Politicians Peter Dutton and Eric Abetz are two of that tribe firmly believing they are the righteous, not only bleating balefully about those supporting same-sex marriages, but now finding a common bond in denigrating the knitters of Australia. That really was a foolish move.

What a narrow-minded little group of neo-conservatives we have in Parliament, determined to ignore the wishes of the majority of Australians.

‘Go back to your knitting’ they sneered nastily when the CEOs of a number of Australia’s largest companies chose to take a stand and endorse the same-sex marriage bill, supporting the idea of parliamentarians voting on the bill, rather than a plebiscite. I can almost hear their scathing inference ‘don’t be such a girl’ thrown at the CEOs.

I don’t object to the sneering put-downs at the corporate boys. They’re big enough to handle that rhetoric. What I object to is scorning our knitters, some so skilful they are recognised as artists in their own right. Knitters create everything from simple scarves to complex brilliant garments.

What a couple of ignoramuses those two fellows represent!  It would be easy to suggest they simply lack maturity or compassion, but why bother. Ignorance is what they demonstrate and ignorant is what they will continue to be.

These two likely lads have obviously missed out on some critical history of the past – the French Revolution. If they had read the Tale of Two cities they would know of the Tricoteuses, the market women of Versailles who spent their days knitting beside the guillotine as the nobility lost their heads. It was hunger that drove those women to marshal their numbers as they knitted the famous ‘liberty’ cap which is still recognised today in France; just as women in the eighteenth century were expected to use their free time productively, so to do women today.

Women of today are gathering in strength around issues common to the twenty-first century, and they are demanding to be heard.  Peter Dutton nearly lost his head at the last election. The next may well be his last.

In Australia today we have a very forthright group of strong women who are making a mark in society with knitting as their symbol of insurrection and revolution.  A knitted yellow beret is their trademark.  They call themselves KNAG (Knitting Nannas against Gas) and their creed is:

‘We peacefully and productively protest against the destruction of our land, air, and water by corporations and/or individuals who seek profit and personal gain from the short-sighted and greedy plunder of our natural resources. We support energy generation from renewable sources, and sustainable use of our other natural resources. We sit, knit, plot, have a yarn and a cuppa, and bear witness to the war against those who try to rape our land and divide our communities.  

‘We want to leave this land better than we found it, for our children, grandchildren and future generations. They deserve to have a future with a clean and healthy environment, natural beauty and biodiversity’.

Their creed rings honestly in this barren political landscape of ours today.

There aren’t many scarier things than a forthright woman in her prime. Include environmentalists and same-sex marriage proponents...and knitters, wherever you are, and Dutton and co. face a formidable foe.

ANNIE YOUNG