Noosa MP Sandy Bolton
Every year, Anzac Day highlights our emotions.
Deep gratitude for those selfless men and women who gave their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we take for granted today. Immense respect, for all who continue to serve and protect us. Grief, rage and sadness for loss of lives, opportunities, and what could have been. Pride in who we are, and the mateship, courage, innovation and resilience of our Anzacs, that lives on in all of us.
There is also introspection, or looking at ourselves, which I mentioned in my Anzac Day address in Tewantin.
We need to make sure those who sacrificed everything, and continue to, can be proud of us. Not just by what we say, but by what we do.
As you know, I sit on many inquiries through the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, and research every Bill that comes into Chamber, independently and objectively, in efforts to improve our world.
What I see is an incredible world, filled with the most amazing people in the vast majority, who are being drowned out by the deeds of a tiny minority that are doing wrong by us, magnified by media. Or by governments spending resources on wants instead of needs that would make our Anzacs shake their heads, as well those who right now put their lives on the line every day to save and protect us. Existing service men and women, our police, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, aged care workers. The list goes on.
In our very politically correct world, many are fearful of speaking their mind. They do not wish to say something that may intimidate, discriminate, inflame, or be used as a headline. Whether victims of crimes and their families, those with a differing opinion in relation to aspects of our world that are confronting, or the simplicity of fear. Of the unknown, of expectations unrealised, of revisiting our past. Even MPs, who can be labeled as anti something if they take into Parliament a view that could, or would, be misconstrued by their opponents.
There should be no fear around diverse viewpoints. One of the most enlightening statements I heard was at the Voice to Parliament panel event, that differing opinions are not dividing. These differences are healthy and needed for our society, as where would we be if we all just followed one train of thought? One belief? One expert? We may still be subscribing to the world being flat, that women should stay in bed weeks before giving birth, or that we should drink radioactive water to cure mental illness and ageing among other uses. Thank goodness someone contested that!
Having just come out of six days of public hearings where victims of crime have relayed the reality of the ongoing impacts from perpetrators, we are at a critical juncture. They bravely spoke out of profound hurts and assistance that falls far short of what is needed. As they asked, why do perpetrators, not victims, get represented in court? Just like all those years ago when our service men and women and their families were not supported through their trauma, leaving broken bodies and minds that dominoed through generations, we are again facing future generations of pain, physical, mental and financial, even with the best of intentions and phenomenal frontliners.
Ultimately, how do we rectify the wrongdoings of a minority, including repeat youth offenders, and pay for it. Where is the conversation about parental responsibility? Increasingly, we are trying to fix so many wrongs as a compassionate, educated society through policies, legislation, reconciliation, compensation, restitution and expanded support services, which costs, and can only do so by increasing taxes, or taking funds from other areas. Yes, robbing Peter to pay Paul, which is unsustainable. We live the ramifications daily of ‘rationalising’, ‘decreasing’ ‘maximising’ or leaving it to the ‘supply/demand’ chain which has seen failures, with our housing crisis as one example.
There is not enough room here for me to give the volume of examples, however, my recent question to the Public Service Commissioner was simple. Who is responsible for these failings in the operational arms of government? They are currently working with the public service sector to develop a strategy to address the Coaldrake report’s recommendations with the aim of developing a public sector of excellence. Well, we really just need one strategy that can transmit grass roots needs into action, without it taking five years or longer and requiring more reports or consultation! Yes, I feel the same frustrations that many do….
While we work to rehabilitate and fix the wrongs of our and their pasts including intergenerational alcohol addictions and violence, we must deal with the present as communities across Queensland have had enough. Relocation sentencing, restitution where offenders pay for their damage, restorative justice so that victims can relay face to face to offenders how their lives have irreparably changed, are just some of the options that frustratingly are rejected by government or underfunded. There is no right or wrong solution, only investigations, inquiries, data and lived experience to guide, hence why we must look to those who gave their lives for us and ask that question. What would they advise, and would they be proud of how we are tackling this?
In the majority, they would be proud. However, for the parts that we know, deep down, they would be deeply disappointed, let’s use that ‘introspection’ I mentioned, and reflect on each of our own responsibilities in the mix. Blaming governments, politicians or political parties can only go so far, especially in relation to the behaviours of ourselves, our children and our choices. Every day, whether through our own specific actions, often ‘unrealistic’ expectations and an era of self-entitlement, increasing over consumption including leaving those lights on, we are contributors. What we purchase and subsequently waste (look at our landfill), as well commentary online and off, adds further fuel. We can be part of the problem and therefore also the solution.
We need to move beyond what has become a very tired rhetoric of blame, to one of truth. Not just in relation to our past, around the ‘now’ and future. As I head to Cairns where regional Parliament is sitting, with the Path to Treaty Bill to be debated, that ‘telling’ should never be one sided, nor relegated to an indigenous/non indigenous narrative. Differing viewpoints should be encouraged as communication is a connector, and as long as the shares are respectful, there should be no need to ever feel it is discriminatory, intimidating or segregating. We are all Aussies with histories and forebears that went above and beyond so we can now work together in freedom to find a path forward. If this includes uncomfortable discussions around our pasts, tough love for repeat offenders, or even why there are a small proportion of Australians becoming phenomenally wealthy, as a greater proportion becomes what is terribly and sadly termed the ‘new poor’, so be it as our Anzacs would not expect anything less.
Next month, I aim to tackle Part 2 of the complexities and simplicities of the Cooloola Great Walk, Path to Treaty, and Voice to Parliament in layman’s language, whilst maintaining that political correctness? This means I will avoid relaying how I am often termed a ‘whitey” by my indigenous/aboriginal/First Nations/First Peoples buds (they all have a different take on what is appropriate, however I reckon First Australians works?) as did my great grandma who was one of the first European women in the far north. I take no offense in this ‘labelling’ and encourage all to discuss the many topics I have raised this month respectfully around their dinner tables, without the taking of offense and with a dash of good Aussie humour, as there are some fabulous and interesting subjects to cover!
Until next time, I look forward to hearing what you think our Anzacs and all who fought for our country would advise. I know what my gramps would say regarding our youth offenders, and that is send them out bush to work, or into National Service, to develop respect for self and others.
Sandy
P.S A reminder to organisations that the Noosa Electorate QLD Day Awards are now open. Help us acknowledge some incredible volunteers and businesses who provide their services free of charge for our community by nominating them (two per organisation) at sandybolton.com/qld-day-awards, or for hard copy application, call our office on 53193100. Nominations close 21 May 2023 so get those in quickly.
