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Public outrage at Australia's arts community has been further stoked by a new musical satire on the Beaconsfield mine disaster opening tonight at a Melbourne comedy festival.
The musical Beaconsfield: a musical in A-flat minor, comes as the nation is again gripped by a furious debate over photographer Bill Henson and a principal's decision to allow him to scout a primary school for children to photograph.
An exhibition by Henson that included photographs of naked children was shut down by police in May, but seized pictures were returned after legal advice that a prosecution would not succeed.
As Victorian authorities launched an investigation into the decision of a principal to allow Henson to look for potential models at St Kilda Park Primary School, new anger erupted at the Beaconsfield musical.
Miner Larry Knight was killed and workmates Todd Russell and Brant Webb were trapped 1km underground for two weeks after the northern Tasmanian mine collapsed on Anzac Day 2006.
The musical, by established comic writer Dan Ilic, will open tonight at the Melbourne Fringe Festival amid condemnation by the survivors, Knight's family, unionists, Beaconsfield officials and politicians.
Promotional material has billed the show as the "feelgood piss-take of the year" and contains fictitious quotes by Webb and TV investigative reporter Richard Carlton, who died of a heart attack while covering the tragedy.
The late reporter is subject of a song called Carlton Cardiac, and is quoted as saying from beyond the grave: "I'm glad I'm not alive to see it."
The material says that in the race for ratings journalists converged on Beaconsfield to tell the story the world wanted to hear: "Will these miners survive? Did they really poo in a helmet? And will they sell that helmet on Ebay?"
Ilic yesterday told the Age that the "A-flat minor" pun in the show's name had not been intentional and that the title would now be changed to Beaconsfield: The Musical.
He told ABC radio that the show was not an attack on the miners but on the media, and that he hoped their families had not been offended.
"It actually sits on the side of the miners," he said. "It sort of picks apart the management of the mine, it picks apart Macquarie Bank's involvement, it picks apart the media."
Russell told the ABC he was disgusted and appalled, and that the "A-flat Minor" in the title showed a lack of respect for Knight's family.
Webb told the Launceston Examiner that Knight's family should not have to deal with such hurtful incidents.
"I won't be going to see it and I hope no one else attends and supports such a show," he said.
Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett attacked the show as a publicity stunt, and the Australian Workers union, which represents the Beaconsfield miners, urged a boycott.
Meanwhile, the nation's political leaders yesterday joined anger at Henson's visit to St Kilda Park Primary School.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he was disgusted and that parents would be revolted and horrified.
Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said he was outraged by Henson's "totally inappropriate and unacceptable visit".
Victorian Premier John Brumby, who has ordered an investigation, also described the visit as inappropriate.
State Education Minister Bronwyn Pike told ABC radio that principal Sue Knight could face penalties ranging from a warning to dismissal, and that regulations regarding parental consent at schools might need to be clarified.
But the Age reported that Knight has been supported by the school council and by a number of parents, including Olympic rower James Tomkins and TV comedian Trevor Marmalade.
And while the visit has been criticised by the Australian Primary Principals Association, the Australian Education Union has attacked the "hysteria" surrounding the incident.
Victorian Principals Association president Fred Ackerman described the visit as an unfortunate mistake that was "most definitely innocent".
