Wednesday 6th March 2007
SPECIAL EDITION
"Never Give In"
This is my final adjournment speech in this House, so I will use the opportunity to reflect a little on my time here. When I first came into Parliament in 2003 I had two primary tasks to accomplish. The first was to repair the public relations disaster that had surrounded my predecessor. I have done that: the Outdoor Recreation Party is no longer mentioned along with some alleged corruption, and we have managed to restore the faith of our many supporters and rebuild the party.
My second task was to attack the credibility of the extremist conservation movement. Many see the abuse of science and the flawed logic of the "wilderness devoid of humans" mentality, but I have been less successful than I had hoped, perhaps because I have taken on other issues, such as scepticism of the theories of anthropogenic global warming. This is so important that I will take a few seconds to expand on it.
Our climate has ranged from warm periods where the Opera House would have been under 30 metres of ocean to cool periods where cities like New York would be under three kilometres of solid glacier. Either of these scenarios would be catastrophic for modern civilisation should they return. However, the current mass hysteria surrounding climate change is based on a fraud. I probably cannot explain the detail of the flawed nature of these apocalyptic computer models to the average person, but an everyday example may help. El Niño is one of the major climate factors on the earth and if the computer models are unable to even predict next year's El Niño, how is it possible that they can predict the climate in 100 years time?
The press has allowed political ideologues to hijack what should have been a scientific debate. I understand and accept that there is a part of the human psyche that finds itself attracted, however unwillingly, to controversy and conflict. Accordingly, the issues that make our commercial headlines are understandable. However, it is the media outlet that holds the very crucible of our democracy in its hands that has particularly disappointed me with its entrenched left-wing agenda—so much so that one could say the ABC may as well be the media arm of the Greens.
Of all my efforts I am proud to say that I have never offered to trade my vote for the rights of the people of New South Wales for good and just legislation for a benefit of any kind. Some would say this is foolish and that I have achieved nothing, but I think Winston Churchill expressed my feelings: Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. I have kept that promise I made in my inaugural speech.
Just as things were looking up and the possibility of re-election became feasible I became ill with a form of epilepsy. Investigations revealed a glioma as the probable cause and my physicians recommended my immediate retirement. Had not my National Parks Volunteers Service Bill made it back to the precedence list I would have been long gone. This bill, so close to my reason for being here, will mark my time in this House one way or another.
In closing I would like to thank all the members of the New South Wales 4WD Association, who offer their time free of charge to the national parks to do volunteer work. My sincere thanks to Rob Kelly and the other executive members for their personal support during what have been tough times. My thanks also go to Nick Jacomas of the Australian Horse Alliance and Richard Smallwood of the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association—your continued support is appreciated. To Ken Thurlow, Rod Burston, Geoff Ruse, Jack Tait, Philp Creigh, Rowan Phelps, Merv McFie, Maurie Britten and the tens of thousands of fishermen and women up and down the coast whom I have met in the past few years: My thanks for your efforts. Do not give in! To the bicycle, kayaking, scuba diving and bushwalking communities, my thanks also for your support.
I would like to say thanks to all the staff at Parliament House: to Chris, who was in Building Services, and to Lucy and Charles and all the other smiling staff, my thanks and well wishes. To Lynn and Stuart and the Legislative Council staff, my thanks for your assistance. To Hansard, my thanks for reliably reporting my sometimes rambling words, and I ask you to keep thinking of platypuses. A special thank you to John Evans for your assistance with procedural matters and for your sage advice.
To the members of this House, I thank you for your friendship. In particular I would like to mention Gordon Moyes and Fred Nile for your counsel. And to Arthur, please do not give up trying to keep the bastards honest. I believe that democracy will be assured only when we have completely open government. I know many of you in the Government and Opposition quietly and in your own way try to do the right thing but with all the passion that I can, I would urge you not to give in to the "machine" but to fight for what is right and just.
I would like to say a special thank you to my researcher, Renuka Peiris, for her unfailing loyalty, honesty and good humour and for looking after me when I really needed it.
To the people of New South Wales I have one salient message: Even though many of you would hate the thought of getting involved in politics I would beg you to do so because it is politicians who make the decisions that affect every aspect of your life. Getting involved is the only way you can change the way we are governed.
