4th November 1999
Yesterday's article about David Oldfield raised a great deal of comment by phone, fax and email. Most of it was positive - some of it was negative.
Included in the feedback was a lengthy fax from David Ettridge of One Nation's Manly office, the thrust of the letter being, "Much of your @notd article deals in speculation which is damaging because you broadcast and give credence to matters that are simply not true. Your article has the potential to fuel further media attacks on the Party which will be damaging."
I need to make it quite clear to the @notd readership that my intent is not to damage One Nation and that I stand by what I wrote.
Perception rules.
I have dedicated years of my life for the party - not because of the leadership but because of the issues that the party represents. I am rightfully concerned that, to many, we seem to have lost our way.
The issues that are the basis of One Nation's support are now being driven by populist parties all over the world. Supporters need to realise that we are part of a global movement towards nationalism not some uniquely Australian fad that could pass into oblivion.
Here in Australia there are about three hundred groups whose concerns on issues overlap... these are disparate groups with little or no contact with each other. Some are large (like One Nation) while others are very small. There is a need to focus these groups through an apolitical forum where issues can be discussed freely. If we can unite these groups not even the media will be able to stop the growing move towards nationalistic pride and recognition of Australian values and culture. Pauline Hanson started the ball rolling - on a path which, today, has to become focussed and united. One Nation's participation would forge new opportunities and direction for the party.
The apolitical stance of such a forum is critical. The growing tide of people in Australia who share our views on issues have not disappeared they have just simply lost direction. We are at the cross-roads of a new political era in this country and that fact needs to be embraced and understood. There is a growing realisation among millions of Australians that there is a class war going on and that 95% of the population are on the losing end... When you have people like Steve Vizard pushing the Republic on TV people at home watch his smooth lines repeated time and again and quietly, inwardly, spew. They read between his lines and know that this is a big business and politicians Republic. The massive "NO" vote that will take place this weekend in the Referendum will be more a vote of no confidence in the political system than a vote against a Republic.
Let me repeat that - the "NO" vote will have more to do with a dissatisfaction in the political system than in the Republic debate. The general population, rightly, do not trust politicians or bureaucrats to do the right thing anymore. This referendum is a litmus test on how people perceive our system of Government not the Republic. With only 9% of Australians apparently supporting the Monarchy any "NO" vote above that figure will give a measure of that distrust.
Since the Oldfield article was published yesterday I have been contacted by several editors of major distribution independent papers. They have all said that they would welcome and support such an apolitical forum as it would take away from the unfortunate media-inspired stigma that has been now been associated with right wing political parties and re-focus attention on the issues.
I resigned as One Nation webmaster at 2.20pm today following a scheduled 2pm meeting with Pauline Hanson. While I remain committed to the issues that the party stands for there are other issues which I could not accept.
I received the following letter from David Ettridge at 4pm today:
Dear Scott,
I just learned that you have resigned as webmaster for the party and I want to wish you well.
You have been a valued and appreciated member of the team for a long time and I hope that you will continue to support us and be that familiar face at our functions.
I sincerely hope that you do not succumb to any negative influences from the group which recently surfaced on @notd that could lead you down their path to political oblivion. You have more to offer Australia and One Nation than that. Good Luck.
Best Wishes
(signed)
D Ettridge