Racist Attitudes Of Indigenous Australians In The Play 'No Sugar'

In No Sugar, Davis criticises the paternalistic and racist attitudes of those in positions of power which are based on the assumption that Indigenous Australians are an inferior race. The officials believe that the “Incompetent savages” need to be helped to take their place in Australian society. Condescendingly, they believe that this involves lessons in basic hygiene. Mr Neville believes that Aborigines should be shown how to use handkerchiefs and toilet paper and be given rations of soap. The soap symbolises the assumption that Indigenous Australians are dirty people.
In the context of 1980’s, when the play was performed, Australians were beginning to celebrate multiculturalism and so Davis encourages the audience to recognise the hypocritical