“MERCY, sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy” and it’s heading to Canberra, calling for an election and to deliver a petition demanding the Federal government be dissolved.
In the 1970’s cult US trucking movie “Convoy”, the CB radio was used as a pivotal communications tool for mustering a cavalcade of rebel truckers seeking social justice.
But in 2011, Australians are putting the hammer down en-mass for Canberra, following a social media uprising on the internet, to exercise their democratic rights, through a peaceful, non-violent protest.
Disgruntled Australians angered by the Federal government’s proposed carbon tax, snap Indonesian live exports suspension and brittle power-sharing arrangements with the Independents and Greens, will converge on Canberra later this month to stage a unique protest.
The convoy of no confidence started out with President of the National Road Freighters Association, Mick Pattel, organising a single convoy from Darwin to Canberra to express displeasure at the minority Federal government.
Calls last month by Federal Green’s leader, Senator Bob Brown, for an independent inquiry into Australian media ownership and regulations, sparked Mr Pattel’s protest plans amid concerns the inquiry could restrict freedom of speech and other democratic principles.
“I was under some pressure to organise a protest and was holding back but when the Green’s overstepped the mark I was compelled to act,” Mr Pattel said.
“Freedom of speech is sacrosanct to the democratic principles of our country.
“Once we’ve lost that; what have we got?”
The weight of response has been so overwhelming, 11 convoy routes from different points around the nation are now scheduled to converge on Canberra, August 22 and 23.
Trucks, utilities and other vehicles will join convoys departing from Perth, Port Hedland, Darwin, Katherine, Atherton/Cairns, Rockhampton, Brisbane, Adelaide, Colac, Warragul, Mildura, and Bendigo.
The trip from Port Hedland to Capital Hill in Canberra will cover about 5000/kms and the journey from Darwin to Canberra, about 4000/kms.
En-route to Canberra, convoy participants will speak at different locations to share their messages, rally support and gather signatures.
Participants are busily organising their vehicles and logistics, including fundraising to support their adventures.
They are also using Facebook and other mediums to raise awareness for the protest’s no confidence theme and express their opposition to the current political structure.
Mr Pattel said the convoy would express no confidence in the government being dominated by minority players and demand Australians return to the polls.
He said the convoy of no confidence started because of the “despair” being expressed by many people and businesses across Australia that “unrepresentative minor parties now control political decision making”.
“We’ve had enough and we will make ourselves heard very clearly throughout Australia and in Canberra,” he said.
“We want a fresh election to install a Government with a clear mandate.”
Mr Pattel is encouraging participation from all sides of the political divide and says, “We’re not anti-Labor, anti-Liberal or anti-Green”.
He said they are “anti a system that allows unrepresentative minorities to dominate decision making”.
“We want a clear direction for Australia and we believe that an election is necessary to achieve it,” he said.
Once in Canberra, Mr Pattel plans to present the Governor General with a one million signature-strong petition, while calling for a vote of no confidence in the Federal government.
He is working with the Australian Federal Police to ensure a peaceful and respectful protest but is worried Canberra may not be able to accommodate the sudden swell of traffic and population.
The livestock transporter comes from Richmond in North West QLD and felt compelled to act after his business dropped 50 percent after the government’s live export suspension on June 6.
“It’s become a heck of a lot bigger than we anticipated,” he said.
“People were looking for something to happen but now it has grown a life of its own.
“We are going to Canberra to deliver a message.
“We just want to show the government that people are not happy.”
During the two day protest, 20 speakers from a range of industries will address the rally, including dairy and cattle industry members and the mining sector.
Mr Pattel said he sees Independent MP, Tony Windsor, as the “weak-link” in the current power-sharing structure.
He believes Mr Windsor could be swayed to return the country to the polls because the experienced politician was inclined to “do the right thing”, if the issue had the backing of strong public opinion.
Mr Pattel said several Labor MP’s may also be dissatisfied with their party’s leadership and performance and could be swayed to cross the floor and support a no confidence motion.
He said they may be worried about losing their seats, if an election was called now, but could be rewarded for supporting a democratic purpose.
“What we want to do is give these MP’s a chance to redeem some credibility and integrity by agreeing to go back to the polls,” he said.
“This government is compromised because of its arrangements with the Greens and Independents.
“They have no mandate from the people; especially not to introduce a carbon tax in this way.”
Mr Pattel said he would invite two speakers from the various industries involved in the protest and would also offer a blanket invitation to speakers from Labor and the Coalition.
He said if anyone from the Greens or an Independent MP wanted to speak, they were also welcome as it was an A-political rally.
“When they see how big this event is they will want to get involved,” he said.
“This is an incompetent government that’s lurched from one disaster to another, not just live cattle exports.
“We just can’t keep going on like this.”
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