This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/03/tony-abbott-calls-razor-against-neck-image-on-newspaper-cover-awful-stuff

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tony Abbott calls razor-against-neck image on newspaper cover 'awful stuff' Tony Abbott calls razor-against-neck image for newspaper cover 'awful stuff'
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Abbott has called on political opponents to refrain from any suggestion of physical violence, after a Socialist Alternative newspaper cover depicted the prime minister with a razor against his neck. Tony Abbott has called on political opponents to refrain from any suggestion of physical violence, after a planned Socialist Alternative newspaper cover depicted the prime minister with a razor against his neck.
In a radio interview on Thursday, Abbott said he believed that some comments posted on social media were “much worse than the awful stuff even in fringe media”.In a radio interview on Thursday, Abbott said he believed that some comments posted on social media were “much worse than the awful stuff even in fringe media”.
Red Flag, a newspaper established by the Socialist Alternative with an aim of “supporting resistance” and fighting for socialism, published the planned cover of its next issue with an image of a razor against Abbott’s neck and the words “one cut we’d like to see”. Red Flag, a newspaper established by the Socialist Alternative with an aim of “supporting resistance” and fighting for socialism, publicised the planned cover of its next issue with an image of a razor against Abbott’s neck and the words “one cut we’d like to see”. The image was subsequently withdrawn.
Abbott told Fairfax Radio 3AW such portrayals “should not have any place in our public discourse”.Abbott told Fairfax Radio 3AW such portrayals “should not have any place in our public discourse”.
“We have some pretty big arguments in this country and we feel passionate about things and that's good, but the last thing we want to do is to suggest that people who we disagree with should be in some way physically harmed,” he said.“We have some pretty big arguments in this country and we feel passionate about things and that's good, but the last thing we want to do is to suggest that people who we disagree with should be in some way physically harmed,” he said.
“We are seeing right now in the Middle East what happens when public discourse degenerates into killing, so I think the less suggestions – even if it's not really meant seriously – the less suggestions along those lines the better.”“We are seeing right now in the Middle East what happens when public discourse degenerates into killing, so I think the less suggestions – even if it's not really meant seriously – the less suggestions along those lines the better.”
Abbott said his family members were not political tragics or media junkies so it was possible they had not noticed the Red Flag cover.Abbott said his family members were not political tragics or media junkies so it was possible they had not noticed the Red Flag cover.
“I daresay if they had seen it they would probably think well, you know, [it's] typical of the kind of awful stuff which goes around,” he said. “To be honest, the awful stuff on social media is much worse than the awful stuff even in fringe media.”“I daresay if they had seen it they would probably think well, you know, [it's] typical of the kind of awful stuff which goes around,” he said. “To be honest, the awful stuff on social media is much worse than the awful stuff even in fringe media.”
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Socialist Alternative said the cover artwork “drew inspiration from Michael Callaghan's classic 1977 poster ‘Give [Malcolm] Fraser the Razor’, which today hangs in the National Gallery”.In a statement posted on Facebook, the Socialist Alternative said the cover artwork “drew inspiration from Michael Callaghan's classic 1977 poster ‘Give [Malcolm] Fraser the Razor’, which today hangs in the National Gallery”.
Red Flag editors Corey Oakley and Ben Hillier said the razor was “clearly metaphorical”, just as were cartoons depicting Bill Shorten knifing Julia Gillard in the back, but the image would be withdrawn “due to legal concerns”.Red Flag editors Corey Oakley and Ben Hillier said the razor was “clearly metaphorical”, just as were cartoons depicting Bill Shorten knifing Julia Gillard in the back, but the image would be withdrawn “due to legal concerns”.
They argued it was “the height of hypocrisy” to criticise the cover while defending a government whose asylum seeker policies would expose people to the risk of returning to torture or persecution.They argued it was “the height of hypocrisy” to criticise the cover while defending a government whose asylum seeker policies would expose people to the risk of returning to torture or persecution.
The Socialist Alternative previously caused a stir when a banner appeared at a marriage equality rally depicting Abbott with a hangman's noose around his neck alongside a call to stop homophobia “or else”.The Socialist Alternative previously caused a stir when a banner appeared at a marriage equality rally depicting Abbott with a hangman's noose around his neck alongside a call to stop homophobia “or else”.
The federal police said in September 2013 they were assessing a number of social media pages and comments, after several Facebook pages referred to “assassinating” Abbott.The federal police said in September 2013 they were assessing a number of social media pages and comments, after several Facebook pages referred to “assassinating” Abbott.
In 2012 the conservative radio host Alan Jones repeatedly suggested that Gillard should be placed in a “chaff bag” and left out at sea.In 2012 the conservative radio host Alan Jones repeatedly suggested that Gillard should be placed in a “chaff bag” and left out at sea.
The same year, the Liberal-aligned lobbyist and commentator Grahame Morris apologised for saying: “You know all of these blinking bleeding heart Labor lawyers from here on end, screaming bloody hypocrites they are; they ought to be out there kicking her [Gillard] to death.”The same year, the Liberal-aligned lobbyist and commentator Grahame Morris apologised for saying: “You know all of these blinking bleeding heart Labor lawyers from here on end, screaming bloody hypocrites they are; they ought to be out there kicking her [Gillard] to death.”