[Publisher’s Note: WBT gives its analysis of the Queensland Election 2015, and the issues raised by the extra-parliamentary opposition. Will Campbell-Newman follow Dennis Napthine in Victoria and be a ‘oncer’? This article gives a roundup of activities by those that would like to see the back of Campbell Newman. In another article Julia could, Annastacia can WBT looks at what may happen if there is a hung parliament.]
Quandamooka fight for Land Rights on Straddie
During the 2012 State election Queensland voters received information attacking agreed sand mining laws for beautiful North Stradbroke Island. Most of the information was paid for by Belgium-based company, Sibelco, whose North Stradbroke mining interests the LNP promised to favour. The Liberal National Party (LNP) heavily politicised the issue and attacked the original laws as a Labor pitch for Greens preferences.
That was not true. Queensland electors were misled about the nature of the issue. The LNP failed to point out it was effectively proposing to tear up a legal agreement between the State of Queensland and North Stradbroke Island’s traditional owners, the Quandamooka people.
Who are the Quandamooka People?
The Quandamooka people are the people of Moreton Bay and the traditional owners of North Stradbroke Island. “Quandamooka” is the Aboriginal word for Moreton Bay and its islands.
The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) manages their native title rights and interests. Yoolooburrabee means ‘people of the sand and sea’.
LNP tears up Native Title agreement – the steps
Early 1990s
Australia acknowledges Native Title.
2000 – 2011
Lengthy negotiations between the Quandamooka people, State Government and other stakeholders over recognition of Native Title rights on North Stradbroke Island and parts of Moreton Bay.
2011
Quandamooka Native Title rights over North Stradbroke Island recognized by consent with all stakeholders. Queensland Government signs Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the Quandamooka people. It enacts laws that give effect to the contents of the ILUA. This includes extending sand mining on an expired lease until 2019. Mining to then cease so the Quandamooka can fully exercise their Native Title rights.
Early 2012
LNP “promises” to “tear up” this agreement with the Quandamooka people and misleadingly claims it is a “Greenies” issue. Sand miner, Sibelco, also runs a public campaign along these lines, with a heavy emphasis on Campbell Newman’s electorate of Ashgrove.
March 2012
LNP wins election. Campbell Newman wins Ashgrove, becomes LNP premier.
2012 – 2013
LNP favours Sibelco and overturns North Stradbroke Island outcomes agreed with the Quandamooka.
Sibelco’s campaign consultants, Rowland, claim there was considerable interaction between, Sibelco, its agents and the new LNP State Government:
Post-election engagement with key ministers, and the government’s establishment of a working group to develop new policy and legislation followed this early endorsement. Following the election, the new Minister for Mines and Natural Resources announced an extension to operations until 2035.
(Source: Rowland. Achieving social, environmental and economic progress in an island community: sand mining and its benefits on North Stradbroke Island.)
The Quandamooka people are sidelined; no genuine negotiations occur with the Native Title holders of North Stradbroke Island. In fact, in the post-election period the Quandamooka people regularly sought discussions with the State Government about its North Stradbroke Island policy and were rebuffed.
New North Stradbroke Island sand mining laws are drafted without the consent of the Native Title holders.
Late 2013
New North Stradbroke mining laws favouring Sibelico are introduced into parliament.
A parliamentary committee agreed the LNP government had not consulted the Quandamooka people.
However, the LNP rams the new laws through parliament, giving Sibelco more than it originally sought.
2014
The Crime and Corruption Commission is asked to look into links between Sibelco’s 2012 State election campaign, including the Ashgrove electorate component, and the
LNP’s new North Stradbroke Island laws.
The Crime and Corruption Commission, whose powers were significantly altered by the LNP State Government, advises the Quandamooka people:
Our assessment is that while the allegation you have raised may, if proved, amount to suspected corrupt conduct, the assertion of favourable treatment for Sibelco and a connection between the donations by Sibelco and the recent legislative amendments is speculative. Accordingly, the CCC is not able to take any further action.
