by Geoff Kay
December 30, 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; within the Party and with the public.
JUN-JUL
I'm sorry to say it, but Heather Hill has lost her court case and will not become a Senator. One Nation will however still get a Senator in the form of number 2 on the ticket... Mr. L. Harris
David Oldfield and Pauline Hanson have vowed to seek out all other sitting members with dual citizenship and expose them to the public.
Well... David Ettridge would like us all to believe that Heather Hill was "dumb", and that is the sole reason for this particular debacle. But I put to you that any organisation that backs a particular candidate for a position, has a responsibility to make sure of their particular suitability for a position and a responsibility to see that all the associated protocols are adhered to. It was the organisation that should have "dotted their 'I's and crossed their 'T's" in this case. It is the organisation's responsibility to see that the rules are followed, even more than the individual... when you "assume", as they say...
Of course there is that little matter of the "vow" as well... Good to see David and Pauline, seeing that one through to the bitter end. Was this just more hollow rhetoric from the Executive? Has anything come from this? NO
A pathology in the political process? Dr Michael Wooldridge had much to say about One Nation, it's supporters and Politics in Australia. He also mentions the fact that the differences between both parties; "have narrowed over the last three decades," and that; "there is a good and solid base of bipartisanship for many of our core national values." He then asks; "But would anyone in the community be aware of this?"
Would anyone be aware of this? Is he kidding? One of the reasons many people have turned their backs on the major parties is because they have joined together to back policies that they should fundamentally not agree about. That is not to say that there should not be bipartisanship, there should, and more power to it. But since both parties are locked into this small circle of advisers, who all seem to be cut from the same cloth, proper debate on issues, has been stifled.
Dr Michael Wooldridge is the same man who presides over our Health system. The very man who is using our money, to prop up an industry, (health insurance), that has failed to offer a product to the public that they are willing to buy. Good one Doc! (So much for Competition Policy). My last parting shot is this: As long as the "policy culture" that Dr Michael Wooldridge and his fellow elitists think they belong to, continues to operate in a "closed shop" environment; they will never be able to govern, for all Australians. I suppose the question that needs to be asked is; Do they want to?
Well... Again One Nation was presented with the ideal opportunity to show up a Government Minister for the "pompous fool" that he is. Did they do anything? NO
They continue to present us with "free-shots" and we don't take them. Why? Are the Liberals, off-limits? Not to be touched? Not to be criticised?
An "ordinary" member of One Nation put his thoughts to paper. You will notice we are continually going over old ground. The "white-ant" culture, was and still thrives in One Nation.
The gang tactics of the major parties has distorted the election results. One Nation, although the third placed party by number of primary votes, our representation in government does not reflect this. The danger, as I see it could be the cooling off of support from loyal supporters, who could sink back into apathy and discontinue their support for One Nation.
Recently, we have attacked one time supporters whose only crime has been to voice a difference of opinion. As we turn on ourselves; the treasonous major parties, (with their agendas to let big business off scot-free with regards to tax), the elites, (who push for a republic and the multicultural mirage). Are now being allowed free reign to push their own agendas. Agendas that are as divisive to the Australian public as anything they blame One Nation for.
One Nation has to do their sums and mend some fences and rebuild some of the bridges that they have burnt in the past. I have just read "Update", a good start, something we need. But through it we are only preaching to the converted. Our Branch has it's own Newsletter, but there are also other publications in the wider community, that have been demonised by some of us at present. They are, however, pro One Nation, and 90% of their content back us up as a political party, and see us as the only way forward. Surely differences of opinion at the top of our and these organisations can come to an understanding and get on working together for the good of the country.
We are the only party with the answers and we need to debate some of the small differences that arise from within, not attack ourselves and supporters, not disenfranchise and banish those with slightly different points of view. Supposedly we live in a democracy... let us put it in practise. To end up with a bunch of "yes-men" and fawning cronies is not they way I want to see my party run! One Nation has to be better than the rest.
Well... The more things change... the more they remain the same Let me repeat the closing sentiment. "We are the only party with the answers and we need to debate some of the small differences that arise from within, not attack ourselves and supporters, not disenfranchise and banish those with slightly different points of view. Supposedly we live in a democracy... let us put it in practise. To end up with a bunch of "yes-men" and fawning cronies is not they way I want to see my party run! One Nation has to be better than the rest."
