Engaging Oz pollies in the Attitude network
27 May 2011
BY KEITH JACKSON
THERE ARE exactly 226 Federal politicians in Australia. One hundred and fifty in the House of Representatives and 76 Senators. And PNG Attitude has just written to all of them.
It was Peter Kranz’s idea, let me hasten to add. He had suggested in a comment on this website that our e-magazine be speared into the very heart of Australian politics.
So, always putty in Peter’s hands (as he is putty in Rose’s hands), I did just this.
With more than a little help, I might add, from James (Jimbo) Crocker of Jackson Wells.
Here’s what I wrote to those who govern us:
Dear Parliamentarian –
Attached is the 160th issue of PNG Attitude, a free monthly magazine distributed by email to more than 1,100 readers in Papua New Guinea and Australia.
It is published as a contribution to improving people-to-people relationships between PNG and Australia, and it is associated with a non-profit website of the same name.
The magazine covers current issues in the PNG-Australia relationship and its 40 or so regular contributors are based in both countries. Likewise, its circulation is evenly split between both countries.
For the first time, it is being made available to all Australian federal parliamentarians. Please let me know by return email if you do not wish to receive it in future.
And, if you read it and have the time to drop me a line, let me know what you think.
Best wishes
Keith Jackson
It’s early days (only one day, in fact) in this venture into direct intervention in Australian politics, but the first results are already in (as we say on election night).
A number of parliamentarians have already said “yes, we’re interested”. One stated, rather truculently, “Don’t bother, I’m leaving the Senate at the end of June”.
We shall report progress to readers as we go. We shall see how many Australian parliamentarians are really interested in PNG.
Look, it may end up being not a helluva lot. But even if there are only a dozen or so, five percent of the total, that’s a bit of a base for what we're doing here.
Tally ho.
July issue hey? We better get cracking on some big stories for the July edition that elicit a lot of reader comments. That ought to give them something to think about.
Let's see... mining and environment might do it. Maybe tuna fisheries and PMIZ too. Sounds like fun Keith. Count me in.
Posted by: Alex Harris | 30 May 2011 at 06:44 AM
Keith - What a great idea by Peter Kranz. Congratulations to you and PNG Attitude for including all Federal MPs to be on your mailing list.
These Canberra MPs will now be made more aware of relevant PNG-Australian issues through monthly newsletters.
Hopefully, they may later take up some action in their area of responsibilities to improve PNG-Australia relations in future.
It's also a good idea to put the PNG MPs on your free mailing list. I will forward you in due course some contact details of the PNG MPs so you can send them their monthly newsletters.
Keep up the great work, Keith.
_____________
Thanks, Reg. When we get a reasonably comprehensive list together of PNG MPs' email addresses we'll send them a trial issue (probably July's) - KJ
Posted by: Reginald Renagi | 29 May 2011 at 03:33 PM
Peter - Yes, and the inhabitants, I believe, are termed "kiddiecrats". But as to fear of vampires, no.
Also described as being heartless, or having no ticker, the inhabitants of Fort Shitscared are unlikely to have enough blood in them to attract these creatures.
Posted by: John Fowke | 28 May 2011 at 11:48 AM
I'm keen to receive PNG Attitude – and to submit a piece on health care.
_____________
I've invited Mr Laming, the member for the Queensland seat of Bowman, to contribute - KJ
Posted by: Andrew Laming MP | 28 May 2011 at 05:45 AM
John - You probably know that the Aussie High Comm staff compound up behind the Aviat at Konedobu is known to local wags as 'shit-scared hill'.
Apparently they're not allowed our after dark. (scared of vampires no doubt).
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 27 May 2011 at 05:59 PM
KJ - The Pope and the Pres are better bets than PNG politicos or Oz bureaucrats - at least the Pope's blessing, if given, can do no harm. Forget the present bunch in Canberra - on both sides.
There are one or two political staffers who do take an interest in PNG besides the many functionaries who are paid to say they do but don't really give a stuff.
To continue in the negative vein I have been chastised for occasionally, I, together with a group of senior technologists and an economist all with deep involvement in the coffee industry, caused a 30-page, colour-print booklet entitled STORI BILONG KOFI to be produced with generous help from the EU who were at the time being very good to CIC and the coffee industry.
This booklet was produced in Tok Pisin and English versions and 20,000 copies were circulated throughout the nation; to growers via the mills and coffee-buyers travelling to outlying areas by CIC field-staff in line of duty, and by mail in packets of 20 to all high schools.
As well, relevant departmental executives plus all 109 MPs received a copy each.
This was in 2003. In the year which followed not one acknowledgement, let alone compliment or comment or criticism was received by CIC.
Beyond this a 28 page GUIDE FOR NEWCOMERS to PNG which I wrote and offered free and gratis to Mr Kemish and his merry, barbed-wire secured cast of several hundred, was belatedly acknowledged and accepted in rather grudging fashion by a DFAT functionary.
Nothing has been said as to its use, utility or value, positive or negative.
So there, all you hopefuls. If you are determined to love PNG you must also determined to practise tough love and never hold breath waiting for any evidence of a result.
Posted by: John Fowke | 27 May 2011 at 12:55 PM
Congratulations to Keith and PNG Attitude for breaking new grounds. Seems like PNG Attitude is on an interesting path, surely its worth sitting hours in front of the computer reading and commenting.
Posted by: Bernard Yegiora | 27 May 2011 at 12:46 PM
Barack O'Bama is an Irishman Keith - where have you been - he drinks Guinness for goodness sake!
Posted by: Phil Fitzpatrick | 27 May 2011 at 12:14 PM
Excellent proposal to influence policy outcomes and perceptions.
Posted by: Francis Hualupmomi | 27 May 2011 at 11:36 AM
Here we might hit a problem. Wikipedia has a list of all the current members, but not their emails.
Given the state of the PNG Parliament's IT systems I doubt if many of them are even on-line, at least at the Haus Tambaran.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Members_of_the_National_Parliament_of_Papua_New_Guinea,_2007-2012
However the Chief Secretary of the PM's department's email is -
[email protected]
[email protected]
However some members have private email accounts with the major ISPs. I'll try and find out more.
Actually, sending a copy to countries that have diplomatic missions in PNG is not a bad idea. I know the US, UK, NZ, Chinese and Japanese embassies and high comms would be interested.
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 27 May 2011 at 10:33 AM
Excellent Keith - well done! Keep us up-to-date on the responses.
How about the same for PNG MP's? We might even persuade them to form a joint Parliamentary group to further PNG-Australian relations.
I had a constructive response from Bob Brown's office by the way.
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 27 May 2011 at 10:16 AM
Now, of course, PNG Attitude should send the same invitation to the PNG pollies.
I did a major in politics a very long time ago and learned that the great empires of the world were brought crashing down not by debauchery and frivolity but by bureaucrats. They were the real power brokers in public life.
Perhaps departmental heads in both countries should now be targets too. Although in PNG the elaborate digital security that rejects quite innocent enquiries has to be surmounted.
And don't forget the Pope and Barack Obama, they should come aboard too.
____________________
Any reader got an email address list for PNG politicians? The Pope and the Pres can wait - KJ
Posted by: Phil Fitzpatrick | 27 May 2011 at 09:47 AM
A wonderful venture! I hope through this many Australian politicians will become more aware of PNG issues.
Posted by: Jeffrey Febi | 27 May 2011 at 06:07 AM