by Geoff Kay
January 4, 2000
This is part of a series of articles covering the previous year. A year when One Nation went to sleep. I hope to be able show you; issues and opportunities that One Nation let slip by, opportunities for positive publicity and opportunities for building a more inclusive and positive rapport; within the Party and with the public.
NOV-DEC
Well here we are at the end of the year. This part is where the proverbial hit the fan... yet again. Instead of expending energy on "fighting the good fight," the Executive, once again turns its time, energy and lamentable people skills, on its own membership. The cause of this unnecessary turmoil... COMMANDMENT 8...
8. THOU SHALT BELIEVE THE TWO dAVIdS ARE ONE NATION, WITh ALL THY HEART, MINd ANd SOUL, ANY CRITICISM OF THE dAVIdS IS AN ATTACK ON ONE NATION.
So in defence of themselves, the Executive, once again went on the attack. Because; Democracy, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Association, the Right of Assembly, even the Right to hold an Opinion. Are anathema to them.
The following was banned from what was going to be my last Newsletter for the local branch. Why my last Newsletter? Simply because I could not put my name to a Propaganda sheet or back something where only one side of the story is told.
Of Ostriches and Lemmings
I have always supported Pauline and One Nation. I still do. I joined the Party because I thought that would give me more say in it's running, I was wrong.
Being a member has instead, limited what I can and cannot say. Even "constructive" criticism is not permitted. All of this, in the name of preserving "Party Unity". I for one cannot accept blindly what has been happening, or condone it any longer. But I also can do nothing about it... the Party structure does not allow it.
David Oldfield's maiden speech stated: " Members within a party should not be so stuck in their serfdom that time and time again they vote against what they know is fair, against what they know is right and against what they know the people who elected them would want, indeed, need". The pity is, this form of "free-thinking" is not permitted within the Party. "Serfdom" is what we are restricted to. This is undemocratic.
The Party hierarchy even go as far as trying to restrict: who and what we may listen to. This is a breach of our human rights. Rights that include; FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH. This...from the "Peoples party."
Let's have a look at something someone in my branch said; " Parties are full of minority groups or individuals selfishly intent on getting their way. If its at the expense of the Party and its public image... tough! Those persons care not".
Forgive me if I am wrong... but the National Executive could be considered a minority group and surely one member of it would be. If then this member was to impose his or her will upon members despite their concerns or requests. If this member was to abuse and insult these members, causing them to "go public" with matters better handled "in-house", then this too would fit the criteria, of someone; "selfishly intent on getting their way" and the cost, being; "at the expense of the Party and its public image". There have been quite a few of these occasions. I seem to remember one such occasion recently involving concerns about the P.H.O.N. "Constitution" and One Nation members from Queensland. Talk about being single minded and to hell with the consequences. And just before a State election too.
It seems that for some time in One Nation, some people have forgotten the reasons we came together.
Democracy is not..."mob-rule," but rule by a minority in their own self-interest IS Undemocratic.
It's no use burying your head in the sand like an Ostrich when trouble comes 'round...
It's wrong to blindly follow everyone else and jump off a cliff like a Lemming, in the name of Party Unity... I expect much more from members of One Nation. I expect much more from the people who lead us!
Excerpts from - "Nerds Revenge"
John Pasquarelli
The Melbourne Sun - 10/11/99
Pauline Hanson was silent; before, during and after the Referendum. But the support that once swept her to the heights in opinion polls reared up and turned the Republican dream into a nightmare.
It was also Hanson's ghost that struck down one of her chief tormentors in the Victorian State election, (Jeff Kennett).
The double "No" win was the "Revenge of the Nerds", I was a double nerd, I voted NO twice.
When I was with Pauline Hanson, I felt like I was Ali Baba in the treasure cave when I scanned the letters and faxes that flooded into her Canberra and Ipswich offices.
There have been 4 recent wake-up calls for mainstream politicians - but to date there has been no concerted strategic action taken by any of the major political parties. the prize is a glittering one and its winning would revolutionise politics.
Pauline Hanson has faded from the scene but her support has re-cloned itself.
Excerpts from;
The Aboriginal Newspaper
Peter David, Andy Nebro - 27/10/99
From Andy Nebro Editor an Elder... Ms Hanson has agreed to assist us politically and her friendship is accepted in good faith.
To the One Nation members and supporters and their complimentary letters. I thank you and fully encourage your valued support, making them think again about the branding of One Nation as a racist Party. It seems the one way to break this voodoo.