Sadly, I and many others, feel that One Nation has fallen well short of the mark. Sadly, the Executive initiates and condones, undemocratic behaviour within the Party.
The Branch I belong/ed to, took the initiative to promote AUSBUY. It provided this information to the members.
SUPERMARKETS; BIG W, BI-LO, COLES, FLEMINGS, KMART, WOOLWORTHS.
FAST FOOD; RED ROOSTER, PIZZA HAVEN, BLACK STUMP.
CEREALS; SANITARIUM, GREENS, UNCLE TOBYS.
BREAD; BUTTERCUP, FIELDERS, VOGEL, UNCLE TOBYS.
BUTTER; WESTERN STAR, ALLOWRIE, NORCO, DEVONDALE, MEADOWLEA,
CHEESE; BEGA, BODALLA, CRACKER BARREL, COON.
MILK PRODUCTS; SO GOOD, DAIRY FARMERS, DEVONDALE, OAK.
SOFT DRINKS; BICKFORDS, SPRITZ, CRYSTAL SPRINGS, ZIETSCH.
PETROL; NATIONAL, LIBERTY
Well... An initiative from "ordinary" branch members. How much more could it have been if our so called Leadership had a bit of vision and foresight.
What if One Nation started a National drive to buy Australian?
*****
ONE NATION BACKS BUY AUSTRALIA! or should that be; One Nation Buys Back Australia.
Members of One Nation have pledged to buy Australian... Pauline Hanson, stated; "By simply spending $50 a week on Australian products, instead of those owned by foreign companies, we could knock $20billon dollars off our foreign debt and create 500,000 new jobs." These figures were backed by Ausbuy President............. Ms Hanson said;" One Nation is putting it's money where it's mouth is. Every member will be given a list of Australian companies and products to support. We can make a difference. We have to. Next time you go shopping think about it."
*****
Well... What did One Nation do? Nothing. In 1999, One Nation was sleeping.
Negative publicity? I don't think so... Opportunities continue to go begging.
At the time of writing this piece, nothing has been added to the Website since David Oldfield's maiden speech. That was back in October. What a waste. My friends and I work in the computer/IT industry. Those of us that support One Nation, lament the "lack" of use the PHON Website is put to. The Internet... instant communication... a politician's dream. Apart from the PHON site, we noticed a "chat room", which offered access to Pauline... Speak directly to Pauline it announced. No such luck... in fact by the time we noticed it, it was full of emails bewailing the fact that it was; a lie, that Pauline only used it when she needed to be heard. The list of complaints went on, and on, and on. 99% of it negative.
Well... More proof of poor decisions made by the Executive, their inaccessibility and tardiness in solving problems ? It took months before anything was done about this even though my friends explained and complained to Manly about the negative impact it was having for the Party. Even now they aren't sure whether it was Manly, Jim Millar or their last resort Scott Balson that actually solved the problem. No one got back to them. Something else the Executive has in short supply. Common courtesy.
Ideas for the site, came thick and fast... after all, we are in the industry. One Nation could run it's own polling, have open forums on issues to gauge public sentiment, provide chat sessions on a regular basis with candidates and sitting members so as to improve their public profile, and keep them in touch with the "ordinary" Australian. CIR could be introduced online for members to participate in, online email access to ON material for ease of circulation to both members and the public. The list goes on, access, immediacy, responsiveness and openness. An inclusiveness to the democratic process, all afforded by One Nation Online.
Well... Instead we get short-sightedness and lack of direction. One Nation was in the lead in this area when the Party first started, (thanks in no small part, to Scott Balson)... the other Parties have since passed us. Stagnation due to focusing on "white-ants" and the consolidation of power within the Party has led to this.
Today... the site needs to be completely reworked. Check it out at www.onenation.com.au it hasn't been updated since October. What a waste. But then it has been for a while.
"WE'RE ONLY A NEW PARTY, WE'RE STILL LEARNING..." YEARS HAVE PASSED AND I'M STILL HEARING IT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THE DAVIDS WERE ON BOARD FOR. TO PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCE, THE WHEREWITHALL. OR WAS THAT JUST "DAVIDSPEAK", EMPTY PROPAGANDA... WAS PIERS AKERMAN RIGHT? WAS ONE NATION... BEING RUN BY SHONKS?"
Geoff