Commenting on the opinion piece: Taylor Walker racism response shows we have a long way to go

Thank you Joel – I agree full-heartedly with your view.

A supporter at a game who is caught racially vilifying a player is banned for life from attending any future games. Yet here we see the rules change for an ‘employee’ of the game. Someone who is meant to lead by example. 

I watched this scripted, media-focused so-called apology and my blood boiled. Yet again, Aboriginal people are expected to be leaned on, to teach and accept an apology. When does it stop, when do we get treated without prejudice? 

Will Walker be booed for the next however many games he plays? Will he be booed as he walks through his town? I doubt it very much. #istandwithadam – Lana Johnson

I could not disagree more with Mr Bayliss. Robbie Young made a gracious and courageous gesture in accepting Walker’s apology. It’s called being conciliatory and healing.

There is nothing to gain but further division and a maintaining of any racism that exists in society by not acknowledging  a genuine remorseful acceptance of guilt. It’s about learning and moving forward. Well done Robbie Young. Should one forever live with a gross error they now regret and have publicly apologised for? – John Lewis

Well said Joel. A shout out to every non Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to call out racism! – Donny Walford

Whilst the author gave us some good history and information, I don’t agree with his argument that a “victim” should not show some forgiveness.

I think Robbie should be praised for some forgiveness, not berated for a nice gesture. – Patrick Secker

Joel Bayliss – thank you for sharing and I am sorry. I am sorry for 233 years and every single day this continues.

I’m not a football fan (cricket tragic and that has its own issues), but just watching it unfold from the sidelines breaks my heart. Thank you to yourself and your fellow First Nations leaders for your commentary. I hear your tiredness, I hear your sadness, I hear your frustration. In return, I promise to keep trying, to constantly self-reflect and to aim to call out what I witness.

I will not lean on you but I will learn from you and I will strive to be there for you to lean on me. – Taryn Alderdice

Whilst we were all shocked at the comment made by Tex, I felt that it was a good sincere apology from him, and Robbie reaching out to him showed genuine forgiveness. Surely there is always room for compassion.

Walker asked for help. Robbie seems prepared to do that. It makes him( Robbie) an incredible person. Let’s not overanalyse everything and allow the healing to begin.– Maria Russell

Walker is not the aggrieved party. I felt really sorry for Robbie Young who looked slightly stunned as he might well do, sitting behind the great white man offering him sympathy because he himself had been offended by him.

If this is someone’s version of reconciliation we have an awfully long way to go. The sooner that Walker walks out of my club, the better for all concerned. – Aura Valli

Commenting on the story: Warning that Kangaroo Island forests will burn again after port bid axed

To just push over hundreds of thousands of trees and then burn them seems a catastrophe; for KI, the housing industry in need of building timber, and the CO2 into the atmosphere and global warming. What a waste and negative impact this would have.

Surely the state authorities should help construct a positive solution to the aftermath of the 2019 KI bushfires that does not exacerbate the negative consequences of the bushfires. – Leon Lack