Greetings from Clive's Backwater

Regular readers would be familiar that I often re-emphasise the core focus of my campaign at the start of my posts but I would like to be a little more expansive today. If elected, I will provide advocacy for everyday South Australians impacted by abuse and neglect, and the treating medical clinicians, first responders and witnesses supporting them. I choose to offer my opinions freely on a broad range of subjects but wish to highlight that one independent senator simply cannot direct any government's legislative agenda. I am not a career politician, I am not preferencing any other party or candidates and if elected, I expected to be supporting and working closely with everyday South Australians and their advocates. I encourage voters who share my frustration at our inability to address clearly identified abuse and neglect in a more timely fashion, to vote below the line and place me anywhere in your top 6 - noting that you must number a minimum of boxes 1 through to 6 below the line for your vote to be regarded as formal. To AEC staff and party volunteers who continue to challenge my campaign and instruct me not to distribute my campaign material, I'd like to direct you to page 41 of Tom Roger's Australian Electoral Commission Scrutineer's Handbook (Australian Electoral Commission, version 8, 2019) to prevent further incidents. I'm an everyday person trying something different to make Australia a more compassionate place – I am not seeking to generate more uninformed debates.

I’d like to briefly address a number of comments made to me regarding whistleblowing and references to my actions further clogging up the already congested courts. Parliamentarians are uniquely placed to make comment on various matters in parliament and are not subject to the same legal consequences that non-parliamentarians would be subject to if they made the same statements. Whilst uncomfortable with some recent uses of parliamentary privilege by some parliamentarians, my focus is on advocating for enforceable laws to address clear and repeated incidents of physical and psychological harm occurring in our community. Many incidents are currently only addressed through the taking of civil action and even if the complainant has the financial backing to pursue such action, many legal processes result in negotiated settlements which include non-disclosure agreements that do not prevent harmful behaviour from occurring in the future. I am mindful of the safety and privacy of vulnerable people in our community and if elected, view the making of any statement in parliament addressing wilfully harmful behaviour as a position of last resort. Through private and informal advocacy, I hope to make a difference in the lives of everyday South Australians but will only speak publicly following investigations and communications with all parties, and with consent from victims and their advocates. Whilst acknowledging the importance and recent focus upon whistleblowing in the financial services sector following the Banking Royal Commission, I also wish to bring about a focus on health and safety whistleblowing and a far less complex process directly engaging with incidents of serious and repeated psychological and/or physical harm.

Yesterday, Clive Palmer splashed another excessive full page advertisement in the Adelaide Advertiser championing nuclear energy as the saviour to all of our ills in SA. Despite Mr Palmer's recent slandering of South Australia as a backwater, we continue to be a national frontrunner in renewable energy generation, battery storage technology, the uptake of rooftop solar and the cutting of emissions associated with energy generation. Mr Palmer seems intent on a campaign of misrepresentation and garish financial extravagance whilst numerous ex-employees and small business operators in Townsville, still owed significant amounts of money from his failed Queensland Nickel venture, suffer the indignity of watching his wasteful onslaught of advertising. His recent rant on breakfast television that he couldn’t give a stuff about what anyone thinks whilst trumpeting his wealth at 4 billion simply confirms his wilful disregard of Australian workers, businesses and taxpayers and the money that they are owed. He may have fooled some in the past but I have faith that my fellow South Australians will not be fooled, bullied or brainwashed - standing up to individuals such as Mr. Palmer with his impossible promises, lack of accountability and inability to treat people with basic respect is central to my campaign. I’m fortunate that his wilful ignorance should prevent him from being hurt by comments from some backwater based rookie candidate whose campaign budget is approximately 0.001% of his own. I'd prefer not to directly address any other candidates in such a manner but I find his behaviour extraordinary for an individual looking to gain the trust and respect of the community.

Here are some further responses to questions from electors and advocacy groups:

*Will you commit to paying early childhood educators a professional wage? There is nothing more important to us all than our children. The low hourly pay rates in early childhood education will result in the sector struggling to retain high quality educators to guide our children through their early years. I support Labor's pledge to strengthen the ability of the Fair Work Commission to order pay increases for workers in the early childhood education sector.

