Australians Are Standing With Author Bruce Pascoe After Peter Dutton Referred Him To The Police
'Dark Emu' by Bruce Pascoe has been the focus of ire from conservative commentators since November.
Author Bruce Pascoe, best-known for his acclaimed non-fiction work Dark Emu, has reportedly been referred to the police by Peter Dutton over claims Pascoe has benefited from misleading others about his Indigenous identity.
The claims that Pascoe has “lied” about being Indigenous have been pushed since late last year. Much of the criticism of the author has stemmed from a website called “Dark Emu Exposed”, which claims to “fact-check” much of the information in that book.
Dark Emu throws the settler narrative into crisis, and argues that Indigenous people cultivated farms and agriculture long before the arrival of white colonialist forces.
Peter Dutton refers matter of Bruce Pascoe identity to the Australian Federal Police for an investigation of alleged “dishonesty offences”. https://t.co/rgX3b58qLm
— Jack Latimore (@LatimoreJack) January 10, 2020
Similarly critical of the book has been conservative commentator Andrew Bolt, who has written extensively about Pascoe and his work in his columns.
Late yesterday, as reported by The Australian, Dutton became involved in the case after being contacted by Josephine Cashman. Cashman is a business leader who has used her personal Twitter account to retweet criticisms of Bruce Pascoe. Dutton has referred Pascoe’s case to the Australian Federal Police.
Complaint referred by indigenous woman Josephine Cashman who has been linking to some pretty wild stuff throughout this Dark Emu ‘Exposed’ organised hit https://t.co/NWToLaNpXe
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) January 10, 2020
The involvement of a leading member of the government in a case that has been pushed by right-wing columnists and reporters has shocked many Australians. On Twitter, supporters have rallied around Pascoe, noting that he has spent the last few months working as a volunteer firefighter.
dutton referring bruce pascoe to the AFP has just blown me away. a country afflicted with terminal facebook brain at the highest echelons of power
— henno (@jrhennessy) January 10, 2020
Bruce Pascoe's a fucking legend and he's been out fighting the fires while Peter Dutton and co sit in their offices cooking up ways to create a register of all aboriginal people so they can have their Rabbit Proof Fence sequel. Dark Emu is too strong for you @PeterDutton_MP pic.twitter.com/LVUn7aaFep
— Sick Wolf Tatt Timothy/ C o D (@dreadconquest) January 10, 2020
What the actual fuck? The cherry on top of this shit sandwich is that they pulled this shit while Bruce Pascoe is out their literally fighting fires as a RFS volunteer. https://t.co/0uXSdMqzOW
— Dani St. Clair (@dani_stclair) January 10, 2020
Now we know what the Minister for Home Affairs has been doing while #AustraliaBurns, including Bruce Pascoe's home town.
These fuckers have got to go. https://t.co/yniBAe0Ypl
— ?ɈⱯƧǾȠ ⱤƟṦƮⱭƝŦ? (@jrostant) January 10, 2020
More updates on this story are forthcoming.