Banking RC Activism Pays Off

Michael Sanderson Reports - 2-week Parliamentary tour in Canberra

Summary:

BRN has worked with Michael Sanderson, helping him see a good proportion of our politicians. He was well received and the message has been heard. The people want a proper RC and a fit for purpose legal aid system. Will our representatives respond appropriately? The next sitting weeks will show us.

Article Information

Author:

Michael Sanderson

Source:

BRN Guest Article

Date First Published:

23 Sep 2018

Posted By

Michael Sanderson

23 Sep 2018 - 8:40pm

RC Extension campaign boosted with a fortnight in Canberra

As many of you are aware I, with the assistance of Peter Brandson and BRN, spent the last two weeks in Canberra.

The purpose was to lobby Members and Senators on two issues:

1. The Banking Royal Commission to be expanded to include: wide ranging terms of reference (including investigation of third parties such as receivers, valuers and lawyers); additional independent Commissioners to bring in real world expertise and perspective; a longer duration; and appropriate funding (paid by a levy on the major banks).

2. Legislation to establish an independent bank funded specialist legal aid cell to represent bank victims when they are subject to legal action by a bank - consistent with the human rights principle "Equality of Arms."

My prime target was members of the ‘Federal Executive Council’ which is made up of ministers in the Morrison government. It is the Federal Executive Council that will make the decision to do the above. Because of the many changes of portfolio and all the shenanigans going on this was not going to be an easy task, so I settled for senior advisors.

In summary, I was pretty happy with the number of Members, Senators, and senior advisors that I was able to talk too, all things being considered. What was most encouraging, without exception those I spoke with were engaged and listened to what I had to say. Many played ‘devil’s advocate’ and I can say without exception I was able to address the issues they raised with confidence. Many of the meetings went well overtime which in itself gives an indication of genuine engagement.

In a little over a week the Financial Services Royal Commission (FSRC) is required to submit its interim report, only then will we get an indication of how much notice has been taken of our submissions that have issues that have not been subject to the stage-managed case studies.

This is not the time to take your foot off the accelerator, rather the opposite. Below I have attached the ‘stump document’ that was presented to those on the list below. If your local representative is not on the list, you can help by attaching it to an email to your local member as well as the senators in your state and territory. People, please be nice.

If you have media contacts, you may consider sending the document to them also. (See the "File Attachment" section below to download.)

A special thanks to Leon Ashby, without his help, my efforts would not have been the success they were.
________________________________________

MPs

Michael Freelander – (Labor)

Steve Irons – (Liberal)

‘Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister’

Steve Georganas - (Labor)

Deputy Chair of Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport

Matt Thistlethwaite- (Labor)

Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury, Shadow Assistant Minister for an Australian Head of State.

Joel Fitzgibbon – (Labor)

Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and for Rural and Regional Australia

Tim Wilson – (Liberal)

Chair of Standing Committee on Economics

George Christensen – (Nationals)

Chair of Joint Committee on Publications, Chair of Publications Committee

Chris Crewther – (Liberal)

Senators

Chris Ketter – (Labor)

Louise Pratt - (Labor)

Chair of Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee, Deputy Chair of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation

Doug Cameron - (Labor)

Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Shadow Assistant Treasurer

Shadow Minister for Competition and Productivity, Shadow Minister for Charities and Not-for-profits, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Shadow Minister for Employment Services, Workforce Participation and Future of Work (In the Senate)

Malarndirri McCarthy - (Labor)

Chair of Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education

John Williams – (Nationals)

Nationals Whip in the Senate, Chair of Standing Committee on Senate Regulations and Ordinances, Deputy Chair of Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills

Advisors

Tom McMahon - Bill Shorten’s ‘Economic Policy Advisor’ (Labor)

Fraser Brindley - Peter Whish-Wilson ‘Senior Advisor’ (Greens)

Don Bunesen - ‘Senior Advisor’ Pauline Hanson (One Nation)

Adam Clarke – ‘Senior Advisor’ to Josh Frydenburg The Treasurer (Liberal)

Byron – ‘Senior Advisor’ to Tim Storer (Independent)

Damian Adler – ‘Senior Advisor’ to Mathias Corman Leader of the Government in the SenateVice-President of the Executive CouncilMinister for Finance and the Public Service (Liberal)

Leon Ashby – ‘Senior Advisor’ Fraser Anning (KAP)

Kieran Clancy – ‘Senior Advisor’ to Christian Porter Attorney-General (Liberal)

Will – ‘Advisor’ to Marise Payne Minister for Foreign Affairs (Liberal)

Ben Peoples – ‘Advisor’ to Nigel Scullion, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate (Country Liberal Party)

Document delivered to Canberra Office

Kelly O’Dwyer – (Liberal)

Andrew Broad - (Nationals)

Matt Canavan – (Nationals)

Simon Birmingham – (Liberal)

Dan Tehan – (Liberal)

Peter Dutton – (Liberal)

David Coleman – (Liberal)
Darren Chester – (Nationals)
Mitch Fifield – (Liberal)

Note: I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Leon Ashby in enabling me to deliver these documents.

Media

Eryk Bagshaw – Fairfax Media

Alex Ellinghausen – photographer

Anna Henderson – ABC

BRN Comments

Thanks to Michael for a magnificent effort getting the message through to our representatives in government. It really should not be up to activists to bring attention to the issue and offer solutions. Our representatives in government should be on our side and seen to be on our side.

In the next sitting of Parliament we expect high ranking politicians to call for the Royal Commission to be given more powerful terms, a longer duration and more resources. There is no rational reason to oppose that or the proposal for Equality of Arms. We are in the early phase of a paradigm shift. The pollies will serve our interests. At election 2019 there are no safe seats.

Contact your politicians right now - see the What Can I Do link below for a guide.

File Attachments: