Premier Roger Cook slams singer Peter Garrett for sowing ‘seeds of hatred’ with Gina Rinehart rant

Roger Cook has lashed rock musician Peter Garrett for sowing “seeds of hatred” with a “completely inappropriate” taunt aimed at WA mining magnate Gina Rinehart during his Perth concert. The Premier called the singer, activist and former Federal politician “disrespectful” for urging his audience to “pretend they’re dancing on Gina Rinehart’s grave” during the Perth Festival show at East Perth Power Station on Friday night. Perth Festival chair and former State treasurer Ben Wyatt said performers sometimes “make fools of themselves” and should choose their words carefully. Festival sponsors who responded to queries from The West Australian on Sunday did not take issue with Garrett’s comments. As well as sledging Australia’s richest person, the 71-year-old Midnight Oil frontman — who was performing with his other band The Alter Egos — also criticised gas giant Woodside and US President Donald Trump between songs. Mr Cook said even though the arts were meant to “challenge” audiences, Garrett had gone too far. “He should know that sort of language is completely inappropriate,” he said. The State Government contributed $9.5 million to this year’s Perth Festival through Lotterywest, but Mr Cook would not say whether that funding would be reviewed. “We obviously want them to be careful that they comply with the standard of continuing to make WA a rich and desirable place to live,” Mr Cook said. “Talking about people’s graves, talking about well known Western Australians in that way is not part of it.” Asked for his advice to Perth Festival organisers, Mr Cook called for “a bit of kindness” to be put back into the system. “The arts has an important opportunity and an obligation to do that,” he said. “The arts are also there to challenge us and perhaps Peter Garrett thought that he was challenging the people of WA when he made his inappropriate comments. “He wasn’t, quite frankly, he was being disrespectful and sowing the sort of seeds of hatred that we do see around the place, so he’s got to stop.” Mr Wyatt said audience members would judge Garrett’s comments for themselves. “The beauty of freedom of expression is that occasionally, people make fools of themselves with it,” Mr Wyatt said. “The Perth Festival has always proudly provided a platform for artists from all over the planet, sometimes that platform is used well, sometimes not. “I suspect it will ultimately be in the eye of the beholder. “But when you have a platform and an unquenchable desire to say something, perhaps think of how you say it. “This year the Perth Festival has presented 380 artists, all with a perspective, some more articulate than others.” Liberal leader Libby Mettam condemned the remarks as “utterly appalling”, especially coming from someone “with such a public profile”. “Such offensive comments have no place in our society,” she said. “It would not matter which individual these comments are directed to, but a clear message certainly does need to be sent in relation to those comments.” The event is supported by some of WA’s biggest organisations, including the University of WA, Wesfarmers, the cities of Perth, Bayswater and Stirling, and Perdaman. But the Lotterywest grant funding for the event earned the government agency the title of “principal partner”, while it is also supported through the Tourism WA campaign, as well as through electricity supplier Synergy. Perth Festival has said it does not support censorship and is committed to providing a platform for diverse voices. “Perth Festival recognises that people will have many different perspectives, experiences and opinions that reflect the complexity and rich diversity of our community,” a spokesperson said. “Artistic expression is personal and views shared by artists are their own.” Sponsors contacted by The West said they had no issues with the comments. Lewis Paton-Ryan, general manager for long-term festival partner Audio Technik, said it fully supported the festival’s commitment to “artistic integrity and freedom of expression”. “To platform diverse voices is central to the mandate of the festival — the promotion of ‘a rich and diverse cultural and artistic life as a central characteristic of Western Australia’,” he said. “That cannot be achieved without an acceptance of diverse viewpoints, regardless of how they may challenge us.” A spokesperson for Lotterywest said the curation and management of the program and artists was Perth Festival’s responsibility.