Letter to Julie Bishop over NGOs

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Dear Minister

You would be aware of the serious sexual assault allegations that have surfaced over the last fortnight in relation to projects run by a number of high profile Non-Government Organisations, most notably Oxfam. These allegations come at a time where Australians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with your Government’s ability to responsibly spend the taxes it collects and reign in our out-of-control debt.

I acknowledge there are many moral, political and economic reasons for the Australian Government to make overseas aid contributions, but can understand the frustration of everyday Australians when it comes to spending borrowed money on projects that are only tangentially in our national interest.

Many Australians indicated their dismay at Senator Penny Wong’s announcement on 13th February that a Labor government would seek to increase Australia’s foreign aid contribution from its already high $3.9 billion. I’ve no doubt that many of the same Australians expressed their concerns to you after your recent announcement that Australia would be contributing a further $90 million to the Julia Gillard chaired Global Partnership for Education, just hours after receiving a direct request from an American pop star for Australia to make such a donation.

As more information emerges about the alleged behaviour of Oxfam staff following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and alleged attempts by Oxfam to hide reports of this behaviour, it is becoming clear that some form of investigation into federal funding of NGOs must be undertaken.

Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring indicated in an interview to the Guardian on February 17th that sexual abuses and misappropriations of aid funds were commonplace among NGOs operating in disaster areas. Mr Goldring went so far as to say “let’s be clear, it happens in every aid organisation.”

This came on the same day as comments from Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise that this was only one instance of an NGO engaging in reprehensible behaviour. He was reported as saying “It is not only Oxfam – there are other NGOs in the same situation, but they hide the information internally” and “the Oxfam case is the visible part of the iceberg.”

Over the last three years the Federal Government has contributed over $30 million to Oxfam Australia and over $348 million to NGOs in total. This is a significant sum of money and Australians have every right to know that their taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and morally. Australians are rightly concerned that foreign aid grants to NGOs are facilitating the sexual abuse of desperate people in the most horrific circumstances.

I ask what measures are in place to ensure that Australian aid dollars do not contribute to the abuse of these people and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Pauline Hanson

Senator for Queensland

Everyday Aussies Silenced by Family Law Investigation

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Senator Pauline Hanson has written to Attorney-General Christian Porter requesting an urgent meeting to discuss concerns that current stipulations placed on the submission of personal stories to the review of the Family Law Act could be preventing many Australians from making valuable contributions.
A public release from the Australian Law Commission calling for the submission of personal stories from parties who have experienced problems within the Family Courts has come with the caveat that any such submissions should not include material that is subject to suppression or confidentiality court orders as the submitted material could be the subject of Freedom of Information requests.
In her letter to the Attorney-General Senator Hanson expressed concerns that these caveats have “the potential to impact upon the ability of parents and grandparents caught up in the family law system to provide their stories to the review without fear of being subjected to potential litigation.”
Senator Hanson, a long-time campaigner for reform of the Family Law system in Australia, has expressed concerns that unless the key issues of domestic violence orders, child support, parental equality, too few judges and limited court time are taken into account and everyday Australians directly affected by the Family Law system were given a fair hearing, then the investigation into the Family Law Act by the Australian Law Commission could turn out to be a whitewash.

One Nation Doubles Farmers’ Compensation Caps

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One Nation has had a stunning victory in doubling compensation limits for farmers and rural businesses from one-million to two-million dollars.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party lead a Senate Inquiry into Rural Lending last year which revealed shocking misconduct by some of Australia’s banks and receivers. At the time the Party called for compensation limits to be increased from the previous low cap of 280-thousand dollars.
The Government initially offered to increase the limit to one-million dollars but Pauline Hanson went into bat for farmers and negotiated the new two million dollar limit to compensate parties affected by bank misconduct.
Today the new Australian Financial Complaints Authority was enshrined in legislation after passing the Lower House of Federal Parliament.
“This is a big win for rural producers and the banking victims of Australia” said Senator Hanson.
“Without One Nation’s intervention the compensation amount could well and truly have been stuck at the low figure of 280-thousand dollars, under the pre-existing financial ombudsman service (FOS)” she added.
“This now gives some hope to thousands of victims who’ve been swindled by the banks and their third parties” added WA Senator Peter Georgiou.
“Our hard negotiations and lobbying were also critical in getting the government to approve the Banking Royal Commission”.
“There’s a lot more to come out in the wash. This is just the beginning and we will see the full extent of Australia’s banking scandal over the next 12 months as the Royal Commission into the finance sector unfolds” he said.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority was originally formed as an alternative to a banking Royal Commission.
One Nation will consider introducing a Private Members Bill later this year to ensure that receivers and liquidators fall under the new authority (AFCA) and are penalised cases of unconscionable conduct.

