2 February 1996. Thought for the Week:
"Hawke wanted power to be loved, while Keating wanted power
to use it - therefore Keating is much more dangerous."
Graeme Campbell, Sydney, January 25th, 1996 |
HISTORIC GRAEME CAMPBELL MELBOURNE RALLYDid Graeme Campbell's Australia Day Rally on January 26th trigger Prime Minister Paul Keating's calling of an early Federal Election on March 2nd? We report that we received a report from our Canberra observer that the Labor Party was "terrified" of the Graeme Campbell factor in the Federal elections. The report also said that the Coalition was also concerned, describing Campbell as the "wildcard" in the election. There was no certainty where the Campbell card might finish. We were not surprised to learn that those hosting the Campbell Rally, the Australians Against Further Immigration, were apprehensive about how the Campbell Rally would be attended. They certainly received support in publicising the rally from the mass media. As we understand, the A.A.F.I. do not have a big membership list in Victoria. Along with all other political observers, we were interested in what type of a political rally would be staged on Australia Day. The Heidelberg City Hall being used is a big hall capable of seating well over 499 people. Although some of the media attempted to "play down" the number attending the rally, the reality is that the hall was packed, extra seating had to be brought in while a large number had to stand. In terms of numbers, the Campbell Rally can only be assessed as a remarkable success. One of the numerous reporters present was heard to say, "This rally can only cause widespread apprehension in the ranks of both the Government and the Coalition Parties. A Graeme Campbell factor is clearly emerging." But even more significant was the reception, which Graeme Campbell received. The organisers of the rally made a number of elementary organisational mistakes, starting with the Chairman making what could only be described as a long policy speech. First speaker, Mrs. Robyn Spencer, gave an excellent address on the cultural aspects of immigration and multiculturalism. But it was far too long, taking well over 30 minutes. By the time the A.A.F.I. panel of candidates had been paraded, with fortunately only short comments from each candidate, guest speaker Graeme Campbell had been sitting on the platform for nearly an hour and a half. A.A.F.I. number one candidate, Denis McCormack, correctly sized up the situation, cut short his own address and introduced Graeme Campbell. The warmth of the reception for Graeme Campbell, after the long wait, was inspirational. Graeme Campbell's greatest admirer would not claim him as a great orator, and he obviously dislikes reading his speeches, but the continuous applause as his address was delivered strikingly confirmed the fact that here was a Federal politician talking about the basic issues, which worried a great majority of the Australian people. The great majority of Australians do not support present immigration and multicultural policies. They are concerned about a foreign investment policy, which sees a growing number of foreign takeovers of Australian industries. Graeme Campbell did not make the mistake of becoming involved in technical details concerning the broad programme he outlined. The correct role of the political representative was to reflect the type of policies required by electors once there was agreement on the type of policy shifts required, ways and means could be worked out as to how to give effect to these policies. Campbell insisted that ways and means had to be found to ensure that there was no further erosion of the traditional family. "Unlike John Howard, I have no difficulty in defending the traditional Australian family. It is Mum, Dad and the kids." There was a burst of warm applause when Graeme Campbell stressed that if trust were to be returned in Australian politics, the politicians had to make a start by telling the electors that they trust them to the point where with a Citizens' Initiative mechanism, the electors would have the opportunity of controlling the politicians. The basic commonsense of Graeme Campbell was so obvious. Who could argue with this observation that Australian manufacturing industries should be rejuvenated, making it possible to find constructive economic activities for Australia's large numbers of young unemployed? He warned that unless this was done a large and growing underclass would grow in Australia, as it had in the U.S.A., with eventually the emergence of violence and social disintegration. In a broad outline of his political strategy, Graeme Campbell said that he was contesting his own seat of Kalgoorlie as an Independent. He was confident that he could achieve this. From his West Australian base he would promote a national team of Senate candidates pledged to support his programme. He expressed his warm admiration of the work being done in Victoria by the A.A.F.I. and they had his firm support. He looked forward to working with Senate Candidate Denis McCormack in the next Parliament. The essence of the Graeme Campbell programme is "to put Australia first". Equally important with the standing ovation he received for his address was the reception he received afterwards as people lined up to obtain an autographed copy of his book, Australia Betrayed, and to shake his hand and to wish him well. As a number said to him, "You have restored our faith in Australia's future." Clearly this was more than yet another political meeting; it was a manifestation of a deep undercurrent in Australian society, one for which Graeme Campbell is emerging as a catalyst. We predict that the Campbell factor is going to rapidly gain momentum. It is that momentum which must concern Paul Keating and his minders. With an early, short election, Paul Keating may head off the momentum of the Campbell factor, but we are convinced that it will continue after the elections and into the future. Australian politics will never be the same after the Heidelberg Rally on January 26th. It marks the start of a new beginning. Note: The tape cassette recording of Graeme Campbell's (already famous!) Heidelberg Address is now available from M.E.A. Tapes, Box 184, THE BASIN, Victoria, 3154. Price: $6.00. Melbourne and environs supporters also please note that copies of Graeme Campbell's Heidelberg Address will be on sale at the next meeting (Wednesday, February 7th) of the Melbourne Conservative Speakers' Club. |
