Jordan Peterson hits out at Qantas over his country’s recognition: ‘Keep flying and making money’
Jordan Peterson has lashed out at Qantas, just months after lambasting the airline for playing indigenous country recognition on one of its flights.
The controversial psychologist shared a screenshot of an article written by Herald Sun columnist Rita Panahi that celebrated the early resignation of airline CEO Alan Joyce.
“Good riddance to the man who transformed Qantas from ‘the spirit of Australia’ into an arrogant, underperforming and overcharging militant airline,” Panahi wrote.
Qantas’ reputation has been damaged following controversy over its flight credits, complaints from the ACCC, an attempt to block additional flights from Qatar Airways and the awarding to the son of the Prime minister of an executive chairman pass.
It led to Mr Joyce resigning on Tuesday – bringing his resignation two months after he was questioned during a Senate hearing last week.
Dr Peterson then suggested that the country’s recognition message displayed by the airline on flights resembled propaganda seen in countries like China and North Korea.
“The worst propaganda of all the airlines,” he wrote.
“Even though I haven’t traveled to China or North Korea. Do they have planes in North Korea?
His latest comments come after he criticized a country acknowledgment played to passengers on his flight to Perth in November last year.
“I could really do without the land reconnaissance propaganda delivered to me by corporate giant @Qantas,” he wrote.
“I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling this. Stick to (1) stealing and (2) making money.
“I don’t want or need any moral lessons from you or any other society.”
Controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson has exposed Qantas
There has been a significant increase in Welcome to Country practices over the past decade, everywhere from the workplace to seminars to national sporting events.
A welcome home event can only be hosted by the traditional owners or custodians of the lands on which an event is taking place. In cases where a traditional owner is not available, a country reconnaissance can be carried out instead.
But some Aboriginal activists say such practices are becoming so common that they are meaningless and making the general public “apathetic” towards Indigenous Australians.
Kiescha Haines-Jamieson, an Aboriginal activist from Western Australia, said: “It was never intended for the opening of football matches or corporate and social events,” she said.
“It was actually a practice used to secure clearance and safe passage to and across tribal borders and now it is so widespread that it has made people apathetic.”
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price made similar arguments regarding the overuse of welcome ceremonies in the country.
She has previously said she is tired of being “symbolically recognised” and explained that First Nations people want to be recognized and respected by their character rather than their race.
“Personally, I’ve had more than enough to be symbolically recognized,” she said.
After watching the welcome home ceremony ahead of the State of Origin game two, Ms Nampijinpa Price told 2GB’s Ben Fordham that she found such ceremonies “a bit narcissistic”.
She said: “I’m sick of these recognitions because of nothing but my racial heritage.
“It is every day that I salute, honor and acknowledge the First Nations Indigenous peoples in the room, why?
“Why, you don’t even know everyone in the room and why are we just singled out, just because of our race, it’s divisive.”
