Tuesday 27 May 2008

Mr Alby Schultz replies re The Apology

Mr Alby Schulz, MHR, Member for Hume (and hence, my Local Member) has responded to my urgent correspondence of 13 February - when he failed to appear in the House of Representatives, during the Apology to the Stolen Generations.

Dear Mr Wilson
Thank you for your email in which you express your support for the National Apology to the Stolen Generation and concerns regarding my absence from the Prime Ministers Sorry speech.

I apologise for the long delay of my response to you on this important matter and also advise the following regarding my absence from the Prime Ministers Sorry speech as I feel it important the reason for my absence is clarified.

During and following the Tuesday 12th February 2008 opening and long sitting of parliament which concluded at 2am on Wednesday 13th February 2008, I experienced ongoing severe pain in my left eye socket which holds a prosthetic eye due to an accident in 2003.

The pain became so intense I sought emergency medical advice on Wednesday morning. After receiving medication and resting under advice, I resumed my duties in the Parliament. On Thursday the 14th February 2008 I saw my specialist at an appointment for which I had received approval for leave. The specialist believes he has found a long term solution to this intermittent painful condition. The problem has been attended to and I am not experiencing any further problems.

The Prime Minister’s speech appealed to some and raised concern for others. It seems that nothing is assured with regard to the government not becoming liable for compensation and Mr Rudd didn't mention addressing the current problems in some indigenous communities like the sexual abuse of children. I feel the sentiment now needs to be followed up with concrete action. Proof of real commitment will be in the outcomes of the government’s so-called promise to fix the real problems within the indigenous communities. I believe that a solution to the problems facing Aboriginals is overdue although the Howard Government had begun the process in 2007 with the Northern Territory Interventions.

It should be noted that the snubbing of opposition leader Brendan Nelson at the National Apology by indigenous members of the audience would not help their cause.

The turning of backs and booing of Dr Nelson is indicative of how 'fair dinkum' some sections of the indigenous community are about their commitment to building harmonious relationships with fellow Australians. To be successful it needs to be a two-way street. Any solutions offered to solve the problems facing aboriginal communities need to be embraced and supported by those communities and their elders if there is ever to be any positive changes seen in the future.

Yours sincerely
ALBY SCHULTZ MP
Member for Hume

Deputy Chair, Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Resources
Member of the House of Representatives Speakers Panel

Electorate Office
Ph: 02 4822 2277 or 1 300 301 826
Fax: 02 4822 1029
Parliament House
Ph: 02 6277 4386
Fax: 6277 8482
Website
http://www.albyschultz.com.au
Email
alby.schultz.mp@aph.gov.au

AJS/DS/fb

----Original Message-----

From: Denis Wilson [mailto:peonyden@bigpond.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5:12 PM

DJW Comment.

Don't you love the way that Mr Schultz still manages to see the real problem with the Apology being the behaviour of the Aboriginal people, during the event (at which he was not present).

What about the facts of the Stolen Generation, Mr Schultz? Have you heard of the "Bringing them Home" report?

And what about the invasion of Australia by the British, from 1770 onwards.

  • In 1770, Englishman Lieutenant James Cook charted the Australian east coast in his ship HM Barque Endeavour. Cook claimed the east coast under instruction from King George III of England on 22 August 1770 at Possession Island, naming eastern Australia 'New South Wales'.
  • The arrival of the First Fleet in January 1788, under the control of Captain Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of the Colony of New South Wales.

Mr Schultz - how do you think the Aboriginal people are entitled to feel about the history of this continent since those events?

By the way, I am glad your medical treatment for your one eye is working.

Monday 26 May 2008

The Secret? Visit New Zealand and see the world clearly.

Paul Lennon, Premier of Tasmania (until today) has seen the end of the world clearly, and jumped.
"I'm not driven by popularity and polling, I'm not driven by a desire to be loved by people. What drives me in public life is a determination to make those sometimes tough and unpopular decisions that are necessary to provide a better future for Tasmania.
"I haven't reached that point yet where I believe it's necessary for me to stand aside."
Mr Lennon returned on Friday from a four-day visit to New Zealand discussing climate change issues, having left Mr Bartlett in the role of Acting Premier in his absence."
(Source: Hobart Mercury - Sunday 25 May)

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23754000-921,00.html?source=cmailer

Astute readers will know that Mr Lennon's resolve lasted less than 24 hours, and he has since announced his resignation.

The Question is can NSW arrange for Morris Iemma to visit New Zealand and look into the abyss of political oblivion?

The sooner the better.

Iemma and his Treasurer Michael Costa have been similarly dogged, determined and "hairy chested" (as Lennon was) over the Great Electricity Sale, and other issues. Costa's famous reaction to the Labor Party's opposition to the NSW (Labor) Government's sell-off proposal: "I just don't care" is a quote worthy of Mr Lennon (yesterday) - but not today.

The ABC news has just reported that Mr Lennon's successor is about to be sworn in, (3:00pm AEST 26 May 2008).

Oh, would that Mr Iemma should take the same exit.
The sooner the better.
Oh, by the way, take Ministers Costa, Sartor, Della Bosca, Tripodi and Hatzistergos with you, pls Morris.

Friday 9 May 2008

Myanmar Cyclone Vs Hurricane Katrina

Talk about shallow reporting. Telstra's Bigpond.com site reports as "news" criticism of the Myanmar junta's response to the recent cyclone in that country, OK. Fair enough.

What is not fair enough is that Telstra has picked up that message, ignoring the fact that Sylvester Stallone is the person making the comments, and that he is using his statement to promote his latest movie. Even worse, I now see that it is sourced from Australia's own ABC. Shame, Aunty, shame!

Let me point out that the Americans failed miserably to deal with the aftermath of their own tropical storm disaster, (Hurricane Katrina) on their own home soil, in New Orleans.

And let us compare "like with like" - the Americans have vast resources to throw at the problem, unlike Myanmar.

I am not defending the Junta in Myanmar - far from it, but let companies like Bigpond (and the ABC) please be more "aware" when picking up trashy "celebrity" statements like that one. Who really cares what Sylvester Stallone thinks, anyway?

There is a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Let us deal with that.
REMEMBER: "IT IS BY BEING QUIET AND POLITE CITIZENS WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE IGNORED"