(CCC letter to QYAC, 16/10/14)
The CCC decision is the subject of a report in the Brisbane Times on 18 November: CCC says no inquiry into 2012 $91,000 Sibelco sandmining ads
Conclusion
The Quandamooka people believe the electors of Queensland were misled during the 2012 State election campaign about the North Stradbroke Island sand mining issue.
It was characterized as an environmental issue, when in fact the issue involved attacks by the LNP on the rights of North Stradbroke Island’s traditional owners and effectively tore up a legal agreement or contract between the State of Queensland and the Quandamooka people.
The mining company, which benefited from this LNP action, spent a significant amount of money providing political support to the LNP, including in Campbell Newman’s electorate of Ashgrove. Public relations and political lobbying firm, Rowland, was a major adviser to Sibelco on this campaign and claim it was “extremely
successful and the overall goal exceeded”.
The overall goal being the extension of sand mining until 2027, while the “newly-elected (LNP) government committed to extending sand mining operations to 2035”.
Posted by QYAC
QYAC’s message to Queensland voters is also available as a pdf brochure
Postscript by Bob Anderson
“The Quandamooka people have been sidelined. The LNP has looked after a mining company, which campaigned for it during the 2012 State election, and failed to consult the Quandamooka people about its new North Stradbroke Island laws.
We cannot understand why the Crime & Corruption Commission will not clear things up one way or the other. Queensland should not be governed like this.”
Uncle Bob Anderson,
Quandamooka elder
Brisbane Citizen of the Year 2001
Queensland Great Recipient 2001
Whilst I applaud the efforts of the Brick with Eyes in the battle against CSG, I wish his leader Big Clive didn’t allow his ego to get in the way of rational thought in the run-up to the 2015 Queensland election. There can be little doubt that Queenslanders viewed the election more as a means to rid themselves of Noddys fascists than to embrace the ALP, and I believe PUP could well have taken a significant percentage of the vote if only good, well supported candidates had been chosen. For example, in one particular electorate of interest to me, we had a failed councillor who mysteriously dropped out at the last minute, only to be replaced with a nonentity who proved to be uncontactable. Whilst the big bloke has achieved a few significant successes in Canberra & is able to spend his own money any way he wishes, it would be nice if he occasionally put a bit more thought into whats going on outside his ego.
February 26, 2015
Senator Glenn Lazarus joins the fight against CSG at Darling Downs event Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus will speak against coal seam gas at a community forum at Chinchilla on Saturday after visiting an impacted farmer there on Friday.
A newly-formed advocacy group for landholders, Landholders ASCERT, has teamed up with community group, Bridging the Divide to host the all-day symposium to help locals continue the fight against the invasive mining.
At a Senate Inquiry public hearing at Toowoomba last week, Senator Lazarus and the other committee members heard harrowing details from farmers and landholders who have felt bullied by mining companies and ignored by politicians.
“The people of Queensland deserve better,” Senator Lazarus said after the hearing. “The Senate Inquiry is covering serious issues regarding questionable project approval processes by the former Newman Government including big donations by mining companies to the Federal Liberal Party and the Queensland LNP.
“It’s very disappointing that Abbott Government Senators have refused to attend the last two hearings in Brisbane and Toowoomba. Common and disturbing themes are emerging from the Senate Inquiry which need to be urgently addressed in relation to CSG mining.
“We need a Royal Commission into the human impact of mining on Queenslanders, particularly from coal seam gas mining.
“Landowners have lost all rights to say no to mining on their property. Water is being contaminated. Groundwater levels and bores are drying up, the land is dying and people are getting sick. There are suggestions by experts that
fracking is causing earthquakes and serious geological disturbances in addition to other forms of environmental devastation.
“No further CSG project approvals should be granted until such time as a Royal Commission is completed and or leading scientists and relevant experts determine CSG mining to be safe.”
On Friday afternoon the Senator will visit a local farmer in the middle of a gasfield experiencing constant noise and vibrations in his home, noise from machinery on all night, inadequate rehabilitation of his land, damage to property, flaring lights and concrete structures build on his land without permission. The farmer and his family are suffering health problems they attribute to csg including sore eyes, film on his skin, headaches and a strange taste in their mouths.
