December 23, 1999
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 with the membership and the public.
Much Ado about Nothing
Just so much "froth and bubble", is one way to describe the manner in which people back up their outrage at the One Nation party and anyone and anything associated with it. I’ve heard just about everything from; "because" to "I don’t like the way she looks". In politics they say: "Throw enough mud and some of it is bound to stick." Well our Politicians and the Media have not only thrown mud, but they seem to have hired a dump truck full of it. But what real substance is behind any of it?
First there was the outrage at the maiden speech. They jumped right in with the big one: RACIST!!! A ploy that has been running for a long time now, on many fronts. Been refuted, even shown to be incorrect. The courts backed up Pauline Hanson herself in this. RACIST??? That ATSIC should be accountable for its spending of public funds? That the then Immigration policy needed changing? Racial certainly, as it deals with immigration, but Racist? Certainly not.
There are also the local Comedians and I use the term loosely here. You know, shows like; "The Panel", "Full Frontal", "Hey Hey it’s Saturday". They tend to target any public figure but it seems to me that they tend to target the Conservative side of politics about 99% of the time. A prime example here would be the fact that, "Little Johnny Howard" is actually taller than little Bobby Hawke.
There is also the rest of the "Entertainment / Arts" Community. Full of people with exposure to the wider community. Where did Gough Whitlam go when he ran the "It’s Time" Campaign? Same place Kim Beazley went when he opened up his campaign at the last election. So Labor, once again became "Santa" to this community, with a sack full of funding for them. Would it be cynical of me to suggest that people in this community have a vested interest and anything they say would be shaped by this interest?
You have to remember that just because these people are well known. That doesn’t make them any smarter than you or anyone else. Their "celebrity" doesn’t make their opinion right, or unbiased.
There was a huge beat up in the Telegraph’s Sunday Magazine with Deni Hines. Words like shame and nightmare were bandied about, when referring to Pauline Hanson. What was Deni’s big problem? "I certainly won’t be proud telling the world I’m from Australia... not with what she’s doing". Well what is she doing Deni? Froth and Bubble. Phillip Adams... Froth and Bubble. Ray Martin... Froth and Bubble. Mike Carlton... Froth and Bubble. Les Hollings says; "One Nation has to be defeated". Why Les? You keep telling us this every week, but you never say why... Froth and Bubble. Politicians; Kim Beasley, Tim Fischer, Gareth Evans, and eventually when the pressure was really on, even John Howard (whom up till then had been the most level headed)... Froth and Bubble. As Shakespeare would say: it’s all been much ado about nothing.
Still, the mud keeps flying every week. Resistance and the school kids; Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia. Give me a break. I don’t agree with everything that One Nation espouses, but what we have here is a case of "the Emperor’s new clothes". One thing the people against One Nation keep telling us is that they only point out the problems but don’t offer any solutions. Well all I can say to that is: At least One Nation recognised the problems, whereas the people in power, either didn’t know the problems existed or were totally ignoring them. At the very worst, at least One Nation has caused the powers that be to focus on things that concern the average Australian, who has been unrepresented until now.
Electrifying
What is it that both major parties want to do with Electricity in NSW? If you said; "sell it", or "privatise it", you’d be right. If you said ruin it... you’d also be right.
Nick Greiner started the rot in our Electricity industry. When I started working for Prospect County Council, (now Integral Energy), it was a "triple A" rated company. Prospect Electricity used to pay large dividends to the Government every year. Since Greiner though, the AAA rating has dropped. Before I left Integral Energy just over 2 years ago, (redundancy), I was told by my Supervisor, (as were the rest of the staff), that our customers would have to adapt to, not receiving as good a quality of service as they were use to.
Deregulation of the Banks, Privatisation of this , Globalisation of that. Just what benefits have we seen from this line of Government policy?
Higher fees and charges, a downturn in the quality of service, early retirement, redundancy, unemployment. But let’s not forget ... the good news is... we can all become shareholders. Try feeding your family with a hand full of shares Kerry. Try paying off the mortgage when you’re on the dole Bob.