*Federal Election Priorities for South Australia's Young People and Children - It should be unsurprising that I wholeheartedly support all the priorities listed in the recent report by South Australia's Commissioner for Children and Young People. If elected, I hope to support and be informed by the Commissioners work, with my particular focus being on the areas of the accessibility of the NDIS and mental health services, increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 and making the family court system more child focused.

*Playgroup Australia Priorities - I support the priorities detailed by Playgroup Australia and Labor's planned $6.1 million investment into playgroups and toy libraries. I note the absence of any reference to playgroups in the Liberal Party's campaign so far. If elected, my focus will be upon these two priorities particularly:

*Supporting a national policy agenda for child, family and community wellbeing for 2020 — 2035 to include recognition of the role of play and playgroup for children’s development and family outcomes.

*Establishing a national supported playgroup program which includes a focus on supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and families, and on growing intergenerational playgroups ($3m per annum ongoing).

*Time for the Talk contacted me and they have rated my response to climate change as good. I provided the following responses to them:

 Which of the following statements most accurately reflect your views on climate change?
Climate change is...
    It's not real
    It's real, but not caused by human action
    It's real and it’s caused by human action
    Other (please specify)

Which of these most accurately reflects your views on Australia’s carbon emissions?
    Australia should not be trying to reduce its carbon emissions
    Australia is reducing its carbon emissions an appropriate amount
    Australia should reduce its carbon emissions more than it currently is
    Australia should reduce its carbon emissions significantly more than it currently is
 
The responsibility of dealing with climate change lies primarily with:
    Federal government
    State government
    The private sector
    Individuals
    Nobody

During my first term after the 2019 election, reducing carbon emissions (and other related policies) is:
    Not something I will vote for
    Something I will vote for but not introduce
    Something I want achieved by the end of the first term
    Something I will prioritise
    My top priority

Which party’s policies to do with reducing carbon emissions are you most likely to vote for?
    The Coalition
    Labor
    The Greens
    I don’t think we should have policies to reduce carbon emissions
    I don’t think any of those parties are doing enough to reduce carbon emissions

If you have climate-change-related policies, what are they (please include or attach them to your response)?

If elected, I aim to identify and respond to individual cases of abuse and neglect that are currently creating serious harm in the South Australian community. There is a pressing need for greater enforceability of common sense health and safety responses to clearly identified wellbeing risks in our community, informed by the directions of treating health professionals, and the accounts of first responders and witnesses. It is possible that further inaction in addressing climate change may make this issue a more pressing safety concern, and have far greater overlap with my stated priorities than is currently the case. This is a distinct possibility as extreme events such as wildfires, flood, heatwaves and drought become more and more commonplace and start to jeopardise the safety of our community.  My position on environmental issues will be continually informed by the hard work undertaken by the Climate Council of Australia.

Whilst many of my fellow South Australians are watching the footy, I’ve chosen to keep responding to emails and working on my campaign. As we enter the final week of the election campaign, the issue of abuse and neglect, and the possibility of change continues to motivate me. I do look forward to watching the mighty Port Adelaide again after the election (insert collective groan if applicable for non-football people or non-Port supporters), and spending some quality time with my family. I’d like to dedicate this post on the eve of Mother’s day to my mum, a woman who taught me how you can be both vulnerable and strong. I particularly want to thank mum for her brave decision to share all the information she knew about her biological father with me after advising her of my intention to run for the Senate, knowing that it would become public knowledge. Happy Mother’s Day mum – and Happy Mother’s Day to all mums. We are entering the home straight but I will try to post again before Saturday - please send through any questions or issues not yet covered to independentagainstabuse@gmail.com

Authorised by Brett O'Donnell 126 Muller road Greenacres SA 5086

The Outsider

As today is International Midwives day, I'd like to firstly thank and celebrate all midwives for their service to our community – it’s fair to say that most of us wouldn't be here without your care and support.

Nominating as a Senate candidate has been largely a rewarding experience but not without some unexpected curveballs. If elected, I will provide advocacy for everyday South Australians impacted by abuse and neglect, and the treating medical clinicians, first responders and witnesses supporting them. Whilst I will vote on legislation and engage in other parliamentary processes, my primary focus will remain on timely engagement with repeated, serious incidents of physical and psychological harm in South Australia.