Event organiser and Hopeland Community Sustainability Group (HSCG) spokesperson, Shay Dougall said locals were “hopeful” the newly-installed Labor Government would halt csg expansion until more was known about its side effects. Mrs Dougall has written to the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk and ministers outlining serious problems in the region. “Decisions of former governments have created coal seam gas refugees in our towns and communities,” she said.
“The current government must right the litany of wrongs of previous administrations and it is incumbent on this government to at least halt further activity until reasonable and honest assessments can be undertaken.”
Other speakers at Saturday’s symposium will include Lock the Gate’s Drew Hutton who will speak on government corruption and farmers’ rights , Lee McNicholl (biosecurity), Dr Geralyn McCarron (health impacts), Mariann Lloyd-Smith (toxicology) and Rev. Graham Slaughter (social issues).
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/shay%40molliwell.com.au/14bb9c83dde9559d?projector=1 (poster)
Contacts:
Shay Dougall shay@molliwell.com.au Ph: 4665 4072
Annette Hutchins bridgingthedivideorg@gmail.com Ph: 0406 654 626
Kate Dennehy Lock the Gate Ph: 0419 432 624
“Common and disturbing themes are emerging from the Senate Inquiry which need to be urgently addressed in relation to CSG mining.
“We need a Royal Commission into the human impact of mining on Queenslanders,
particularly from coal seam gas mining.
“Landowners have lost all rights to say no to mining on their property. Water
is being contaminated. Groundwater levels and bores are drying up, the land is dying and people are getting sick. There are suggestions by experts that fracking is causing earthquakes and serious geological disturbances in addition to other forms of environmental devastation.
“No further CSG project approvals should be granted until such time as a Royal Commission is completed and or leading scientists and relevant experts determine CSG mining to be safe.
On Friday afternoon the Senator will visit a local farmer in the middle of a
gasfield experiencing constant noise and vibrations in his home, lights from
machinery on all night, inadequate rehabilitation of his land, damage to
property, flaring light and noise and concrete structures build on his land
without permission. The farmer and his family are suffering health problems they attribute to CSG mining including sore eyes, film on their skin, headaches and a strange taste in their mouth.
Event organiser and Hopeland Community Sustainability Group (HSCG) spokesperson, Shay Dougall said locals are ‘hopeful’ the newly-installed Labor Government will halt CSG mining expansion until more was known about its side effects.
Mrs Dougall has written to the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk and ministers outlining serious problems in the region.
“Decisions of former governments have created coal seam gas refugees in out towns and communities,” she said.
“The current government must right the litany of wrongs of previous
administrations and it is incumbent on this government to at least halt further
activity until reasonable and honest assessments can be undertaken.”
Other speakers at Saturday’s symposium will include Lock the Gate’s Drew Hutton who will speak on government corruption and farmers’ rights, Lee McNicholl (biosecurity), Dr Geralyn McCarron (health impacts), Mariann Lloyd-Smith(toxicology) and Rev. Graham Slaughter (social issues).
Passionate psephologist Paul Tully says Pauline Hanson will not win her seat.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully says he will carry a sack of potatoes on his back down the main street if Pauline Hanson wins the seat of Lockyer.
The two-candidate preferred breakdown on the Queensland Electoral Commission website currently has the One Nation founder ahead with 54.6 per cent of the vote compared to sitting LNP member Ian Rickuss’ 45.3 per cent.
However that figure is based on only five of the 61 booths to be counted…http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/paul-tully-will-carry-sack-of-potatoes-if-pauline-hanson-wins-lockyer-20150203-134vn6.html
A week ago WBT predicted that Pauline Hanson (One Nation) was a chance in Lockyer [WBT also forecast a hung parliament Julia could, Annastacia can ].
Currently Hanson is on 54.7% of the two-candidate-preferred vote leading the LNP candidate Ian Rickuss. Hanson is against asset sales but would find it hard to support Labor (Labor refuses to give preferences to One Nation).
This is the WBT prediction earlier in the week:
Community radio 4ZZZ newsroom have recently conducted an interview with Ms Leanne Rissman, who is running as a candidate for One Nation.
