OOPS! "ABSENT-MINDED VOTERS"

National Press Club 2/22015

The current Australian Prime Minister was at the Press Club deflecting the huge swing away from his conservative counterparts in Queensland (and still counting. He said all who voted ALP were 'absent-minded'...Oops another cock-up... even Dum and dummer;

I focus on my Grandchildren and other's Great grandchildren.

Off the top of my head what would motivate the electorate away from the conservatives(I can't call them Liberal),convince them our grandchildren's future is in jeopardy.

The intergenerational effect which Abbott becomes impassioned about is exactly why I would not vote for the right-wing Tories. It would be like going back to the 19th century with their anti-union/collective negotiating, acceleration to a further unequal and unjust society. 

 In the Sunshine State of Queensland renewable energy has been relegated behind Coal, contributing to green-house gasses - acidification of the ocean, sea rise and frequent, intense storms, but why believe the experts over the coal and mineral lobby?

1. Health cut-backs by Qld Minister Springborg: Frontline Services slashed so people lose jobs and the domino effect of that on families, and people can't get the necessary medical service which would make them recover quickly and be productive, or just valued as a human being.
2. All the impetus created by the Julia Gillard for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, leaving individuals and carers in limbo, and putting the screws on by expecting poor people to pay for necessary items such as incontinence aids. 
3. Three teenagers who were being treated in the only Mental Health facility appropriate for their daily needs became so stressed by the Newman Government's threats and eventual close of the Barrett Centre - committed suicide. Money saved from the destruction of life and effective mental health service was more important.
4. My own recovery of a debilitating Bi-polar depression is drawn out due to a lack of Psyciatric care to meet the demands of the West Moreton region.
5. 
   

   

   Scott from Fernvale absentmindly determined to vote LNP into oblivion after watching the deterioration of front-line services in hospital from lack of Cleaners to Nurses overloaded with work that hygeine and timely medications not on time.

6. THE ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE is being ignored by all Conservative Governments at our peril - they must have a secret get-away to Mars...because the scientific evidence and modeling is dismissed(great role-modelling for our students). 
7. COAL is KING and COSTLY TO all Life on Earth. Money is everything. De-invest in Solar Energy. 
8. Local Government Minister Jeff Seeney ordered 'Climate Change' considerations in planning for housing and other projects deleted! Responsibility to community based on sea-rise predictions is negated. 

SIGNS of a return to the Joh Bjelke-Petersen regime triggered memories - lack of accountability, transparency, authoritarian approach, up goes the Monarchial symbols, down go the Westminster Parliamentary separation between State and Law via the Vlad Laws, and creation of a Star Chamber!

Supremo Monarchist Tony Abbott also thinks what is good for the Australian people is to return to Imperial honours and Elitism. 

Workchoices - Australia is the best place to live and work because of the UNIONS collective bargaining for it's members and the good of society.

WHAT ELSE IS THERE? Forgive me for being so absent-minded. Obviously the Tories don't think their austere policies which make the poor desperate and the rich wealthier experience as REFORMS and a work-in-progress!

On the Periphery of politicians vision.

A Minister for Women? Officially under the Prime Minister's wing: Cuts to front-line services which directly relate to women's lives: Domestic violence, housing, insecure work, legal aid etc etc etc. 

Old People - Queensland still has below standard aged care facilities; Overworked, underpaid staff and profitable owners, and no thorough program of care for dementia sufferers and their carers! 

I could write an effective policy of employment, training for dementia care but you don't want to spend any money on old people beyond their useful date, do you Prime Minister?

Theocratic - what's good for us - Dum and Dummer

Children: De-value Scientific Endeavour and de-value qualified children's counsellors to exploit Christian evangelical Chaplains. Prayers win over cognitive and family therapies.

Women's autonomy; abortion and reproductive health starved and criminilised by 19th century English Laws.

Until Mr. Abbott slides all the way down the Snake on the board game I will distract my self with 

SIR TIM MINCHIN OF THE COMMONWEALTH 

THE RIGHT TO ASSOCIATE, BE SILENT, BE HEARD...

POETRY, MUSIC & POLITICS - with passion.....follows.

Somerset branch of Queensland Labor associate along the Brisbane Valley, with their festive end of year meeting at the Esk QCWA Hall.

Members have many talents and always enjoy a fund-raising raffle to keep campaigning for the great Australian Labor Party.

Wrapping up 2013, the Somerset Labor branch meeting heard branch President Jim Madden(Lowood lawyer and Somerset Councillor) outline the legislation brought in with no consultation with stake-holders apart from the Queensland Police: These are termed the Queensland Government's "Bikie Laws". 

For most of the people present the 1980's ghost of the 'Moonlight State" which exposed the corrupt Police State led by the National Party under Premier Joh-Bjelke Petersen (4 Corners ABC TV) to the rest of Australia. The hall was quiet and a sense of disquiet.  

The lack of understanding and contempt for the principles of the Rule of Law created amazement when Premier Petersen appeared in Court and showed utter ignorance of the Westminster Parliament system of the separation of  powers. 

Today, the apathy is worse, the disrespect for Judges by the current Premier and his Attorney-General and the institutions they are supposed to conserve is baffling! How do you explain it to our children?

The Conservatives in Australia have a pathological jealousy for the Labor Movement because we Create, so they Destroy - stunted politcal growth. 
Labor invests in people, the Tories are the old Capitalists who are prepared to sacrifice people and the environment, because they're cushioned from the hazards they've created.

Jim questions the strategy of the LNP legislation as smoke and mirrors distraction.
What is the Qld State doing behind the distractions?