What is it with the current breed of politicians that make them think that we all want to be shareholders. The paltry amount of shares I could afford will never amount to anything. As for the future, I have enough problems with my tax as it is.
I’d much rather see people gainfully employed. I’d much rather see quality of service. Dividends, the Board of Directors, Shareholders and the Stockmarket can all take a long run and jump, as far as I’m concerned.
Both major parties are intent on privatising the electricity industry. If this happens, we lose control of a most vital resource. While it remains under Government control we still have a say. One Nation is the only party with policy that is aimed at Australians having a say and keeping control. One Nation is opposed to the sell off of our electricity.
One question that has always bothered with me from the beginning, is this; Why didn’t Pauline Hanson sue the "pants-off" the very first person to call her a racist? Because of this inaction we have all been "tarred and feathered" with the same brush. This is something we shouldn’t have been put through, we didn’t, and don’t, deserve it.
More anti-One Nation personalities;
TV - Steve Liebman, Lisa Wilkinson.
RADIO - Graham Richardson.
PRESS - Malcolm Farr, Mike Gibson.
Those with a patently more balanced view;
TV - Stan Zemaneck, Jeannie Little
RADIO - Mike Jeffries
PRESS -
Sunday Telegraph
"After 7 years trying to convince people to buy Australian-made and Australian-owned goods, Ausbuy boss Harry Wallace is stepping down frustrated.
But although he regrets the loss of at least 3000 Australian companies to foreign owners since 1992, he takes heart from the fact that from the belief that this number would have been much higher without the campaign."
If you watched Television, listened to the Radio, or read the Paper over the weekend, you could be forgiven for thinking that the AGM was only about; "Whether or not Pauline was going to continue to lead the party".
This is not what the AGM was about. Yes, there was a "spill" of positions in the National Executive, but this happens on a yearly basis in just about every democratic organisation.
When One Nation first appeared, we disagreed with the elitists. We were howled down and tarnished with the label of RACIST. It worries me now that when someone within One Nation has a difference of opinion, they are labelled TRAITOR or WHITE-ANT.
In a democratic society differences of opinion are listened to and debated over. Those of you who are quick to label and condemn should remember what it says in the Bible:- "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU". In the dictionary a dissenter is merely someone with a difference of opinion, someone who disagrees.
Let’s not be fooled into treating fellow members as pariahs, just because they disagree with how things are being done. I’m sure there are many of us who disagreed with the way the 1998 Federal campaign was run.
Well... Did the Executive ever foster any healthy relationships with "friendly" media personalities...? NO
Was AUSBUY ever officially supported in a major way by One Nation?... NO
What of other organisations like THE WATERING AUSTRALIA FOUNDATION...? NO
(I personally brought up the WAF at the Lithgow Policy Forum, before the Federal election, was anything done about it...? NO)
The WAF is supported by "Landline" on the ABC and Alan Jones on radio 2UE. Ernie Bridge, the WA, Aboriginal Senator who heads the foundation, needs political support. Did we ever offer it...? NO
OPPORTUNITIES GO BEGGING!
The AGM... The National Executive had to be dragged "kicking and screaming" to a spill of positions. (Seems everyone but them, knew they would be re-elected). But as for Democracy... well, there was little to be seen, except for the "smoke and mirrors". How democratic of them to allow us to vote in 2 more members to the Executive... Let me check my maths... One, Two, Three... Yes, there you have it... Two is less than Three. The Status Quo was maintained. Everyone was happy, democracy in action... (I was rolling around laughing...What a scam!)
SO MUCH FOR DEMOCRACY!
White-Ants... Well, they still abound, years after the Party began. We find new and bigger ones every day. We even have white-ants that mysteriously turn back into loyal members. Hmmmmmmm. How can this be? Does the Party have an answer to this problem...? NO
(Not unless you consider the treatment handed out by the National Executive as an answer).
Geoff