Q. I need to query a few statements that Ms Rissman made, during the course of the interview –
When questioned as to whether Ms Rissman’s dispute with Ms Joyce Capewell had been concluded, Ms Rissman responded – “Yes, it has.”
Q. Could you please confirm that this is correct.
Ans. Ms Rissman stated that she had apologised to Ms Joyce Capewell. Could you please advise us what nature this apology took?
Ms Rissman, when asked whether she still supported the statement she made on social media “Islam is not compatible with the western democratic way of life and should be banned completely” replied “I absolutely support that statement.”
Could you please provide us with a QPS response to that.
QPS Response
It would be inappropriate for the Queensland Police Service to provide comment in relation to any statements that are made by a political candidate.
Ms Rissman also advised us that she had attended a number of cultural awareness programs. Could you please advise us of the content of these programs? Could you also advise when they took place?
QPS Response
This matter has been finalised and as a result the officer participated in a number of training programs.
Ms Rissman also provided us with the following information about a Ms Riversleigh – could you confirm it is correct – transcript:
Interviewer: OK, I understand that you were also under investigation for not following police protocol with regard to a Ms Riversleigh who died on May 10, 2014. She was allegedly a victim of domestic violence who reportedly died from her injuries. Has that been concluded?
L. Rissman: Well, that’s actually completely incorrect. Ms Riversleigh died from a brain hemorrhage which was unrelated to any injury. She was assaulted by her partner four days before she died and she had a broken leg at the time she died. I dealt with her two weeks prior to that, at which time it was reported to be a domestic violence job. I went to it. There was no domestic violence between her. She said she had no injuries and she happily left with the man who ended up assaulting her, so I could take no action.
Interviewer: Are you still under investigation?
L. Rissman: No, it’s been investigated, and it’s been written off.
QPS Response
This investigation has been finalised.
One Nation appears to have the full support of Queensland Police Service.
Rissman should have been sacked on both counts.
Rissman polled only 3.63% of the vote in the seat of Townsville which was won by Labor.
Ian Curr
2 Feb 2015
Reference
Interview with Leanne Rissman
Must read
http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h–/q-95/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/1/29/1422511403104/3e8a1f78-865b-49f4-bd7a-0de63b8ec20e-995×2040.jpeg
http://gu.com/p/45aj2/sbl
Pamela
Q: What electorate is the biggest supporter of the republic in Qld?
Ans: Ashgrove
Q: Who holds the seat of Ashgrove in the Qld parliament?
Ans: The Premier of Qld, Campbell Newman.
Q: Who is the most pissed off for Tony Abbott giving Prince Phillip a knighthood on the eve of the Qld election?
Ans: Campbell Newman!
http://youtu.be/mMTBfPuyO7k
Pauline Hanson is outpolling the LNP in Lockyer [Gatton area] … in the late 1970s I used to drive pea harvesters in Lockyer Valley for a Tasmanian company called General Jones … unsafe machines, low pay, long hours, no union allowed and right-wing farmers growing the peas on contract from General Jones … it is hard to pick who will win but Hanson is a real possibility in Lockyer.
One Nation candidate for Townsville, Leanne Rissman, made a racist attack on an aboriginal activist on facebook under the guise of “Sharia Anne”. Leanne claims that aboriginal people should get a job … but jobs have been taken from aboriginal workers buy the LNP. Rissman was ordered to pay compensation to Joyce Capewell by the Human Rights Commission because of racial abuse. Journalist Louise Evans [4ZZZ fm 102.1] interviews Ms Rissman who is a serving police officer in Townsville and candidate for One Nation. The first question that comes up when you listen to this interview is why wasn’t Leanne Rissman sacked from the Qld Police? Well I think we know the answer to that … listen for yourself.
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Reference
http://www.qt.com.au/news/the-seat-of-lockyer-is-a-political-minefield-for-a/2526119/
Mining Scorecard: Independents & Minor Parties Stand Up for Land & Water
The results are in on Lock the Gate Alliance’s candidates’ survey for the Queensland State Election – with the independents and minor parties blitzing the field and leaving the two major parties in their wake when it came to protecting land and water from unsafe mining.