A number of readers have recently asked for my thoughts on what I would do in the event of a hung parliament and if that will distract me from my priorities. I consider it extremely unlikely that I would be distracted in such a situation purely because I am running for the Senate and the government is formed by a majority of members in the House of Representatives. I am also realistic about my chances of being elected given this is my first time running as a candidate. This said there have been a number of unprecedented circumstances occur in recent times and there is no way to confidently predict anything given the last decade of instability in our parliament. So with all these caveats, any major party that is going to genuinely consult with victims and their advocates, and commits to legislating enforceable laws informed by such consultation - will have my support.  Other than that, I will not engage in horse trading about issues on the fringes, I will simply continue focusing upon supporting and engaging with clearly identified and repeated incidents of physical and psychological harm occurring in South Australia.

Whilst writing this post, another scenario arose in my thoughts - not one generated by any readers of my blog. Given the increasing presence of independent members of parliament in recent years, it is again - unlikely but possible - that a block of independents could unite and prove quite significant in determining the next government. Again, if elected, my role will not as be as pivotal as those decisions to be made by the elected members of the House of Representatives. However, if I do chose to join such an alliance, the same conditions would need to apply as those detailed above, namely a commitment to legislate enforceable laws informed by consultation that protects our community from clearly identifiable harm in a timely manner.

This week has seen many candidates being disendorsed and dropped from their party like hot potatoes. It has made me consider any further skeletons in my own closet. Having already provided details regarding the two occasions where I have been dismissed, it is accurate to state that my biggest regrets from my past hint at the widespread problems relating to intimate relationships in Australian society. Whilst certainly not criminal nor violent, I have unnecessarily caused emotional distress to a small number of women that I had relationships with when I was younger, generally at the time when these relationships were ending. To these women I say sorry and I wish them every happiness. I feel Australian men - myself included - need to take greater responsibility to create a safe space - at home, at work, everywhere in our community. This need not be an overly politically correct statement, it's simply about a time and a place - if your opinions or behaviour has the potential to cause harm - then the appropriate space for such conduct or statements is not in public, and with clear consent if required. We all need to recognise the harm that we all can inflict on each other, and it is not simply men who are capable of inflicting emotional, psychological and physical pain. However the burden of serious physical and psychological harm in family violence settings primarily impacting on women, children and the workloads of law enforcement agencies is at epidemic levels. For nearly a decade, I have been fortunate to be in a stable, loving relationship with Vanessa and my campaign has been very much personally informed by an incident where my family were subject to harassment at home one night by an individual known to me. I had repeatedly witnessed and heard accounts of this individual and their working unit inflicting harm upon myself and a number of former colleagues over the preceding six years.

Whilst the prevalence of family violence is concerning, of equal concern is our longstanding issues around racial discrimination and abuse in Australia. Stories recently aired in the media have highlighted that whilst police records confirm thousands of incidents of hate crimes, there have only been a handful of convictions, and none in South Australia. In some states and territories, racial vilification is not even regarded as a criminal offence. When our political leadership routinely offend diverse and valued groups in our community, the time has clearly arisen for everyday people like myself to stand up and demand change. If elected, I anticipate that I may need to support individuals from a range of diverse ethnic backgrounds who have been targeted and subject to repeated serious physical and/or psychological harm.

Here are some brief responses to some other issues raised by readers and advocacy groups:

*Liberal and Labor supporter wanting to support my campaign - Being a Liberal or Labor supporter does not preclude you from voting for me. Whilst at a Pre-poll centre last week, one self-confessed longstanding Liberal voter mistakenly believed that they couldn't vote for me and the Liberal Party given the Liberal Party's how to vote material encouraging electors to vote above the line. Any elector can choose to vote below the line, provide their first four preferences to any major party of their choice and then continue numbering any other boxes up to 6 at a minimum for the vote to be regarded as formal - more on this below.

