Australian Examples of Reverse Speech

Here are a few selected reversals found on Prime Minister John Howard over the years. For the most part, he is congruent. In other words, he believes in his policies and himself although there may be a tendency for him to be sly and withhold facts.

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John Howard in Parliament: Remember the scum and we laugh

John Howard in Parliament: This little fuck, give it up

Howard: Innocent, need our money (talking about Australian social security - his concern is genuine)

Howard: No standard (being questioned in parliament about intelligence reports on the Bali bombings - reversal implies poor protocols)

Howard - We send him out to say our lesson (Sending the Minister out to spread the party line)

Howard: They will fuck the tourists (On terrorists attacks in Bali. He believes there are more coming.)

Howard: Forgive me, don't see this (At Bali bombing memorial - he feels responsibility)

Howard: The worst you've seen (Justifying our involvement in Iraq, he is congruent about his concerns over Iraq)

Howard: But I am either sly or off (talking about terror suspects - he is not telling us the whole story)

Howard: The ship fight, yield the guns (He will be strong on illegal fishing)

Howard: Mug these folks (Talking about Mark Latham, leader of the opposition)

Howard: And we'd argue (talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger - future conflicts?)

The following reversals were found on Opposition leader Mark Latham during an interview he gave in 2003, prior to accepting the leadership of the Labor Party.

Latham: I owned it (He is owning up to the forward statements)
Latham: Is the source enough (wondering if the funding sources are sufficient)
Latham: God save a new divorce (meaning unknown)

The case of Azaria Chamberlain has captured the attention of the Australian public for 24 years now. Ever since the young baby was taken by a dingo at Ayres Rock on 17th August 1980, controversy has raged as to what really happened. The child's mother, Lindy Chamberlain, served 3 years in a Northern Territory jail for the murder of her child until evidence was discovered that exonerated her. Now, there is a new twist in the case with a man coming forward claiming that he saw the dead child in a dingo's mouth, shot the dingo and the child's body was disposed of. The man was interviewed on Channel 9's "A Current Affair" in July 2004. Click here to download that interview

Conclusion

Frank appears to be telling a true story, Lindy Chamberlain has anger inside her still and Michael Chamberlain appears to believe Frank's tale. Congratulations to A Current Affair who thoroughly investigated the story.

Transcript - First Interview

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Reporter: "We've spent the past fortnight investigating Frank's claim, trying to fit the pieces of this fascinating jig saw together." We make it certain we aren't off (The reporters have thoroughly checked their facts)

Lindy: "That makes me extremely angry indeed cos its needless, it is totally needless and its wrong." So damn you (She is upset)

Frank: "The baby was dead." So we dealt with that (Gives extra information to tale.)

Frank; "Asked later what happened to the baby and the chappie said to me, you don't want to know." I'm a nobody (A simple aussie bloke)

Other man: "All this business of it being in somebody's back yard, I think that's too blooming silly for words cos there's a million acres of land up there." Desert. Sir, would you listen a bit (Reinforcing his point)

Frank: "I've told my story and that's all I can do." Burden, but I lost that (He has lost a burden he has carried by telling his story.)

Lindy: "Its in the past now, there's no point holding grudges." Thats a lanced heart (She still carries the pain.)

Second Interview

Download interview here

Frank: "My favourite Grandson, I told him about it and he said, well to be quite honest Grandad, he said, you've gone down in my estimation." Heard this in it (His Grandson's word's hit home.)

Michael: "When you shot the dingo, you discovered that it had my daughter." They did it (He believes Frank's tale)

Woman: "And I looked into his eyes and he had a terrible sadness there in his eyes and it really upset me too." The sores, seen a reason (She has empathy for Michael)

Michael: "I want to tell you to your face that I bare no grudge towards you." Selfish delight (He has no grudge, he is personally delighted.)

Frank: "Michael, that's exactly what I want to do and I want to say that I'm terribly sorry." Know I know it (He unconsciously reinforces his story.)

Transcript prepared for the SBS show "Speaking in Tongues" - 30/11/05

Here are a few selected reversals found on Prime Minister John Howard in the two interviews I was supplied with. Click on reversal to listen to it

Howard First Interview

Howard: It has thus far been a quite uncontroversial amendment.”
Dark fear ***

Howard:  Its an amendment that effectively substitutes the definite article describing a terrorist with the indefinite article.
They name innocent

Howard: I indicated to them that the government would, depending on continuing operational advice, decide today whether to go ahead with his amendment
Inept with hurdle and bugger it

Howard: The amendment will not alter the independent action of law enforcement authorities
See the wrath ***

Howard: I am satisfied on what I have been told --- the national security committee ministers are satisfied that is the case….
See that desert

Howard: As to how the opposition responds, I do not seek in any way to speak for the opposition.
They have cement hole (referring to the opposition)
 

Howard Second Interview

 Howard: It is therefore appropriate that I say something about them to an audience which overwhelmingly is of an industry that is made up of small to medium entrepreneurs
Got to be careful ***

 Howard: I know there are some large companies that are members of HIA
Who feel the black foul 

 Howard: that is a recipe of the economic progress of today stalling tomorrow
It was so lousy ***

JOHN SAFFRON SECOND SHOW

Saffron: So who was this girl, who was she, in grade 6, who was she
Your show is this (Note forward comments on show immediately afterwards) ***

Priest: I presume you’ve got to allow people what they chose to do
That ugly measure / i give a new source ***

Saffron: “He’s like some whacko Christian  or whatever.”
Your hell

Saffron: I asked him what my cut was, anyway over this breakfast.
Soul fucked. I’m on fire

Guest One: so it would be correct to say I must have done something unwise in the past otherwise I would not have got this illness
Your soul with that’s happened

Guest One: I think its very empowering, the past really doesn’t matter, even a moment ago is gone
Her lamb inside you suffered

More Australian related reversals can be heard here
Many more general examples of Reverse Speech can be heard here

"Whoever looks into the face of the water will first of all see his own face. Whoever goes to himself risks a confrontations with himself. The mirror does not flatter, it faithfully shows whatever looks into it; namely the face we never show to the world because we cover it with the Persona, the mask of the actor. But the mirror shows the true face. This confrontation is the first test of courage on the inner way, a test sufficient to frighten off most people." Carl Jung