Lock the Gate’s President, Drew Hutton, said the survey showed that the LNP was completely out of touch with community sentiment on mining in rural and regional areas, and that the ALP still had a long way to go, even though it had promised to reverse some of the LNP’s worst policy excesses.
Lock the Gate surveyed each of the parties for their policies on coal and gas mining, and also surveyed independent candidates in a number of key electorates.
The survey included questions on people’s rights to object to mining, the protection of farmland and water and the need for clean politics. The full survey can be viewed here.
“The parties that scored extremely well included the Katter Australia Party, the Greens and the Palmer United Party – who all have a record of taking action in either state or Federal Parliament on this issue – plus One Nation,” said Drew Hutton, president of Lock the Gate Alliance.
“The independents also scored very highly on the report. Independents such as Peter Wellington in Nicklin, Alex Douglas in Gaven, and Carl Judge in Yeerongpilly have been the sole courageous voices of opposition in the Queensland Parliament to the State Government’s capitulation to the mining industry.
“Along with Ray Hopper, who is running for the Katter Australia Party this election, they have been the conscience of the Queensland Parliament when it comes to protecting land and water.
“Whilst not holding any seats in the Queensland Parliament, the Greens have been the most active of the parties in extra-parliamentary campaigning.”
Mr Hutton said the ABC Vote Compass showed 85 per cent of respondents from both the city and country areas agreed that ‘Landowners should be able to prevent mining companies from operating on their property’.
“The LNP is completely out-of-step with its constituents on so many levels, and the ALP, while having improved somewhat, is still a long way off the mark,” he said.
“It’s about time they started listening to the people, rather than the mining companies.”
Mr Hutton said the ALP had promised to commission a cumulative water balance for the Galilee Basin coal mines prior to any construction, and to reverse the LNP policies of giving unlimited water to coal miners for free and removing community appeal rights.
He said a commitment to a departmental study into the mismanagement of Gladstone Harbour was also a good thing, but it should be upgraded to a properly independent investigation.
“But the ALP has a long way to go on protecting Queenslanders from coal seam gas and mining compared to the minor parties and independents,” Mr Hutton said.
“Prior to the election, we’d like to see the ALP unambiguously commit to overturning the Acland coal mine expansion and to fully protecting Strategic Cropping Land from coal mining and coal seam gas with a strict prohibition.
“The LNP didn’t bother responding to this survey, which reveals the extraordinary contempt they have for community concerns on this issue. We can only assume they will continue putting land, water and human health at risk with their reckless mining policies if they are re-elected.
“We’re encouraging people to vote for change this election, because it is desperately needed, and to be informed by our scorecard when they cast their vote by numbering every box.”
Do you like this post?
Kate Dennehy
QLD Campaign Coordinator | Lock the Gate Alliance
Ph: 0419 432 624 | Email: queensland
Post: PO Box 8283, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102
http://www.lockthegate.org.au/mining_scorecard
PUP Senator Glenn Lazarus late tomorrow afternoon (Friday) will visit a farmer seriously impacted by coal seam gas at Chinchilla on the Downs.
For further details please contact me or Saturday’s symposium organiser, Shay Dougall shay@molliwell.com.au Ph: 4665 4072. See attached media release for more details.
Kate Dennehy
QLD Campaign Coordinator | Lock the Gate Alliance
Ph: 0419 432 624 | Email: queensland@lockthegate.org.au
Post: PO Box 8283, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102
Please find attached a recent interview that Trevor did with ABC southern regional radio Re – Solar Farming alternative to coal and coal seam gas mining.
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An Independent candidate in this weeks’ election has pleaded with Queenslanders to find out about the importance of Great Artesian Water to Australia. He said the shenanigans in the south east between the major parties is taking the spotlight away from real issues. Bruce Currie is a grazier north of Jericho that successfully won a legal battle against mining giant, GVK, regarding underground water security.
“This Australia Day week, I hope people remember that much of our unique natural beauty is due to water – this lifeblood is vital for both the environment and the economy and should be managerd sustainably,” Mr Currie said.
Mr Currie spoke with an eerie calmness when talking about the Newman Government water reforms across Queensland and how he fears for the next generation.