Pauline Hanson announces Queensland Senate team

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has unveiled her Queensland Senate team today in Canberra, sighting a potential 2018 election.
Former One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts will lead the ticket with former Queensland MP for Buderim, Steve Dickson.
Senator Hanson said “Both Malcolm Roberts and Steve Dickson have a proven track record of standing up for Queenslanders on issues that the other political parties refuse to acknowledge.”
“Malcolm Roberts has led the debate on energy prices and climate change, plus the need for broad tax reform in Parliament, while Steve Dickson has been one of the most outspoken advocates for medical cannabis use and a staunch supporter of building essential infrastructure across the state and nation. Both are highly respected in this country for their efforts and both bring experience of parliament to the party.”
One Nation polled an average primary of 22% in the 61 Queensland seats they stood candidates.
“With 371,193 Queenslanders casting their number one preference to One Nation at the recent state election, there’s nothing stopping this party holding three senate positions in our home state, along with Senators in every other state across the country.”
The party has committed to field candidates in all 30 seats across Queensland at the next federal election and plans to stand as many candidates as possible in all other states.
“Now is the time for reputable, genuine candidates to step forward. One Nation’s vetting process is very stringent these days and the 17 page application is designed to weed out undesirable candidates and those who don’t have a loyal bone in their body. We will have high quality, honest candidates.”
“The High Court has ruled that sitting Councillors and Mayors can run, so I expect we’ll see quite a bit of interest from people who’ve already proven to their community they’re capable of representing the needs of their constituents and I’ll be targeting that calibre of person for my team.”

Pauline Hanson Calls for Tougher Citizenship Test

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Since 1996 Senator Pauline Hanson has been calling for a stop to Australia’s high immigration levels and today she has taken the Government to task by tabling an amended version of their abandoned citizenship bill.
“Australians are now suffering the effects, mostly in our cities, not only from high immigration, but from the impact that is occurring on people’s lives when new migrants who have no regard for our culture, way of life or laws, do not assimilate and don’t wish to. It is these people Australians are rejecting but their calls for control by governments, fall on deaf ears”, Senator Hanson said.
“Australian citizenship is a privilege, something that is earned, respected and cherished. This could not possibly be the case if citizenship is available after 1 year’s residency on a permanent visa and by passing a pathetic multiple choice test, not requiring to speak, read or write English. I am infuriated like many Australians are, including those who were once migrants themselves and are now Aussies,” Senator Hanson said.
In her amended bill Senator Hanson is calling for the waiting period for citizenship to be 8 years on a permanent visa, instead of the Governments proposed 4 years.
“Permanent residents have the same rights in this country as do its citizens, other than voting. We don’t have to rush into handing out citizenship papers. Once they are citizens we cannot remove them from our shores if they are criminals, persons of bad character, or wish harm to our country and people,” Senator Hanson said.
Coinciding with the Senators move to reignite debate on the issues of citizenship and immigration reform, One Nation has also released a revised immigration policy.
One Nation’s revised Immigration policy recognises the invaluable contribution of overseas born Australians, who have enriched our culture, committed to our values, our laws, our political institutions and the equality of the sexes.
“Population size and immigration are never open for debate or public input by any of the political parties except One Nation. The people of Australia have a right to know what their politicians have in store for our country when it comes to the population size and the cultural destiny of our country. I well and truly believe we need to let the people have their say,” Senator Hanson said.