Aboriginal cartoons ‘racist, offensive’

Press, 16 August 1980, Page 9

Aboriginal cartoons ‘racist, offensive’

NZPA ’ Sydney The veteran Australian cartoonist Eric Jolliffe believes the Anti-Dis-crimination Board is threatening his livelihood and his right to work. But the creator of “Witchetty’s Tribe” and “Saltbush Bill” said he was not about to be overterrified by “fatcat bureaucrats.” The board has accused Jolliffe of penning cartoons which are extremely offensive, full of racist stereotypes, and which depict Aboriginals as intellectual inferiors. He said a letter from the board had arrived at a magazine which publishes his work, asking it to make no more use of his cartoons.

Jolliffe has published the cartoons for 40 years, has filled more than 100 books with them and has sold more than 10 million copies of the books-. He said that if they were racist the Australian people would not want them. Jolliffe said he had spent a lifetime studying Aboriginals, their art and their culture — and for years he had tried to prom o t e understanding through nationwide lecture tours. He said few, if any, Australian artists could claim to know more about Aboriginals or respect them more than he did. Jolliffe said his cartoons were drawn for their humour and were there to be enjoyed by everyone.