“This government has made it clear it values mining over agriculture and this is not sensationalism by a radio announcer, this is reality.
“For a starters, Newman and Seeney is giving water away to big mining companies and farmers are forced to pay ridiculous prices but that is not the real issue, the real issue is they are allowing the environment to be destroyed in the process with the sheer amount that is being robbed from the system when we do not know the impacts.”
“I am not talking a little bit of water, I am talking two and a half Sydney Harbour amounts of water from one system alone,” he said.
Mr Currie said that it verges on criminality the way the Newman government amended the Mineral Resources Act to allow miners unlimited interference & access to associated groundwater in their mining operations. This will result in the loss of water supply for existing landholders and rural communities.
He said Queenslanders especially those in rural and regional areas, must take a good look at water reform before the election, not only for their own backyard but for all of Queensland.
“Alan Jones might get fired up on this stuff around Acland but it is not just Acland, it is all over Queensland,” he said
FAST FACTS:
The Newman Government has
Ø Removed the moratorium on water development on Cape York Peninsular before the Water Resource Plan has been developed. This allows landholders on the Cape to secure large quantities of water entitlement for free
Ø Repealed the Wild Rivers Act and revoked all Wild River Declarations. This legislation protected the streams/rivers and adjoining floodplains in undeveloped river systems from inappropriate development.
Ø Amended the Water Act to progressively dismantle Queensland’s water planning and allocation framework – one of the best frameworks in Australia.
Ø Amended the Mineral Resources Act to allow miners unlimited interference & access to associated groundwater in their mining operations. This will result in the loss of water supply for existing landholders and rural communities.
Ø Has removed the rights of the general public, local authorities and interest groups to object and appeal to the granting of an environmental authority and the granting of a mining lease.
Ø Passed retrospective legislation to allow a Sand & Gravel Operation in the Brisbane River at Harlin to continue excavations thus stopping a DNR&M compliance investigation for unauthorised removal of sand and gravel resource. The operator is alleged to have donated funds to the LNP.
Ø Approved the extraction of up to 1770GL of groundwater from the Galilee Basin aquifers by the Alpha, Kevin’s Corner, Galilee Coal and Carmichael mines.
Ø Ignored the recommendations of the landholder’s Land Court appeal to the Alpha Mine – which outlined that a “more cautious approach” be taken in the management of the Galilee Region’s groundwater resources.
Ø Amended the Cooper Creek Resource Operations Plan to allow the trading of large “sleeper” water licences without following the due processes of the Water Act 2000.
The Newman Government proposes:
Ø to allow 522GL/annum of water to be taken from the Gilbert River and 385GL/annum of water to be taken from the Flinders River in the Gulf of Carpentaria for new irrigation projects. This will have unknown impacts on the Gulf’s barramundi and prawn fisheries.
Ø to allow the fracking and the take of water from the GAB in the Cooper Basin for deep gas and oil production. Fracking has been banned in New York State due to identified health impacts.
ENDS:
Bruce Currie is a grazier near Jericho, Central Queensland. He is a husband, father and local identity. Mr Currie has worked tirelessly trying to protect precious resources against big mining companies. He took GVK to court last year. He is running as an Independent in the seat of Gregory.
Contact: Mr Bruce Currie 46514272
RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL IF YOU WISH FOR MORE INFO. BRUCE VISITING EMERALD TODAY.
http://www.brucecurrieforgregory.com
@BCurrie2015
http://www.facebook.com/brucecurrieforgregory
http://youtu.be/-_cwK_tDul0
http://youtu.be/lkc7RbHXUoQ
[with thanks to Nathan]
In 2012 LNP took up where Labor left off (sold Qld Rail), selling public assets (public housing, roads, ports, electricity grid).
This is despite opposition to assets sales by the majority of people in the state.
The Labor Party undermined organized resistance against the fire sale in the unions. The Labor Party seeks political control of the unions when it should be the members that have the say in their unions.
Undemocratic
The parliament is undemocratic because parties like the Greens with a sizeable vote (8 – 10 %) do not get any seats in the parliament when they should have 8 or 9 seats. That would be a fairer representation of what people want. If there were a hung parliament the Greens would be best to press for electoral reform seeking a proportional representation system like that in the Federal senate and in Tasmania.
