Earlier this morning I spoke with Brett Hocking
(right in Harris' office).
14th December 1999
Earlier this morning I spoke with Brett Hocking
(right in Harris' office).
Last night Hocking was called into Harris' office for an inquisition - Harris making allegations about his performance. Hocking was not allowed to ask questions to clarify the nature of Harris' allegations. Hocking refused to leave the office because Harris denied him natural justice and did not elaborate on the allegation that he was not dealing with constituents correctly.
Harris left after Hocking refused to go because he got not get any answers - Hocking left the office half and hour later.
This morning two armed Australian Protective Service personnel escorted Hocking to his office after he gave up his pass and cleaned out his office he was escorted out of Harris' offices.
Apparently Heather Hill has been dismissed in the wrong way and Harris wanted to make sure that Hocking went the right way - ie by raising dubious allegations as an excuse to terminate Hocking later on.
On Thursday night last week, in Canberra, Harris poured Hocking a glass of red wine and said what a good job he had been doing and that Hocking had integrity.
We will advise as more happens.
It is important to note that Hockings' astounding treatment comes despite his pledge that he was neutral about the move made by the five Queensland One Nation MPs.
Published in the public interest
Yesterday was a day of high drama for Manly - could this be the source of their troubles?
While the Queensland MPs were being accused of "mutiny" by the 2D Factor Heather Hill was being fired by Senator Len Harris because she stood by the political leaders in Queensland and Scott Balson was couriered a letter from David Ettridge's lawyers Watkins, Stokes, Templeton - the lawyers who, according to Ettridge, advised that One Nation's directors not give evidence in the Supreme Court case which led to the deregistration of the party in Queensland.
Image right:
Russell Templeton from Watkins, Stokes, Templeton, speaks to
Heather Hill after she loses her
High Court
challenge - and her Senate seat.
The letter from Ettridge's lawyers is scanned and can be viewed in full at the links below:
The sentence which sticks out to me is the one which reads, "Provide a proposal for compensation for our client for the defamatory imputations or statements already published on the Web Page".
When the party's books for the three entities and associated "businesses" have been properly audited by an independent auditor and a clear cash trail supplied to all members for the missing $5 million that has gone through Manly the questions will stop being asked, But NOT before then.
I wonder who is paying Ettridge's personal legal fees? Ettridge or PHON?
Heather Hill was fired at 3.45pm yesterday by Senator Len Harris because she dared support the move by the five Queensland MPs to register One Nation Queensland without the two Davids playing their required role of powerbrokers.
Heather was fired after she told the media that "Oldfield should keep his nose in New South Wales".
Senator Harris told the media, "I am extremely disappointed at what Heather has done."
Guess I will have to add Heather, the 5 MPs and Ian Petersen to the growing list of white ants.
The support for Heather Hill has been extraordinary - see letters below.
In further evidence of power-paranoia from Manly the Queensland MPs have been warned that the registration of One Nation Queensland will be challenged in the courts by Pauline Hanson's One Nation Limited - because the new party has not been established in a manner pre-ordained by the 2Ds.
One Nation Queensland's first press release:
Full
story on their press conference yesterday - at this link.
Image right: Bill Feldman extends a hand of friendship to "whiteants" Scott Balson and Tony Pitt and welcomes discussions with Australia First's Max Aleckson.
Dear One Nation Member,
We came to a decision on Friday, to lodge a fresh application to re-register One Nation as a separate entity at the State level. That registration was lodged and accepted by the Queensland Electoral Commission on Friday afternoon.
This should not be seen in any way as a move to pre-empt the appeal presently before the court.
It is our belief, however, that as a result of that appeal being deferred until February next year, with the possibility of even further deferment, our position, and that of the hundreds of thousands of Queenslanders who supported us at the state election, becomes more and more vulnerable. With a by- election almost certainly looming, and a very real possibility of an early State election, we face the prospect of entering an election campaign unregistered. This would mean that all candidates, including the five sitting members, would have to stand as independents, as well as reducing our ability to run a strong cohesive campaign as a party. We are not prepared to let that happen, and accordingly, lodged the application to register One Nation Queensland.
The five sitting One Nation members will be the sponsors for the registration, and an interim executive has been elected by the founding committee. The executive comprises the five Members plus:- Executive Director - Ian Petersen, State Secretary - Heather Hill, and State Treasurer - Graeme MacDonald. The position of State President has been reserved for Pauline Hanson. In any event, she is still the National President, and it is our intention that One Nation Queensland would be affiliated with the other State organisations and the Federal body.
Again, I would emphasise, we are not in any way attempting to "pre – judge the judgment". To do so would be improper. Our action is purely to ensure that, if an election is called, we will enter the campaign properly registered, and able to afford the people of Queensland the opportunity of supporting us as they have done in the past.
The policies and philosophies are completely unchanged. The determination to continue the outstanding achievements of our MLAs will not waver. We will be preserving the registration status of a party endorsed by the people of Queensland as the second largest in the State in terms of voter support.
We believe that this will stabilise the situation and will allow us to move forward again with confidence towards the next election.
It is our intention that any member wishing to transfer to the new entity would be able to do so at no cost. Membership application forms will be available shortly.
We welcome any enquires and look forward to working
with you to continue the fight to achieve a fairer system of
government in our Nation, and
to return to a society where respect for traditional values is supported
and encouraged.
Yours sincerely,
W.Feldman, P.Prenzler, H.Black, D.Dalgleish, J.Paff, I.Petersen, H.Hill
Oldfield fell on to the old faithful line that he has used just one too many times. "Pauline is absolutely aghast," he said to the media yesterday. "The end result is that they (the 5 MPs) will no longer be One Nation members and will most likely lose their seats at the next election."
When the heat gets to hot in the kitchen Oldfield always falls onto the old "Pauline supports me" statement as the last line of defence. Is Pauline always right?
Oldfield warned that what is left of the 2D party would run candidates against the new party's current members.
Meanwhile Queensland vice-president Alan Doak has warned that the party would strongly object to the Queensland Electoral Commission about the name One Nation Queensland.
Apparently "One Nation" is a trade mark belonging to Pauline Hanson's One Nation Limited (ie Ettridge, Oldfield and Hanson).
'In terms of thinking they can steal the name of the party that put them into office, that is just a nonsense ... all the other political parties will take the same view,' Ettridge told ABC radio.
Great democracy!
Feldman responded to Oldfield's outburst by saying, "Pauline will realise we in no way intended causing a split and that is the way of overcoming our legal problems in Queensland."
Senator Harris, who supports the 2Ds, said, "The thing that they have done that is unforgivable is that they have turned their back on Pauline as being the registered officer of their party."
