Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Greg Blackmore on September 7, 2011 at 2:23pm

Aidan McLindon, by deciding to move to Katter's Australian Party, without reference to his own membership, and to then attempt to move over all membership and funds, is displaying exactly the lack of integrity, and now credibility, that has been drawing new members looking for parties that display a better sense of core ethics than they may have been expecting from many politicians, and current political parties.

Did he think he owned the Queensland Party and was not, in any way, responsible to it's grass roots membership?

Dissappointingly, McLindon is now displaying these very traits that we voters are seeking to avoid, and by association, and being prepared to take on board, without question, or permission, these Queensland Party members and funds, Bob Katter may also have tarnished his own reputation as a "straight shooter" 

The old adage is probably still true - "A politician does not fear science or fact and will only change his mind if and when his seat is threatened by a possible loss of votes"

Permalink Reply by Cate Stuart on September 7, 2011 at 9:11pm

Greg, i agree with your sentiments entirely. This association now with Bob Katter is looking very questionable. There appear to be a lot of debacles behind the scenes, no doubt people will be watching this unfold bit by bit. Another saga for Qld - bugger :(

Ruth, well done for not being compromised by this "merger" and staying true to yourself and the Qld Party. Your actions, and those of the other members not succumbing to questionable motives will hold the Qld Party in good stead, it has passed the first "test" that of accountability.

Voters will see this and support the Qld Party now, as people are fed up to the "back teeth" of self serving politicians like the Katter Party has just displayed!

Aiden has just failed...

Cheers Cate :)

Permalink Reply by Rory Donnellan on September 7, 2011 at 11:01pm

Ruth,

Seems to me like Aidan McLindon's Queensland Party and Bob Katter's Australia Party are of like mind on the vast majority of issues. If so, why the opposition to a merger? If not, could you please explain where the 2 parties differed significantly for those of us on the outside?

Permalink Reply by Ruth Bonnett on September 8, 2011 at 7:13am

Hi Rory,

Yes thanks for the opportunity.

Firstly and most importantly, The Queensland Party is a state based party, which by its nature puts Queenslanders first.  Katter's Party is just another federal Party and will place federal issues ahead of Queenslanders.

Right now, look at what the Federal government is doing to Queenslanders - the carbon tax and the mineral resources rent tax are just not good for us.  At best, Anna can only signal, not scrutinise.  So State based branches of federal structures lose leverage, influence and power. 

Secondly, TQP has put forward the idea for sharing democratic power right through Queensland.  It looks like KAP has dropped the "People's House" policy.   61 of the 89 seats are located in South East Queensland.  Until we restore democratic power to regional Queensland, more bad laws like the Vegetation Management Act will be enacted to make Queenslanders lives miserable.  The VMA does not meet basic United Nations Convenant on Political and Civil Rights.  Federal based parties who have state based branches in Queensland have done nothing to protect Queensland farmers from these devastating laws, which don't protect native flora and fauna.  In fact the VMA does quite the opposite of what it claims. 

Thirdly, The Queensland Party is committed to democratic principles.  That is why the vote to merge was so important to the remaining members.  No vote means no voice, and the undemocratic actions of the Party members who have left show that they don't value the 'one vote, one value' democratic principle.  If members can't abide by the Party constitution, you can be sure they will disregard the State constitution. 

 

Fourthly, Katter Party members have shown that they are prepared to allow TQP members to pose as TQP officials whilst acting for the Australian Party, allow private information to be taken from TQP and handed to Katter's Party and allow a TQP branding to be used to directly funnel membership and enquiry to away from TQP. 

 

The Queensland Party practice what they preach.  I am sceptical of claims that Katter's Party makes about Principles.  From what I have seen from my own eyes, Katter's Party website says one thing, while members do quite another. 

 

I know from experience that TQP members and executive have their say, speak openly and candidly and protect the right of individuals within the Party to take a position based on conscience. 

 

All of these differences are important to me, and I do practice what I preach.  I am the Secretary of a large body corporate and I am lucky enough to serve under a Chairman who does not mind that Committee members say exactly what they think on any issue.  I also served on the Executive of the Brisbane Association for Rates Equity, where the Executive members ran the same way - all executive members had their say, and then we all accepted without rancor the majority vote.

I have been part of organisations which practice true democratic principles, and I hope to bring those principles to the seat of Brisbane Central and the State of Queensland.

It is so hard to gain a voice, to retain freedom.  It is dead set easy to allow others to strip those freedoms away.  Holding true to the Constitution of our Party is a good way to protect small democracy, and an excellent start to restoring larger circles of democracy.

Thanks

-Ruth

Permalink Reply by Ruth Bonnett on September 8, 2011 at 7:30am

Hi Tony,

Ah. Thanks.  I am very wary of building political parties around personalities.  Parties last longer on Principles.  Principle is the slow starting low octane long lasting slow burn of freedom.  Personality is the quick noisy burning fireworks which starts big, and ends up in alot of smoke, noise and smell.

I hope that the more people who support TQP, and democratic principles, the more certain the outcome of the election will be.

