BEN QUIN
The co-incidence of news breaking on two fronts last week cannot be let to pass.
First, the Government’s “anti-bogan image” ad campaign being withdrawn for fear it was too cheesy. Second, the public awakening caused by the murder of Hobart University student Zhang Yu, that Tasmanian bogans have been making life hell for many overseas students.
Tasmania does have a bogan under-belly and we should be ashamed of it. It speaks of long term failure in our communities, education system, public leadership and economy. Many of our public spaces are bordering on social dysfunction. Who has not witnessed behaviour in our city malls and on our roads that is severely intimidating. What action did we take?
Forget cheesy ads. It is time for every person of good-will in Tasmania to let the bogans know, in civil terms, that they need to lift their standards. It should not be left to students visiting from overseas to mount this campaign.