The increasing powers given to the Queensland Police, disrespect for Parliamentary conventions and committees(where there is no Upper house for checks and balance to a majority in the) is worrying.

Jim outlined the LNP contempt for the independence of the judiciary, presumption of innocence, right to silence, and the privilege against self-incrimination are not optional parts of our legal system, nor are they principles which should be ignored for the purpose of government policy, no matter how well intended.

Our Vice-President said she was going to protest in Brisbane on the day of the Labor Women's Conference because she had been a recreational bikie and spoken to others who had been stopped by Police because of these laws. 
links 2
Opposition-slams-qld-govt-absurd-rush-on-new-anti-bikie-laws/5104072
Bleijies-church-criticised-hardline-bikies-jail

Who are the Out-Laws?
LNP dismantles Westminster heritage, increases police powers.

I have more of a casual interest in the topic as I am researching and writing a historical novel set during the 17th century  when these principles of rule of law were being contested .

link to

Julie McNEILL - Love In an English Republic

THEY WHO SET THE PRECEDENTS.

I AM TRULY A POST-MODERN WOMAN - 

It's like I am in the Tardis - travelling between the 17th century blood and bone of civil war bodies our current Constitutional British Monarchy, hopefully to an Australian Republic.

"The basic privilege that no-one should be forced to behis own betrayer is extended to every citizen. It is the basis of the doctrine that the prosecution must prove its case. Section 128 reflects the common law position that is the foundation of our legal system. The Privilege operates to keep what may otherwise be relevant evidence out of court, is based on public interest grounds and on the doubt surrounding the obtaining of confessions by police for admission into evidence."http://www.afp.gov.au/ — in England, United Kingdom.

FOR ME - THE VOTERS WHO DARED TO VOTE OUT A LABOR GOVERNMENT AS PUNISHMENT FOR LEADERSHIP INSTABILITY - BELIEVING THEY COULDN'T DO REAL HARM - WERE DELUDED, and IGNORANT OF HISTORY.

THEY BELIEVED THEIR TORY LIES, AND DUPLICITY, AND THEIR RIGHT TO SILENCE ON WHAT THEIR POLICIES WERE - IF THEY HAD ANY.

NOW WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING AND EXPERIENCING THE UNDOING OF THE SOCIAL FABRIC, PULLING AWAY THE GLUE WHICH STRENGTHENS INDIVIDUALS AND THUS COMMUNITIES.

It's like the Sheriff of Nottingham(Campbell Newman) and his twisted side-kick Gisborne(Jared Bjelke) have taken on pathology of megalomania. Typical Tories.

Because I'm a person who thinks outside the square I take the opportunity to follow Jim's Q&A with a poem I wrote one morning with my toast and listening to the radio telling me about the Newman's government anti-association legislation.

The Law Society warns if there was the will, any of us could have our rights to due process revoked, if suddenly the Government wanted to write the book clubs of Queensland onto the out-law list, or anybody else!

When we migrated from Melbourne to Brisbane we thought the far-right wings had fallen off! Suddenly I panicked - it'll be the non-conformist poets next, they'll round up West End Boundary poets who make the most of life rallying against injustices.

You think it couldn't happen? My poetry pal, Thom who escaped from the Police State under Joh - in the same class of demonstrators as former Premier Peter Beattie - but whilst he networked with members of the Labor movement, Thom left his law degree behind to a nurturing haven across the Queensland border. He found his voice at Nimbin and every alternative gig across the land.

Now and again he'd visit his mum in Chermside, but one time as he stepped off the bus from Melbourne, his rainbow coloured threads threatened the sensibilities of a local copper.

Thom was told to get back on the bus and go back to where he came from. We don't like your types coming here. 

But said Thom with a folder of printed street poetry sheets under his arm, (when he might have had a better reception if it was a brown paper bag)

..."I am from here, I was born in Brisbane! I've come to visit my mum!

                                     

YOU MARK MY WORDS!

The Poets will be herded on buses,

To live in exiled penury on the freezing 

Melbourne Fringe welcome mat -

As in the past this happened when Joh and

His Ilk managed things;

Demolished evolutionary 

Teaching, grew a Police Force,to be scared

Of especially for those troublesome blacks.

By censoring dissent and promoting prayer

Over the facts of Life Queensland teenagers

Went forth and multiplied and learned submission.

The Premier Patriarch said Don't you worry about that

Every night on T.V. and DDTed weedy words so the

Labouring lads in the sticks and the city compliant

Never heard corrupting influences and

Repeat them to their kids.

Like today the LNP say our prosperity 

Is tried and true black coal and yellow cake,

Clearing scrub without Reds and Greens tape.

Have faith in us, we're right and they're rat-bag 

Republicans who swear no oath of loyalty 
To baby boy George!

We are the Rightful Established, majority right
 And we'll crush your ideology because the artists 

Don't need tax dollars to dress in 

Leather jackets and silly hats! 

Don't you worry about that - The Nats will send

Packing the promoters of anti-authoritarian

Disorder, who would have our children learn words like

Autonomy, transparency, multi-culturalism, Fascism,

The Westminster something, Separation of Powers.

It is perfectly reasonable and highly desirable,

Extremely efficient if we build jails and manufacture

Pink Uniforms for the growth of the economy and run the 

Whole thing with from the office of our

Benevolent Attorney-General - of Queensland LNP, 
Jarrod Bleijie

(c)copyright Julie McNeill Nov 2013
all rights reserved

NEXT MEETING OF THE SOMERSET BRANCH OF THE QLD ALP IS SATURDAY FEB 22ND WITH GUEST SPEAKER. FOR DETAILS CONTACT Julie McNeill(Secretary): julie.mcneill1@bigpond.com