The hung parliament we have in Canberra is due to a weak PM, and two or three members who have truly turned their back on their electorates.

 

Permalink Reply by Beverley Prescott on September 8, 2011 at 7:38am

Tony, you are so correct.  It will be a mess and I fear Labor will still be in power afterwards!!!  I really hope I am wrong.

Conservatives continually split instead of joining their preferred party to change things from within.

Labor stick together like glue – albeit having different points of view -  they scheme by adding candidates who cannot win but take votes from their opposition.

Anna must rejoice when she sees all these splits. 

This election will be similar to 1998 when One nation took all the conservative seats and then they imploded leaving the state to Labor for the two decades that we have had them in power.

I have just re-read a lot of the other forums when the QP was all in one piece.  Funny to read the comments now.  A week in politics is a long time.

I refrained from commenting previously as I could see most were not as aux fais with Bob Katter as myself - after all he is the representative of my electorate so I should know a fair bit about him.

Interesting times ahead at our peril.

It could end up like the Federal mess that we have now.

Bob Katter and Aidan McLindon are so obsessed with their dislike for the LNP that they have not got their priorities right to start with.

I wrote to Aidan and had his reply yesterday – it is just anti LNP.  His inexperience shows.

Bob Katter is the same (although has political experience and is working for himself) so in that respect they will be campaigning on being anti LNP – just watch to see what their policies are please.  Bob has been campaigning against Woolworths and Coles for over two decades – what does he intend to do with them anyway??  That is his consistent rant.  These companies employ lots of people. 

Rob Messenger was able to elicit that BK is too obsessed with anti LNP sentiment  when Bob tried to win him over prior to winning Aidan over.  Rob has vastly more experience than to get sucked in.  Bob showed his true colours at the meeting in Rob’s electorate in Bundaberg.

Candidates should have more foresight than just being anti the party that got them into the position they are now in parliament!!!

One has to have policies and future plans to win although people are blind when they just want to change their vote.

NB the mess we have in Federal parliament!!

Tony Mack said:

Hi Ruth, it was a pleasure to meet you on the Convoy.

Not impressed with Aidan, in a democratic party, no one owns it and that mentality will eventually be his downfall.

Same with Katter. To build a party on one person's personality will lead to tears, One Nation being a prime example.

Katter is seeking funding based on his shared vision for northern Australia. This, in itself, is evidence that Katter is neither representative of all Queensland or Australia.

Should a stick be put in Katter's spokes? Maybe a telescopic flag pole? LOL!

I take no comfort from the next state election, I envisage a mess similar to the federal scene. Too many conflicts of interest and nothing of substance will be achieved. Hope I'm mistaken. 

 

Permalink Reply by Ruth Bonnett on September 8, 2011 at 7:45am

Hi Beverley,

I agree. It is one thing to be a rock thrower, being anti this and anti that.  It is quite another to be parked firmly in the blame chair and show commitment to democratic principles which have fueled freedom, economic growth and self reliance.

That is why individual voices are so very important to the process.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Bonnett on September 8, 2011 at 8:12am

Hi, Beverley,

I had more to say but it took me too long to type an edit to the post above. 

It is difficult to split the two major parties on ideology.  Both major parties have stood shoulder to shoulder against Queenslanders.   Both Parties are pro-privatisation.   Both Parties have stood with the Coal Seam Gas companies without trying to stop it, brake it or steer it.  Both the ALP and the LNP have shown that they don't support open and transparent government.  Both conspired to allow Newman to build an impenetrable Brisbane City Council.   Both Parties have shown financial mismanagement.  Newman made cost of living in Brisbane Central higher, not lower and his legacy is one of debt and secrecy.  Queenslanders need to be prepared for his 'pick and pay' strategy if he takes the top job.  All I am saying is look at his record at BCC.  Politicians should stand on their record.  I stand on mine.

 

Permalink Reply by Ruth Bonnett on September 8, 2011 at 8:15am

Oh, boy.  Yes it is true that Aidan has changed Parties four times.  LNP-Independent-TQP-KAP.  Actions do speak louder than words.

Tony Mack said:

And the rock throwing commences!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-08/mp-tags-new-party-katter-stro...

 

Permalink Reply by Beverley Prescott on September 8, 2011 at 8:23am

Oops "fait"

Beverley Prescott said:

Tony, you are so correct. 

I refrained from commenting previously as I could see most were not as aux fais with Bob Katter as myself - after all he is the representative of my electorate so I should know a fair bit about him.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Bonnett on September 8, 2011 at 8:41am

Hi Beverley,

I have had dealings with Wendy through this whole debacle and she is steady, respectful and candid in her disposition.  I will let Wendy speak for herself!

 

Permalink Reply by Beverley Prescott on September 8, 2011 at 10:37am

I am now confused further.  I am at this moment listening to Darren Hunt speaking on 4CA - he is now with the Australian Party!!!!

Shows how sincere they were before.

I thought he was one who was for Queensland.

I have just written to Wendy to ask her who is who now.

 

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