From Peter David... The people that continue to insist that Pauline and her One Nation Party are racists should really stop deceiving themselves and face the truth that the real racism exists in the powers that are exercised to the detriment of Aboriginal people Australia wide. These people reside in the halls of Parliament of both Federal and State government that administer these racist policies daily and seem to get away with this charade by putting up an indelible mark of racism onto Pauline Hanson promoted by the Media to a point of absolute fact. That it is confirmed by these self appointed adjudicators of the public propaganda thinking machine. That at every opportunity they made Pauline and her party to be hated by the Aboriginal and the Asians. Bad for the Australian image overseas, well planned and executed to date.
We are convinced she is not racist. We believe that anyone who says she or One Nation are racist, then they are really racist themselves, and are promoting division within our country... and that's a fact.
Well... Pauline has finally been able to convince a handful of Aborigines that she isn't racist. Good for her. Now if she could only convince the rest of the public.
By the way... this should have been achieved in the early days of One Nation, it should have been a priority. The result of her discrimination case with Atsic should have been widely promoted... it wasn't. (and don't blame the Media... that is a cop-out).
Good News on 2GB...
Recently David Oldfield has been talking on Radio 2GB.. I have heard what he has been saying and he has almost converted 2 of the Talkback commentators: Mike Gibson and Ron Casey. This is an excellent outcome for One Nation and since 2GB is basically a Labor station we get a chance to talk to the people who think they support the "people's party".
Perhaps now they will begin to realise that One Nation is the "people's party." Keep up the good work David.
Well... So much for the Media blackout... David Oldfield was getting air-time on 2GB, (a Labor based), radio station in Sydney. Well done. At least it was until he attacked Heather Hill on air. David in Feral mode is never a pretty sight, (or sound). Callers after the event, confirmed that. As seems to be the case so often with David, it's been a matter of one step forward, two steps back. (Well, at least he didn't call her a cannibal).
Will he ever learn? Who knows.
N.S.W. State Treasurer, Michael Egan was widely quoted in the Press as blaming, the lack of privatisation in the Electricity Industry as the cause of its latest dilemma. Both he and Bob Carr were rolled earlier in the year at the Labor Conference for wanting to do it. However, it is still on their agenda. I sent the following information to David Oldfield, that very day.
David,
you can check this out with your staff. Egan is using the current media story re; the $52million legal "power bill", to push his agenda... electricity privatisation.
His argument... that if the industry was privatised then we, (the taxpayer), wouldn't have to foot the bill. On the surface this statement is true.
However, the rot in the industry started with the Greiner government and its push to reform and privatise the industry. (I worked in the industry for 15 years and a lot could be said of the pressure brought to bear and the pathetic reasons used to justify this push... Egan's opportunism is more of the same).
The state that the industry is in today is a direct result of it's attempts to satisfy government demands, many directly related to the industry's restructure for the "inevitable" privatisation. As you know, companies are forced to down size and take any and all measures in order to make themselves more economically attractive to prospective buyers... here the service to the customer and workers conditions take a back seat, they are not a priority. (The results are all around us; telstra, the banks...). Concern here is only for those of prospective shareholders.
On top of this profits (that could have been ploughed back into the industry to improve service and boost employment), have been decimated by the hundreds of millions of dollars yearly that have been paid to the State government in the form of "dividends".
In a Nutshell then; Egan is blaming the poor industry outcomes on strategies based in policy forced upon the industry by consecutive governments, (in the name of privatisation).
Regards,
Geoff.
Well... Was there any Public response from our Senator? NO
Does he recognise an opportunity, when one is presented to him? Who knows.
Is One Nation policy pro privatisation? NO
Ettridge and Oldfield Create New Party...
The last time major concerns were brought to the National Executive, we lost 5 sitting members over it. This time we went one better; we lost 5 sitting members and created a new political party. Well done, Executive.
Well... That hardly needs further comment. For those who don't know... the new party is the "City Country Alliance." Hmmmmm, the Executive... what will they think of next?
SO MUCH FOR THE YEAR THAT WENT BY... WENT BY WITHOUT ONE NATION'S PARTICIPATION. OPPORTUNITIES WENT BEGGING ALL ALONG THE WAY. OPPORTUNITIES, THAT WE AS A PARTY SHOULD NOT HAVE LET GO BY. SO WHY DID WE? YOU CAN ANSWER THAT ONE YOURSELF. OH... HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY.
Geoff