***** ONLINE MEETING NOTICE ******
Please pass this message along the e-songlines to interested
people.
**** FORMING A FEDERAL RECONCILIATION PARTY *****
Following discussions on the songlines list, an online meeting is to
be held with the view of forming a federal Reconciliation Party to
contest the Senate at the next election.
One of the aims of a reconciliation party, as discussed so far, is to
get indigenous voices in the Senate free from the constraints of
membership in other political parties.
Discussion has also been centred on:
* the need for a new party to have a spirit of partnership between
First Peoples and Settler Peoples with equal power sharing
arrangements in decision making.
* the need to ensure that the first two positions on a reconciliation
party Senate ticket will be available to First Australians - a man
and a woman.
* the need to make good the promise of the then Australian Prime
Minister Bob Hawke, at Burunga in 1988, that there would be a
treaty
* the need to deliver the indigenous social justice package
promised by the then Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in
return for restoring certainty to Australian business
We have not comprehensively debated:
* the various strategies for reconciliation as formulated by the
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation at this stage.
* the rules of membership (although we have discussed the need
for inclusiveness by welcoming as members people who belong to
other political parties on the understanding that they will required to
state their other affiliations when appropriate).
PURPOSE OF ONLINE MEETING
The online meeting is the next step to seeking registration of a
political party.
Agenda items which will need to be covered include:
* agreeing on a party name
* forming an interim constitution
* forming an interim Federal Executive or similar body
* forming membership rules
* selecting an interim party secretary
* forming State and Territory branches
* preparation of a membership application form.
* setting membership fees
* opening bank account and selecting Treasurer
* selecting date and venue for an initial annual gathering.
* other business
HOW TO JOIN THE ONLINE MEETING
The Australian Electoral Commission requires that intending
members of federal political parties are 17 years of age or older;
Australian citizens (or a British subject who was on a
Commonwealth of Australia electoral roll on 25 January 1984); have
been at your present address for one month at the time of signing a
membership form.
If you are in broad agreement with the above proposals, are
qualified to become a member of this party, and are interested in
joining, send an empty message to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
You should get a message back asking you to confirm your
subscription request, and after you have replied to that, receive a
welcome message.
STARTING DATE
The starting date is on the morning of this Thursday 19 October
2000.
COSTS OF FACILITATION - VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION
The online meeting will be facilitated by Songweaver Services. To
help cover facilitation costs we are requesting that non-indigenous
participants *who are so moved* make a financial contribution to
defray costs with a *voluntary* payment of $10 or $20 depending on
your income level. To create a spirit of partnership, we welcome
the participation of First Peoples without any similar request.
* Note - this facilitation fee is not a membership fee for joining a
reconciliation party.
Send your cheque or money order to:
Songweaver Services
PO Box 257
Thirroul NSW 2515
MORE INFORMATION
If you require more information about this online meeting, please
contact me. Please note, however, that the debate of issues of
substance will take place in the online meeting.
Any problems contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Bruce Reyburn
16 October 2000
(ends)
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