BY ARUN PRADHAN
MELBOURNE — Forget about the Gold Coast, the next series of Big Brother should be televised from the Woomera refugee detention centre according to comedian Rod Quantock. After all, "it's all ready to go, all you need is the cameras", he told Green Left Weekly. This is just one proposal to be put forward in Quantock's new show, Boredom Protection Policy, which opens here on July 30.
Many people might think that the Australian governments' anti-refugee policies would not be the basis for a comedy show. These people have obviously not crossed paths with Quantock. The Coalition government's policies were easy to laugh at "because they are so absurd", Quantock pointed out. The show will also cover the collapse of US corporations and George Bush's "war on terror".
As well as being topical, Quantock's comedy is at once intelligent, relaxed and, for those in his cross-hairs, positively brutal. A modern day jester who targets the antics of the ruling elites, Quantock has provided invaluable support to countless community and campaigning groups.
While he is often pigeon-holed as a "lefty agitator", Quantock claims that he does not intend to be left-wing, but sees him self as a "critic" in a world that has moved significantly to the right.
"Things were frustratingly quiet under Whitlam, magazines like the National Review suddenly stopped criticising when he got in, even though there was need for it", Quantock told GLW. "It really started with the ALP under Bob Hawke. Hawke embraced big business and big media, which also forced the Liberals to leap-frog them to the right. They've been pushing each other to the right under the pressure of neoclassical economics and massive corporate junkets ever since", Quantock said.
"It's fantastic now because everyone knows that both major parties are shit, and they are both open to scrutiny and criticism... it's really a blessed time for comedy."
Quantock is perhaps best known in Victoria for his very public opposition to previous Coalition state government led by Premier Jeff Kennett. When Kennett lost government in a shock election result, Quantock complained that "it's probably going to ruin my career". Unfortunately, Victorian Labor Premier Steve Bracks and Prime Minister John Howard have kept Quantock's satirical skills more than busy.
Quantock's knowledge of social issues and current affairs makes you forget that this is the same man who years ago carried a rubber chicken on a stick as he led mystery tours through the streets of Melbourne. But despite his insight and grasp of politics, Quantock insists that "there's nothing funny about solutions".
Despite many requests, Quantock has consistently refused to join political parties or run for parliament. He once nominated as a candidate but withdrew in fear that he might win. "If I had all the answers I wouldn't be a comedian, I'd become a messiah", Quantock concluded, clearly content in continuing to play the jester.
[Boredom Protection Policy runs from July 30 to August 23, 8pm at Victorian Trades Hall Council. Tickets at the door or from Ticketmaster, phone 1300 136 166.]
From Green Left Weekly, July 24, 2002.
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