Aboriginal people who represent a sizeable minority of people have only ever had one representative in the Queensland parliament in 155 years that it has existed and that aboriginal person was hand picked by Bjelke-Petersen.
The best result possible for ordinary people with such a parliament is to have it hung 😉 especially so that the major parties can’t sell mote assets.
The problem with voting for independents is they are usually disaffected conservatives from regional centres … politicians like Peter Wellington (Nicklin) and Liz Cunningham (Gladstone).
Both these two briefly held the balance of power in 1998. Wellington’s decision to back the Labor party led to Peter Beattie being anointed state premier.
In the federal sphere, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter and Tony Windsor are the three conservative members who determined that Labor hold power in the 2010 election.
One feature of independents being elected and holding the balance of power is that they try to shift resources to regional electorates. Oakeshott and Windsor were successful at doing that … e.g. they got better roads in their electorates.
This is the contradiction of having a hung parliament.
However it does prevent the major parties that receive large donations from the private sector from trying to sell pubic assets, it just prevents them from selling public assets in the short term.
Parliament is not representative, if it were the Greens would hold 10% (approx.) of the seats
Why a declaration?
Many believe that this election now gives us the opportunity to have our say about the Newman government. However, the truth is that ever since the Newman government launched its assault on the public sector, we have always had the opportunity influence politics in Queensland.
It is time to move well beyond an understanding of politics that only consists of a three year electoral cycle. This election matters enormously but we need more profound social change than is possible through parliament.
Parliamentary democracy in Queensland is fatally damaged by mining companies and business interests that routinely exercise a corrupting influence on government processes. It is possible in Queensland for the corporate elite to purchase policy outcomes. As mere voters we cannot effectively oppose corporate power. Collectively however, on the streets, in workplaces, in communities we have considerable power to shape political and economic decision making. This declaration has been written to help rebuild mass democratic politics in Queensland.
Land rights.
The creation of the modern world economy, a system that has generated poverty and grotesque inequality, required the dispossession of indigenous land. This has especially been the case in Queensland. Dispossession was and remains an act of deception and violence. Before the arrival of fences, mines and grazing animals, the land was at the heart of successful Indigenous communities. Indigenous people should remain custodians of their land.
Freedom of speech and the right to assemble.
Residents of the city have had to fight for space to assemble and debate important issues. It often seems like every square inch of the city belongs to a corporation or a government body committed to protecting corporate interests. Year by year civil rights are eroded as more glittering malls are built. The battle for free speech and the right to demonstrate must be won.
The public sector and neo-liberalism.
The rise of neo-liberal economic and social policies seriously threatens the public sector. Politicians such as Thatcher, Reagan, Blair, Keating and Howard have argued that the market is the best vehicle for allocating resources and instilling each citizen with sense of responsibility. Poverty is depicted as something that people bring upon themselves by making the “wrong choices” rather than being the result of deep seated economic problems. This rhetoric has been accompanied by the transfer of resources from social services to projects that exclusively benefit the corporate sector. The transfer has been achieved through outsourcing, competition and corporatisation.
a) We will not allow the public health and education to become thoroughly marginal, cash starved relics only for the truly poor. Public hospitals and schools are far better at educating citizens and keeping them healthy than the private alternatives.
b) Scientific research is best conducted by the public sector. Organisations such as CSIRO are well placed to concentrate the best scientific minds on a project and curb the impact of corporate interests on the direction and perceived value of the research. Funding to CSIRO should be immediately restored.
c) The public service should be strengthened so that it can effectively deliver social infrastructure programs. Public servants should be respected by government and “frank and fearless” advice should be highly valued.
d) Corporate taxes should be massively increased in order to fund public services.
Workers’ rights.
