and more questions. Yes, Grassby was on the payroll of the mafia that previously operated in the Griffith region. Yes, Grassby did attempt to divert attention from the mafia by endeavouring to spread outlandish lies in the NSW and South Australian parliaments concerning the family of Donald Mackay, murdered by the mafia for his anti-drug campaigning. And yes, he did override decisions by immigration officers in Italy to allow mafia personnel to enter Australia. This is the man the Stanhope government has chosen to permanently recognize as a very special citizen.


Implications for the ACT Government

What does the statue say about the people who wasted public funds to recognise a man who corruptly wasted considerably more public funds? Were they misguided fools lacking the basic intelligence to understand the consequences of their actions? Were they trying to promote a vote-buying cause for the Labor party in an election year? Do they have a level of personal morality as low as that of Grassby, causing them to think he was an all-right guy and blinding them to the absurdity of their decision?

It is about here that we exhaust the possibilities and stab away at what we may construe as the likely reason - and whatever we finish up with, it is not good. Low intelligence, low personal morality or corrupt political practices - the Stanhope ministers can take their pick.


Other Contributors

In a democracy, government decision-making processes are subject to a control mechanism called the opposition. A government proposal that is clearly contrary to the public interest should receive critical attention from opposition parties. So where was the political opposition to the Stanhope government's proposal to erect the statue? Why did John Howard not express the view "I will not see a statue erected to praise a crook in my capital city!" The silence of the political lambs not only had the effect of assisting the endorsement of the project, it also raised the question, once again, why politicians from all parties could remain frozen while the ludicrous and insulting idea was allowed to proceed.


The Political Fear Factor - The Multicultural Vote

If nothing else, the Grassby statue demonstrates just how pervasive the multicultural vote remains in Australian politics, as it is clear that this may be critical in almost any election. However, the politicians swear an oath to the people - to all the people - and acting in the interests of the total community is a fundamental responsibility expected from all those who allow themselves to be elected to public office. We know about political reality and human weaknesses, but the representatives of the people have an obligation not to remain silent while the national capital administration utilises taxpayer funds for such a shameful project.

Do not upset the multicultural vote, no matter what the financial and community price - remains at the forefront of political strategy within the major parties.

To understand how the Grassby ideas still control the thoughts and actions of the politicians in a parliamentary democracy is to understand the unspoken depth of political corruption in Australia today.


What was Grassby's Contribution?

Like any government policy or program, the answer to its success, or otherwise, may be determined by reviewing the results. The policy of multiculturalism, for which Grassby continues to be remembered as the "father", has functioned at huge public expense for over three decades. This period has allowed for mistakes to be corrected, decisions to be fine-tuned and the results to be measured. So what exactly has occurred under the banner of multiculturalism during and after Grassby's period of input?

The most obvious success of multiculturalism in Australia has been the financial benefits to the army of people who have hung off the policy by a variety of means. The multicultural system is inbred with corrupt practices - and little wonder. With a low-life criminal like Grassby deemed the "father", it may be quietly guaranteed that the sleaziness has always seeped further down.

Grassby set the pace in encouraging a growth industry that exploited taxpayers' funds - squeezing what could be extracted from doubtful immigration and refugee cases, claims for compensation and questionable payments to various groups and individuals within the multicultural system.

As for the policy itself, what is the legacy to the Australian people? Social division, the promotion of differences, the retention of platforms for old-world hatreds and suspicions, a huge increase in ethnic crime, the promotion of cultural "superiorities", a substantial reduction in national cohesion and an increased threat to Australia from within have all been consequences of the protected policy of multiculturalism.

In the U.K., Canada and New Zealand multiculturalism has failed, and while the policy remains a yolk on the back of taxpayers and the entire social system in Australia, the politicians remain silent.

Grassby's success may be attributed to his idea of "getting along" with anyone who could be of benefit to him. Not overly-gifted with intelligence, he enthusiastically snivelled his way to the top via political patronage and then used his new powers to corruptly line his pockets, do favours for gangsters and to part ways with any sense of public responsibility.


Spare a Moment for the Mackay Family

Bearing in mind the supposed principles of justice in this country, it is difficult to understand how this family could be treated with the contempt thrust upon it by the ACT Government.

Firstly, Donald Mackay is murdered for campaigning against drug production and trafficking in the Griffith area. This was not his responsibility, but with corrupt local police and corrupt politicians in Sydney, a concerned citizen chose to act.

Then that horror was relived by the family when Grassby, acting on behalf of his criminal benefactors, attempted, in a crude and primeval manner, to divert the investigation into the murder away from Grassby's friends to the Mackay family. This most despicable of acts was subsequently exposed, but for the family, the trifecta of torment had one more insult to come - the statue commemorating the man whose only positive contribution to society was to unwittingly expose the depth of political corruption.

Rather than the apologies the Mackay family deserves, it has received insults. Rather than an offer of understanding from the politicians who had the power to stop these tragic events, they have received silence.

In a recent television production detailing the circumstances of the Donald Mackay murder, a Griffith resident interviewed on the program suggested a memorial should be raised for Donald and Barbara Mackay. In a nauseous mockery of the truth and basic justice, the Stanhope government has produced its own memorial - in celebration of the man who attempted to protect Donald's murderers, and later to destroy his widow.


The Last Laugh

On the front cover of my book, The Conspiracies of Multiculturalism - the Betrayal that Divided Australia, is the undisguised outline of a laughing Grassby. This is because, in the end, it is the nation's political and justice systems that have been compromised allowing Al to have the last laugh - and why shouldn't he laugh? To set new levels and means of corruption, to have the National Crime Authority suddenly, and strangely, terminate its investigation of his criminal past, to make a mockery of the law generally, to humiliate his wife with his numerous affairs - it goes on and on - all leading to a statue in his "honour", is hardly complementary to a nation that unhesitatingly condemns the legal processes in foreign countries that jail Australian drug smugglers.

Hypocrisy is a word that comes to mind.

Greg Clancy is the author of The People Smugglers - The People Smuggling Industry and the Secret Cost to Australia, and The Conspiracies of Multiculturalism -The Betrayal that Divided Australia.

Sunda Publications has released this commentary as a public interest document. Responses may be directed to PO. Box 353, Gordon, NSW 2072 or email to info@sundapublications.com.au       Greg Clancy may be contacted on 0419 638 822.