I AM REPUBLISHING A NOTICE FROM THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
OF WA.

You will see from my previous posts that I welcome some serious attention political to this oil spill.

THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY WA Tell the oil and gas industry: 'Never Again - Protection not Pollution!' On August 21 2009, an oil/gas well being drilled from the West Atlas oil rig off Australia’s north west Kimberley coast blew out, uncontrollably spewing oil into the ocean. Since then the oil has spread through an area known as a marine wildlife super-highway, now covering thousands of square kilometres of turtle, whale, dolphin and fish habitat. This an environmental disaster in a pristine area, and the oil and gas industry must be held to account. Join us this Friday 30th November as we say "Never Again - Protection not Pollution". Visit www.wilderness.org.au/oilspill for more information. Flash mob: To set the scene we will have volunteers covered in oil, standing in barrels, representing the plethora of marine life affected by the spill. Dress in black & join us to protest against the oil spill and campaign for greater protection of our Kimberley marine life! Where: APPEA (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association) offices 190 St Georges Tce (cnr of Mill St) When: 11am, Friday 30th November Speakers: Dr Jill StJohn, The Wilderness Society and Piers Verstegen, The Conservation Council of WA RSVP: We need to be able to cater for numbers at the location, so please let us know if you're coming! For more information about the oil spill visit www.wilderness.org.au/oilspill Don't live in Perth? You can take part in this action regardless of where you live. We're asking everyone who is as outraged as we are, but doesn't live in Perth - to email the oil and gas industry's representatives APPEA and our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. Thank you Renae Williams Community Campaigner The Wilderness Society WA 0433 295 385 renae.williams@wilderness.org.au powered by phplist v 2.10.5, © tincan ltd The Wilderness Society (WA) Inc City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth, WA, 6005 Australia Phone: (08) 9420 7255 | Fax: (08) 9226 0994 | Email: wa@wilderness.org.au

Kevin Rudd sworn into office

Well, it has happened. Kevin Rudd is Prime Minister.
Before he swore Kevin in, the G-G "accepted the resignation" (submitted previously, and privately) by John Howard.

The Governor-General's Website carries an announcement by Malcolm Hazell, Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia. It includes the following:

• Earlier this morning, the Governor-General signed the instrument appointing Mr Rudd as Prime Minister and administered the Oath of Office to Mr Rudd, making him Australia's 26th Prime Minister since Federation. The Governor-General also administered the Oath of a Federal Executive Councillor to Mr Rudd, which brings with it the courtesy title of “The Honourable”.

and:

• Today's ceremony involves taking the Oath or Affirmation of Office, required to be taken by all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries and, for those being appointed for the first time, the Executive Councillor's Oath.
  
• The Executive Council derives from Section 62 of the Constitution which provides “There shall be a Federal Executive Council to advise the Governor-General and the Government of the Commonwealth, and the Members of the Council shall be chosen and summoned by the Governor-General and sworn as Executive Councillors, and shall hold office during his pleasure”.

This bizarre ritual is a timely reminder that we are not really a sovereign nation.

We have not elected our own Prime Minister. He has been appointed by the Governor-General, who himself is not elected, but appointed - by - you guess it, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

The power resides in the antiquated body known as the Executive Council. The business of Government, even Parliamentary proceedings, are a sham, or perhaps better expressed, a smoke screen. No political actions have effect until the G-G, sitting in the Executive Council makes that formal declaration.

Its time to remedy all this foreign dependency nonsense, folks. Stand up, Australia, and take control of your own affairs.