WILL KEATING AND HOWARD "FINISH US OFF"?by David Thompson Which job? Mr. Keating was rather vague. "The policies and programmes which are working for us now," he said. This simply means that Keating is asking for mandate to complete the internationalisation of the Australian economy to fit the globalist pattern. Australia must become a member of a regional economic unity - A.P.E.C. - that eventually becomes a regional political union. As a consequence Australian industry suffers, perhaps terminally. Mr. Keating derides any 'populist' concerns about debt and foreign investment. "These things are good for the economy," he said on the day after announcing the election! Mr. Keating wants to increase immigration; applauds multiculturalism. In announcing his multicultural policy, he proposed to strengthen the Racial Hatred Act. He clearly proposes to complete the Asianisation of Australia, and cement the nation into a new world order. Does Mr. Keating propose to consult the Australian people about what they want? No. He proposes to spend the next four weeks telling them what they will get. |
THE COALITION PROPOSALThus far Mr. Howard is yet to offer any alternative to the A.L.P. although a 'clear, sharp, alternative' is promised. So far, only the Coalition trade policy has been announced, which is remarkably similar to that of the A.L.P. The Global Market No politician is entitled to be trusted unless he first entrusted voters with Initiative and Referendum. Mr. Howard is offering to govern more efficiently than the A.L.P. If this means that a Coalition Government would 'finish the job' more efficiently than the A.L.P., then without a genuine change of policy the Coalition Government would be more dangerous than even the A.L.P. under Mr. Keating. |
BAN GUNS, OR REFORM THE FAMILY LAW ACT?Anti-gun campaigners have been noticeably silent about the case of the man who shot his three children, his wife and her parents before turning the weapon on himself, in a southern Brisbane suburb. The killer had been forced to surrender his firearms under a court order. It is almost certain that former Senator Lionel Murphy's Family Law Act, with no-fault divorce provisions, generates tremendous resentment -particularly among men deprived of their families. |
THE ELECTIONIt is not insignificant that the Federal Election was called by Mr. Keating the morning after Graeme Campbell addressed the Australians Against Further Immigration (A.A.F.I.) rally in the Heidelberg Town Hall on Australia Day. Press cover of the meeting was generally positive, with some hardened media observers obviously shaken by the packed hall and the strong performances of candidates like Mr. Denis McCormack. Campbell's role as a political catalyst was demonstrated to dramatic effect. However, now that writs have been issued for the dissolution of the Parliament, Campbell's application for registration of his own political party is halted. If his Senate candidates are to be grouped 'above the line' on the Senate ballot paper, he must find an exciting, registered party that can be used. This appears to be likely. Although the League does not support political parties, as a matter of principle, we do, however, support individual candidates who stand on constructive issues. It is clear that the limited objectives on which Campbell is campaigning are worthy of full support as a first step in the right direction. We would recommend support for any candidate committed to representing the issues that Campbell has outlined. It is also clear that the composition of the Senate is the key to the next Parliament. We wait news of Campbell's candidates in other States with interest. The League will have a role to play in their success. |
BISHOPS ATTACK I.M.F.The following article we reprint from The Social Crediter, January/ February 1996, which itself was taken from the (U.S.) New Federalist Journal, May 15, 1995 "Seventy-five bishops from Latin-America
are now attacking the policy of the international financial
institutions. "Seventy-five Latin-American Roman Catholic
Bishops, meeting in Mexico May 1-7, called upon Roman Catholics,
both clergy and laity, to mobilise to change International
Monetary Fund policies which have brought only destruction,
and to replace them through a new regional economic unity
premised on development. |
CAMPAIGNING ON IMMIGRATIONfrom The Australian, 24/1"Nick Bolkus, Minister for Immigration, has a belief (Labor's Immigration About-Face, The Weekend Australian, 20-21/1) that Australia can support a much higher population. This is not the opinion of our scientific community, nor is it in line with the recommendations of the Standing Committee for Long-Term Strategies, an inquiry chaired by the former science minister Barry Jones. "The Federal Government campaigned on a lower level of immigration during the last election, and even Bolkus was quoted in this paper (May '94) as applying a permanent brake on migration. He is now boasting that he has raised this from just under 63,000 to 96,000, an incredible action considering neither of the major parties has a population policy. Such a deceitful process was only made possible by the Prime Minister's support and the cowering of the Leader of the Opposition by segments of the ethnic communities." (Don Owers, Dudley, N.S.W) |
ON ROBBIE BURNS AND LOYALTY TO STATEfrom The Australian, 24/1 Let me quote the first and last stanzas
of Does Haughty Gaul Invasion Threat? "The wretch that would a tyrant own} "Some in Australia combine Burns' two wretches: they genuflect to foreign tyrants, especially those of Beijing, but would set a mob, provided it were their own mob, above the throne here. I suspect Burns would wish on them, as well as on Douglas Rome, the fate he wished on the friends of the French invasion of Britain in 1795." (Dr. Geoffrey Partington, Malvern, S.A.) An Eye For An Eye by John Sack A BIT OF PROPERTY Note: All Election comment authorised by David Thompson, 145 Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. |