Greenwash Political Action Party and Urban Grassroots Movement for the Green Party

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Australians miles ahead of their major party politicians on West Papua

A Newspoll on West Papua released by businessman Ian Melrose shows that Australians are way ahead of their major party politicians when it comes to the issue of freedom and acting decently to our neighbours.

Almost 77% of Australians are in favour of self determination for West Papua – including the option of independence.

Here’s Ian Melrose’s media release.

Wednesday, 19 April 2006

Massive Australian support for West Papua

A new opinion poll shows over 75% of Australians support self determination for West Papua – including the option of independence.

The nationwide poll of 1,200 people conducted by Newspoll between 7-9 April, asked the following question:

And now a question about the Indonesian province of West Papua. Recently there has been some discussion in the Australian media about whether the people of West Papua should have the right to self determination, that is, the right to determine their own political future, including the option of independence. Are you personally in favour or against self determination for the people of West Papua?

77% were in favour of self determination and only 6% were against. The remaining 17% were undecided or didn’t know.

The poll was commissioned by Australian businessman Ian Melrose. Mr Melrose previously funded an advertising campaign in support of East Timor’s right to oil and gas revenue in the Timor Sea after the Howard Government withdrew East Timor’s right to have the dispute heard by an independent UN court.

Mr Melrose does not belong to any political party and never has.

“This is a massive level of support for the people of West Papua throughout the Australian community,” Mr Melrose said.

“I am delighted that Australians so overwhelmingly support the West Papuans. I expected nothing less.

“It is a shame that John Howard and Kim Beazley do not match the Australian peoples’ inherent decency when it comes to basic human rights and justice. I believe the poll sends a clear message to Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kim Beazley.

“Siding with the Indonesian Government and the Indonesian military over the rights and aspirations of the West Papuan people is very unpopular across all sections of Australian society.

“I feel sure that if the 42 West Papuan refuges were sent back they would all be killed. The UN report released in January 2006 stated the Indonesian military were responsible for 183,000 East Timorese deaths during their 24 years occupation. The Indonesian actions in West Papua will be no different to their actions in East Timor,” Mr Melrose said.

Click here to see the full details of the poll

posted by Ben Oquist # 10:36 AM 6 comments

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Howard enters Cole Commission

I’ve just come from Market st. in Sydney city where Howard has entered the Cole Commission at about 9.45am to give his evidence.

He didn’t enter a side door, nor drive in. He walked in after being dropped off a fair way up the street.

A small bunch of anti-war and pro-refugee protestors waited on the other side of the road surrounded by police.

So I wandered back to the other side of the street away from the protesters and next to the entrance to the building that is housing the Commission. I popped in to the St George bank for a bit of privacy, whipped out my texta and wrote a little sign on an A4 piece op paper.

So when Howard came by, with the protesters far away on the other side of the road, I was able to get right beside the PM, pull out my piece of paper and place the word “RODENT” next to his head (see photo taken shorlty before above) Together we walked a few yards as he made his way to enter the building. I was the only protester to get anywhere near him. Eventually I was bundled away by an aggressive plain clothes security agent.

Meanwhile just after he entered the building, refugee activist Ian Rintoul made a dive for the front door. He collided with some journalists shortly before a police scrum tackled and arrested him.

So while Howard’s security decoy strategy almost worked today, a few protesters managed to use a decoy strategy of our own to get up close and personal.

Postscript: on some TV news the protest could be seen and the Daily Telegraph's Malcolm Farr covered it with a story and photo.

posted by Ben Oquist # 11:15 AM 3 comments

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Harry the Hero

I travelled down to Canberra yesterday to hear Senate Clerk Harry Evans at the National Press Club.

While Alexander Downer wasn’t answering questions properly at the AWB Cole Commission in Sydney, hearing Harry in Canberra felt like a breath of fresh air. Certainly what Harry had to say about how the AWB scandal had unfolded (and the Government’s Senate response) was more interesting than Downer’s dishevelling.

Here was public servant speaking frankly and fearlessly about Government abuse of power, the need for robust accountability and the threats posed to our democracy by a Government controlled Senate.

Check out his full speech here.

I was able to ask Mr Evans a couple of questions during the Q and A session at the end of his talk. I asked him if the Government directive in Senate estimates earlier this year to ban public servants answering questions about the AWB was a ‘lawful’ directive. Not a bad question if I don’t say so myself! Anyway, the Senate Clerk answered frankly and directly that it was not a lawful directive. The media were quick to pick up on the issue and covered the response to my question here, here, here and here. There was also a short piece on ABC’s Lateline and the wonderfully erudite Geoffrey Barker had a top piece in the AFR but both are not available on line.

One worries though about who will replace Harry. Will someone as independent minded, tough and loyal to the institution of the Senate be allowed to replace him? Is Harry Evans the last great Senate Clerk?

posted by Ben Oquist # 12:11 PM 1 comments

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Australia’s Right missing in action.

Over the last days we have had a communist dictatorship – the historical bete noire of the right – holding sway in Australia. John Howard doing walks around the Lake Burley Griffin, press conferences, and lunches with Wen Jiabao, the visiting communist Chinese Premier.

In Sydney the NSW Premier avoided the state funeral of Pro Hart so he could scramble to Sydney airport for a brief audience with the visiting Chinese leader.

Afterwards he held a press conference which allowed no questions and Australian print and radio journalist were denied access. It appears that the visiting Chinese media might have been allowed in.

Newspapers were filled with columnists writing of the wonders of Australia’s great new relationship with China.

But the historical critics of communists – the right – have been missing in action.

Where was Gerard Henderson? Where was Michael Duffy? Or Piers Ackerman or Janet Janet Albrechtsen or Greg Sheriden. These right wing warriors who normally like to rail against the left.

This biggest left wing party in town for some time with the rulers of the biggest communist regime in history and not a squeak from these normally outspoken critics.

Why? Because it matters nothing whether left or right when there are big dollars to be made from selling uranium.

While the Howard Government and its allies spout forth about their glorious mission to bring democracy to Iraq, when it comes to our nearer neighbour China – where millions are repressed and where if you set up an Liberal Party you’d be jailed – the right and their supposed adherence to freedom and democracy vanish.

posted by Ben Oquist # 11:35 AM 5 comments

Monday, April 03, 2006

Introducing the Greens newest MP

Great news from South Australia with the Greens Mark Parnell officially being elected to the Upper House today.

Mark was the principle solicitor at the South Australian Environmental Defenders office. Read more about Mark here.

Mark is the first MP in SA to be elected as a Green. Kris Hana (lower house MP) joined the Greens after being elected as an ALP member. Kris was also re-elected an independent this time round. Congratulations to him for beating all predications that he would lose his seat.

Next up is the Victorian state election in November 2006. With the introduction of proportional representation for the Upper House there, the Greens can be expected to win at least a seat or two.

This will complete a strong representation of Greens across the country with only Queensland missing out - they have no upper house or proportional representation at state or local level.

With many Greens also elected at national council level (including Green Mayors), welcome to a truly national force in Australian politics.

posted by Ben Oquist # 1:46 PM 4 comments