*Australian Electoral Commission - Whilst the AEC have presented me with a number of unanticipated challenges, the AEC commissioner and the AEC's own printed how to vote material seems to be providing challenges to all Australians. The AEC commissioner's recent interview on ABC radio left many confused and some demanding apologies. Further adding to the confusion, the AEC scrutineers’ handbook clearly details on page 41 that the numbering of boxes one through to six below the line will result in that ballot being regarded as a formal vote. The AEC's how to vote material instead emphasises (frequently in bold) that you need to number one to twelve at least below the line. It's unfortunate that we need further reforms to remove the confusion surrounding above and below the line voting in the Senate, and I propose that we simply list all the candidates, grouped by party or as ungrouped independents with no above the line option. We then advise electors to number boxes one through to six at a minimum in a regular Senate election (to elect 6 senators), or number boxes one through to twelve at a minimum in a double dissolution election (to elect 12 senators). This is not the only unnecessarily confusing issue around the AEC's communications to arise recently, it appears that wilful misinformation is not purely the domain of politicians.

*Keith & District Hospital - Yet another temporary fix was provided to the Keith hospital this week with the SA government agreeing to step in and advance more funds from next years budget to ensure its operation until the end of this financial year. As previously mentioned, if elected, I will donate $5k to Keith Hospital in the 2019/20 financial year and I also intend to call on all SA based senators and the member for Barker to match my donation. The ongoing use of the hospital as a political football is a disgrace; it's time to resolve this issue and for the staff and the broader upper south-east community to be valued and treated with respect.

*Normanville Abattoir - The City of Victor Harbour recently contacted me asking for my support for a Federal Government loan for capital upgrades of the Normanville Abattoir. Whilst concerned about jobs and services in regions, the focus of my campaign is centred upon safety and wellbeing issues but if elected, I commit to further consultation with the City of Victor Harbour regarding this matter.

*Why aren't you a member of the Greens? Whilst it's fair to state that some of my opinions are closely aligned to those of the Greens, I don’t agree with all their policies. Please compare my smartvote profile with that of current SA Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young to gain an insight on the areas where our opinions differ. I also wish to highlight that the smartvote questionnaire didn't include any questions directly focusing upon small business – a policy area where my views are most out of step with the progressive side of politics.

*What are your infrastructure priorities? I support the transportation projects that have already commenced within South Australia, namely the Flinders Rail Link and Electrification of the Gawler line, and the next stage of the South road upgrade. The completion of the NBN is an important issue and whilst I live in the inner suburbs of Adelaide, my family home is still not connected to the NBN. I'm eager to investigate economic and environmental modelling into the increased funding and expansion of public transport services in Adelaide. I see the expansion of such services and reductions in the price of fares as having the potential to drive significant environmental benefits and provide a more sustainable solution to traffic congestion issues. For the record, I am a regular bus commuter.

*Do you support a full fibre NBN? Do you support the NBN remaining in government's hands and being seen as an essential service? Would you support NBN being made available for free to unemployed people so they can search for a job? It is unfortunate that the original NBN rollout plan was not followed - that is fibre to the premises, which would've been a truly forward thinking infrastructure project. Once the current fibre to the node rollout is complete, it is incumbent on the next government to address blackspot issues where businesses and households are suffering from regular downtimes and slow speeds, prioritising affected regional areas in the first instance. At this point in time, unemployed people can access internet services for free in their local communities but I do foresee a time in the future where internet connectivity will be provided free to all homes, as it seems likely that we all will become more dependent on being connected in the future. 

*What are your views on privatisation of government assets? I do not support the privatisation of any government assets.

I've received a large number of emails and stories whilst campaigning regarding my thoughts on prioritising inclusive policies around disabled people and those suffering from mental illnesses. Thanks to the many people who shared their personal stories with me and I'd like to highlight the frustration that many feel regarding the NDIS - a system designed to support the vulnerable which has instead left many languishing without appropriate support. If elected, this is an issue that I anticipate engaging with on behalf of many South Australians. I have been asked the following questions:

*Ensure benefits and housing policy enables everyone with mental health issues and disabilities to have a place to call home. AGREE

*Support the provision of effective employment support to people with mental health issues and disabilities who want help with work. AGREE

*Create a single cabinet level ministerial post with responsibility for mental health and disabilities across Government. AGREE

I've been contacted by the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) and asked to for my views on the following commitments:

*Commitment to a Royal Commission to address violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of people with disability across all settings and encompassing all matters raised by AFDO and its members that are not currently in or are lacking sufficient weight in the Royal Commissions Terms of Reference as well as conflict of interest issues with two of the appointed Commissioners. AGREE