The riches we see in the world today have been created by working people. Even though we work incredibly hard and possess a deep understanding of how to do things better we are paid only a fraction of what we are worth and our creative input is not valued.
a) We demand that the minimum wage be significantly increased so that all workers experience a standard of living well above the poverty line.
b) Every worker should have right to join a union and take strike action to improve their wages and conditions.
c) Every worker should have the ability to engage in solidarity action to support other workers without fear of prosecution. Employers have at their disposal the immense powers of the police and the courts to help them protect their interests. We have solidarity to defend ours.
Women.
There is still a long way to go to achieve women’s liberation. Every victory has been hard fought for and these gains need to be defended each day. The neo liberal assault on employment and services disproportionately affects women. Accompanying women’s precarious position in the economy are the deeply shocking levels of domestic violence experienced by women.
a) Access to legal and free abortion on demand.
b) Women must receive shelter and support when they leave a violent and abusive partner and not face homelessness.
c) Women should receive equal pay.
d) Women must be supported to participate and play leading roles in civil society. Men will do the ironing.
Welfare.
The true measure of a compassionate society is the quality of support it offers those citizens who struggle to obtain a decent standard of living.
a) People with disabilities should be generously supported by the government and presented with opportunities to engage in meaningful work for which they would receive a just wage. They should not be subjected to humiliating “reviews” of their disability.
b) Economic turmoil frequently locks millions out of work. When people experience unemployment they should be adequately supported by the government.
Climate justice.
We are rapidly approaching dangerous tipping points which may very well result in the release of vast quantities of devastating emissions from the arctic tundra and the ocean floor. To prevent global catastrophe a number of measures need to be implemented.
a) Governments should back and invest in renewable energy. This would create millions of green jobs.
b) Public transport systems should be extended and made free to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.
c) Government should stop subsidizing carbon polluters. Big polluters and carbon extractors should be made responsible for all damage, waste, and other harmful effects of their extraction, consumption and production.
No borders.
One of the truly remarkable things about a globalised world is the existence of culturally diverse communities. People flee economic turmoil and war to start a new life in vibrant multi-ethnic communities. Political leaders divert attention away from the hardship many experience and the profound challenges facing our planet by directing anger towards refugees and migrants.
a) We defend the right of people across the world to cross borders to seek a better life.
b) We demand that all people being held in detention, both on the Australian mainland and in the Pacific, be immediately released into communities here.
c) We condemn those politicians and media outlets who demonise some of the most desperate and vulnerable people in the world.
Housing.
Every citizen should have affordable housing. Government policy encourages speculation in property inflating property values and driving up rent. This has created a housing crisis. In 1985 a home cost 3.2 times the average income whereas today it costs 6.5 times. Workers are nearing retirement still owing money on a mortgage.
a) The government must significantly boost spending on social housing. Rent should not exceed 10% of a tenant’s income.
b) Quality emergency housing needs to be instantly available.
Democracy.
Parliamentary democracy and the vote are the result of a significant historic compromise. Around the world citizens have fought for genuine participation in politics, at times forcing limited concessions from their rulers. The result of this contest has often been parliamentary democracy.
a) For the majority of people parliament is the most important site of politics. Candidates who campaign around human rights and strong redistributive measures should be supported. If such candidates can be elected they can help use their position to help legitimatise democratic demands.
b) Genuine democracy goes beyond the parliamentary democracy framework. Genuine democracy involves citizens participating in democratic decision making. Broad mass meetings can be convened to resolve political and economic issues. Delegates can be elected to represent that meeting at central meetings. Crucially local forums have the capacity to recall their delegates at any time.
c) Democracy is not real if economic matters are not subject to democratic processes. Decisions about how resources are allocated and what services and goods should be produced should be made by the workers involved in their production with the citizens who the products affect.
The Cloudland Collective
Contact Greg on 0409 877 528 or email gregory_brown@optusnet.com.au for more details.
The “Rally against Newman” is being held 10am this Saturday, 24 January, at Queens Park.
The Cloudland Collective needs help handing out 2 leaflets.
One leaflet advertises a meeting featuring Quentin Dempster as the main speaker. A draft of the leaflet is attached.
The second leaflet is called “Declaration for a Just Society”. The text of the leaflet is below.
All help would be appreciated. Just turn up on the day or phone Greg on 0409 877 528 or email gregory_brown@optusnet.com.au for more details.