Pascoe letter to the Minister of communications

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The Hon Paul Fletcher, 

Minister for Communications 

Dear Minister, 

I have introduced myself in the attached ABC letter. I am writing on behalf of many of my people to beg you to do something and call for an investigation in the manner in which the ABC has been promoting Bruce Pascoe. I wrote to you previously and received a shameful bureaucratic response. It was clear to me the letter did not reach you. I have heard Sky News when referring the growing ABC bias many times say, where is the Minister for Communications? Sky has become the voice of the 'quiet Australians' and its ratings are growing. 

Jacinta Price and I request a meeting with you in the first week of parliament. 

I am forwarding the ABC letter, addressed to the Chairwoman, Ita Buttrose and Managing Director, David Anderson concerning Bruce Pascoe and the continuing support the ABC gives to not only to Pascoe's unsubstantiated claim to Aboriginal ancestry but also the offensive distortion of the 

facts. 

My people are particularly offended by the fact 'Young Dark Emu' (the children's version based on 'Dark Emu'), is being distributed to primary and infant school children and I have written to the Minister for Education calling for his help. The ABC corporation continues to promote Pascoe, his books and his false ancestry claims. I have also written to Minister Dutton requesting the matter be investigated by the AFP and it has been referred. I have suggested Australia needs to do something to stop false Aboriginal ancestry claims. After all, it is the 21st century and DNA tests exist. 

I have called for a conference between elders, traditional owners and other experts to decide on the most sensible way forward and noted Canada, the USA and other countries require identity proof. False identity claims are harming my people 'on the ground' who continually complain to me about the growing number of people making claims. Unfortunately privileged 

Australians are too far removed from Aboriginal community devastation false claims cause 'on the ground'. 

As you will determine from reading the ABC letter, Pascoe claims Aboriginal people were not hunter and gatherers and offers no supporting evidence. Pascoe has distorted historical explorer quotes which has offended eminent Professor Geoffrey Blainey, other scholars and writers who have written 

books and articles about his distortions. 

It is profoundly offensive to Aboriginal people to witness our proud hunter gatherer heritage being distorted. If you are one of the many  federal politicians who supports Bruce Pascoe and believes Aboriginal people sustained agricultural settlements when the British arrived, I invite you 

to read the ABC letter and reconsider. As has been questioned in the 

letter: What native indigenous animal species could be harnessed to help us plough the land, move heavy building materials needed for housing, yards, silos and wells, as Pascoe claims were part of Aboriginal settlements when 

the British arrived. What animals could facilitate the transportation 

needed when settled in one place? No cultural evidence exists in our sacred creation stories, dances, songs and ancient ceremonies. Anthropologists and archaeologists have found no physical, spiritual or cultural evidence. Most importantly: What is wrong with hunter gatherers? 

Why has Pascoe been permitted to promote his theories for so long? Why is the government turning a 'blind eye' to Aboriginal identity fraud? Why is 

the Pascoe children's book version being distributed to young and 

vulnerable children and why is Pascoe and his books being promoted on the ABC? 

My people are proud of the fact we lived in harmony with nature for 

thousands of years. There was no need for houses, we drank from pristine waterways and we roamed this ancient sacred land in an orderly manner which has been documented in our art, our body paintings, our songs, our language and in our ancient ceremonies. 

I would appreciate you taking action to support Aboriginal people and 

request the ABC investigate this matter properly and report not only to 

yourself but to the Australian people in the form of an apology. We look forward to discussing this with you. 

Yours sincerely, 

Josephine Cashman