Lastly and most importantly, I would like to thank my wife, Virginia, who, probably through the stress of my own ills, has succumbed to her own health problems and yet never complains during my long absences from home. My daughter, Victoria, has taken on the mantle of surrogate mother and carer. My son, Nicholas, has just followed me into the surf life saving club and started his first patrol at Coolangatta last week. To Nicholas and Victoria, I am so proud of you both, you are both great kids and I know you will grow into stunning young adults. To Virginia, I am sorry I have been away from home so much and I am so lucky to have you as my wife, friend and soul mate.
I close with the words of Winston Churchill again:
Never give in—never, never, never, never.
Closing Notes
I am devastated that health problems will prevent me from continuing. I am not promoting myself but we need more people like me in Parliament, more people who have no ideological agenda, more people who make decisions based on good sense, justice and fair play rather than how much is donated to the party coffers, more people who won’t trade good policy for ballot box preferences, more people who put the People before the Party; more people who have done something in life other than be a politician, just more people who are not politicians but just trying to do the best for the people they represent.
I am equally devastated because there are some devious and extremist forces at work in Parliament who want to cause a revolution in our society and they do not care who gets hurt in the process: the ends justifies the means is their mantra! I worry for the world my children will inherit.
I believe that when people are fully informed they will basically make the right choice. I also firmly believe that the only way forward for society is truly open government and that unless we reach a point where we have Government where the primary loyalty is to the People ahead of the Party then democracy is doomed and perhaps the next best choice is a benevolent dictatorship. However Governments of both persuasions seem hell bent on continually restricting the openness of Government to the people and hiding more and more of the truth behind a wall of deception.
Power is everything and some are willing to sell or trade any and everything that our forefathers fought for to get it. Whether it’s the right to access public land or water sold to developers or traded to extremist Greens for ballot box preferences, whether it’s the simple right to fish for food or to ride through the High Country or the more fundamental the right of free speech, many of the most precious things have already been lost and we are in danger of becoming Aldus Huxley’s Brave New World where we live in boxes in bleak cities and all our enjoyment in life is by government “programmed” virtual reality.
I save my final comments for the guardians of democracy: the Press! Like me before I entered politics, the voting public seem to have the naive impression that there is some attempt at balance or objectivity in the reporting of “news” but alas there is little! Apart from a few brave souls many journalists simply regurgitate the Governments press releases or “make” the news to suit their own political agendas. To be fair Governments can and are vindictive and journalists have families and mortgages too!
Two particular frustrating encounters come to mind, the first being the environmental reporters at the SMH. Throughout the last four years I have seen only one article with any real attempt at balance on environmental issues. Even when proven absolutely wrong they have consistently refused to publish any rebuttal. Fairfax could do away with the whole department and just copy/paste the Greens/NCC/NPA Press Releases into the columns instead. One of the senior SMH journalists even told me to stop sending them press releases! However it is the ABC in particular and the crucial role of the ABC has, as an unbiased and independent reporter, that has frustrated me more than any other. I believe that its city based news and current affairs has little credibility with anyone other than the hard left!
Anyway on that note my thanks to all the people have not lost faith and helped along the way. I would leave you with one final thought: NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE IN!
Editorial
Dr Jon Jenkins has been a supporter of SOS-NEWS since we started in May 2005.
Elected Independent to the NSW Upper House, Jon has been an inspiration to the people who have had enough of government dictatorship and just how an Independent can make changes.
Doctor and Professor, Jon has not only the qualification but also that determination to expose the political parties as elected uncontrolled machines representing only the party interests at all times.
Jon has been an inspiration to the many Independents that are standing for the March 24th NSW election and with groups aligning with the people's voice in parliament to be heard over the bureaucracy control of party rooms, and not behind closed doors, we thank you for that Jon.
The great oak tree grew from just a single acorn - from Jon (Acorn) Jenkins will grow back the voice of the people in government.
Mal Davies (Editor)
WITHOUT PREJUDICE - UCC 1-207/1-308 I reserve my right not to be compelled to perform under any contract or commercial agreement that I did not enter knowingly, willingly, voluntarily and intentionally. And, furthermore, I do not accept the liability of the compelled benefit of any un-revealed contract or commercial agreement. Signed by: Web author, News editor, Mal Davies agent©
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