*Commitment to funding the National Disability Strategy and progressive achievement of measurable outcomes at a federal level as well as ensuring this applies to all levels of government. AGREE

*Commitment to set aside, as a clearly defined reserve fund, the full and ongoing funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and to provide any necessary legislation to this effect. This to be at the level required for full Scheme each year, including any funds remaining in the reserve fund from any budget underspend in any given year. This is to provide certainty for all approved participants and for the long term security of the Scheme. AGREE

*Commitment to people with disability who are not part of the NDIS for continued access to services and relevant supports provided at a Federal and State/Territory level through COAG and other agreements or arrangements. AGREE

*Commitment to funding national Disability Representative Organisations. AGREE

*Commitment to funding disability advocacy and its Peak body. AGREE

I encourage readers to visit the AFDO website which provides further details regarding these commitments, given my focus on health and safety of vulnerable people, my wholehearted support for the AFDO's position should be unsurprising.

I have been contacted by The Australian Society for MedicalResearch (ASMR) who have called on me to make health and medical research a key priority by committing to ASMRs evidence based strategy:

*Invest 3% of total health expenditure on health and medical research. AGREE

*Commit to full capitalisation of the medical research future fund. AGREE

*Protect the integrity of peer review for research funding. AGREE

*Support the office of the NHMRC. AGREE

STAR AM, a Canberra based English-Chinese radio station, have asked me the following questions:

*Do you live in your electorate? If not how do you connect with your electorate? Yes, I live in Adelaide.

*From your point of view what are the most important matters for your electorate/state and Australia? Whilst Australia is confronted by many different challenges, I believe the majority of Australians, across the broad spectrum of political beliefs, support addressing incidents of serious abuse and neglect with greater urgency. If the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members, we are clearly failing.

*If you are elected how do you address or solve those issues? If elected, I intend to focus on incidents of repeated, serious psychological and/or physical harm impacting on everyday South Australians that are not being addressed by law enforcement agencies and health and safety regulators. I hope to bring about a focus upon this systemic failure, change the conversation and create the political will from within the major parties to pass legislation that will strengthen in law everyone's right to be safe from serious and clearly identified risks.

*What's your view about tackling the climate change?  I acknowledge and accept the scientific evidence that human activity is negatively impacting upon our planet and I’m frustrated by the unscientific arguments against climate action made by many current parliamentarians. I am also pragmatic that if elected, I will be but one voice amongst many and my focus will be on addressing incidents of harmful behaviour between individuals. It is possible that further inaction in addressing climate change may make this an even more pressing safety issue, and have far greater overlap with my stated priorities than is currently the case. It is fair to state that this is a distinct possibility given the increased frequency of extreme weather events in Australia.

*How can Australia government manage the Australian economy and budget thoughtfully? If elected and given that I am one independent senator, I can best support our economy by offering my in-principle support on Appropriation and Supply bills before the Senate to the government of the day - if they have a clear majority in the House of Representatives. Whilst frustrated by the instability that has characterised the last ten years in our nation’s parliament, I will respect and support the wishes of the majority of Australians. Given my focus on supporting the most vulnerable in our community, I do hope that the next government can prioritise addressing the growing gap between the rich and the poor in our community.

Stop the Traffik Australia have contacted me and asked:

*Are my campaign shirts slavery free? The t-shirts I have purchased are slavery free - manufactured by AS colour and printed by ProstitchEmbroidery.

I'd like to dedicate this post to my high school English teacher Mr Richardson, who taught at Banksia Park High School in the late 1980's. He was a unique character who significantly influenced my communication style, critical thinking, sense of fairness and justice whilst opening my mind to a great many authors. The Stranger (my copy is titled The Outsider) by Albert Camus, recommended to me by Mr Richardson, was the first great book I read as a young man. To balance out referencing a French philosopher and author, I'd like to wish all Star Wars fans a belated and happy May the fourth be with you, and close with a quote from the opening of Camus' essay 'Create Dangerously':

Today everything has changed and even silence has dangerous implications.

Replies

Thanks for all the emails and support. However in direct response to some comments, I would like to clearly highlight that whilst I am dismayed by the major parties contentious border security policies that place asylum seekers in harm’s way - if elected, my focus will be on instances of physical and psychological abuse and neglect occurring only within South Australia. Whilst the last Australian parliament passed laws that empowered medical clinicians to intervene on behalf of asylum seekers, my goal is for the next parliament to pass laws that empower medical clinicians to intervene on behalf of vulnerable members of the Australian community. I don’t agree with all of the Greens policies but am thankful for their advocacy in championing the rights of asylum seekers.

Horror stories about our public health system continue to surface with disturbing regularity. Invariably the blame shifts from federal government to state government to the previous state government then to the previous federal government and back again. From the frequent ramping of ambulances, inaccessibility of health services in the regions, systemic issues around aged care and the NDIS, to cases of medical incompetence and negligence over periods of years – the unnecessary suffering experienced by many has informed my campaign and motivated me to do something. If elected, I will support all treating medical clinicians who wish to intervene and stop their patients’ repeated exposure to clearly identified physical and psychological harm.

Here are some brief responses to some other issues readers have raised:

*Privatisation of the ABC – I do not support either the privatisation of the ABC or further cuts to the ABC budget. The high esteem in which the Australian public holds the ABC and the significant cuts over the last 5 years demand that our next government must change direction and increase the funding of both the ABC and SBS in real terms.

*Raise the rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance – I support an increase in the rates of Newstart and Youth Allowance, above that of the regular minor indexation increases. The real rates of Newstart have not risen in 25 years and Anglicare today confirmed in their rental affordability snapshot, that there are only 2 quite isolated properties to rent in Australia that are affordable for a single person on Newstart. I support an urgent and immediate increase in the rate of Newstart and Youth Allowance, and whilst supportive of the work undertaken by ACOSS, I do question whether the recommended increase will be politically possible in the next parliament. A modest increase combined with changes in funding and accessibility around social housing, community, health and employment services, and a scaling back of the more punitive aspects of the welfare system, might be a more realistic outcome (and better than nothing at this point). The frequent poor bashing of the unemployed by some parliamentarians is yet another example of the growing normalisation of abuse of the vulnerable in our community.

*Recent Government approval of the Yeelirrie Uranium Mine – I do not support this mine, the manner in which it was approved (ignoring both the Tjiwarl traditional owners and the EPA’s opposition to the project), the timing of this approval and the delay and the method in how this announcement became public.

*Don Dale – The ongoing refusal by the NT and Federal governments to implement the findings of the Royal Commission into the detention and protection of children in the NT is one of many reasons I nominated to run for the Senate. All Australians, including those who have made serious lapses of judgement and are in the criminal justice system, still deserve to be treated with basic care and respect. I hope that the major parties hear, see and feel the effects of the mental health crisis rife amongst our indigenous youth and work to close Don Dale with greater urgency. Why do we spend millions of dollars on Royal Commissions if we are going to ignore their findings?

*Peace in the Middle East – I’ve received a large number of emails today asking for responses to the following questions:

*Help progress Australia joining 138 other countries and formally Recognising Palestine, giving them diplomatic equality with other nations AGREE

*Speak out against Israeli human rights abuses, including expansion of settlements being built on stolen Palestinian land, the blockade of Gaza, and the traumatic treatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli military AGREE (Please note that engaging with abuse and neglect occurring in South Australia remains my primary concern and that I also may speak out about Palestinian human rights abuses)

*If you travel to the region, commit to spending as much time in Palestine as in Israel NEUTRAL (In practical terms, I cannot specifically commit to spending similar amounts of time in each country I visit. However, if I visit Israel, I will also visit Palestine.)

*Commit to participating in the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group to learn more AGREE

This election is not just about a strong economy. Economic peace of mind is certainly important but the insularity that has dominated the last decade of Australian politics has meant that social change truly reflecting modern Australia has been forgotten. There is a massive disconnection between the values displayed in our community and those in our parliament. The hollow remarks about keeping Australians safe do not ring true - time and time again over the last decade, a range of diverse groups and communities have been scapegoated, blamed and wrongly accused by our parliamentarians. My campaign aims to support the most vulnerable individuals and to authentically change the conversation – to actively prevent unnecessary suffering and demand that the major parties do more to protect everyday people. 

authorised by Brett O'Donnell 126 Muller road Greenacres SA 5086