It's been more than a week since the last election!!!

No doubt, the title of this post reminds Catholic readers somewhat of their childhood learnings of the Confessional process. Not a deliberate association, I assure you; but one that does give me cause to apologise for those who might have expected a shakedown of the SA State Election a little earlier!

I won't delve into the entrails of slain goats nor the dissections of the psephologists - probably had enough of that, right? I would, however, like to offer a few short comments on the DLP and this election.

Let me begin with a great big 'thank you' to everyone who joined up, donated, prayed, letterboxed, emailed or chatted to friends or stood on a booth on polling day - great effort guys! A special mention to those who came from interstate for the election. In addition to two DLP stalwarts from Victoria, we were gobsmacked when four young fellas made their own way across from Melbourne to help out. Well done!

Major thanks to my upper house running mate, good friend and fellow nutter, David McCabe. Dave's efforts were well and truly above and beyond the call. With work on the following day, Dave was still pulling down posters at midnight the day after the election and had a few more to snaffle before work the next morning!

Mark Freer's commitment as Candidate for Hartley was, likewise, never in doubt. An extra big bouquet to Mark : a political neophite three months ago has now morphed into a seasoned campaignster!

Clearly we did not win a seat in the Upper House. The eleventh position went to D4D's Kelly Vincent - enough said if you read my last post! Put simply: in a polarized election and with virtually no media attention what we achieved was outstanding - even if not quite enough.

We staffed something like 35 booths out of approximately 500 across the state; we ran one lower house candidate from 37 possible - yet we still polled better than many candidates! Imagine what we could achieve with a larger presence!

I guess that's a good point to finish on: If you've appreciated what we've begun in SA and what the DLP is doing, why not get on board. Put the 'U' back in Labor and help the DLP work for the issues that really matter!

Dignity for Disability - continuing betrayal of the disabled

I've blogged before about the Dignity for Disability Party and their lead candidate's support for voluntary euthanasia.

Dr. Paul Collier passed away during this last week. In his passing he is widely recognised for his excellent work in advocacy for the disabled in many ways. It is indeed fitting that he should be remembered so.

One correspondent to this blog attacked me following my speech against euthanasia last weekend where I railed against D4D for the pro-euthanasia position of Dr. Collier. (see here) That person said that Dr. Collier's position on VE was a private matter and that he spoke at the Voluntary Euthanasia rally as a private citizen (I have proof that this was not the case, but, for the sake of the argument, let's assume that this is so).

Someone's personal view on this issue is normally exactly that; personal. However, when someone represents a group for whom such a matter is of intrinsic interest and contrary to the science and basic human dignity of those they represent, then such a view needs to be made public. My criticism of D4D is essentially that they knew about Dr. Collier's position on this issue but did not think to advise their membership and their potential voters.

It would be a travesty and a moral outrage, in my opinion, if people living with disabilities, their friends and families, supported D4D because of their advocacy only to find at some future time that their elected candidate voted for a VE bill.

Let's briefly revisit the issue by way of explanation. The disabled are amongst the most vulnerable members of our society. They need and deserve our support and protection is such ways as to enable them to enjoy their rights and full access to the goods of society on a par with everyone else.

The spectre of euthanasia is directly contrary to these aims. In the Netherlands, where VE has been practiced for decades (and legal for about a decade) children born with disabilities are routinely euthanased without consent (under the Groningen Protocol). Both in the Netherlands and in Switzerland, people with disabilities are over represented in the assisted suicide and euthanasia statistics. Again in the Netherlands, support services for the disabled, the infirmed and those with terminal illnesses are under resources and, in some cases, almost non-existent. Why? It stands to reason: They have other choices.

Make no mistake, the existence of voluntary euthanasia makes the disabled more vulnerable, not less. Read Alison Davis' story HERE to see what I mean. Thats why the US Journal on Health and Disability recently devoted an entire edition to the issue of Assisted Suicide - a close associate of VE. They concluded, in all their articles, that legalised Assisted Suicide (and VE) is never in the best interests of the disabled. (See the January 2010 edition HERE)

The Adelaide press ran appropriate and sensitive stories on the passing of Dr. Collier. According to the electoral act, his name remains on the ballot and his votes pass to the number two candidate, Kelly Vincent.

Kelly Vincent has been outed by the SA Voluntary Euthanasia Society as also supporting legalised VE. (see HERE . Click on Legislative Council and scroll down). What is going on here?

I hesitate to draw conclusions about the intentions of D4D but I'm none-the-less compelled to note that there's something seriously wrong here. As a parent of a child with a disability I feel personally betrayed that what we might call a 'peak advocacy body' is not acting in my child's best interest nor in the intrinsic best interest of any disabled person.

No matter what fine and lofty achievements this group can claim for the disabled, their support for voluntary euthanasia through the views of not one, but two, Legislative Council candidates casts an all-consuming shadow. Without the fundamental protection of their lives in law and in practice, the disabled will become more vulnerable; the quiet whispers about comparative 'quality of life' will eventually become audible.

A vote for D4D is not a vote for the best interests of the disabled

count down to the 20th March

15 days to go to the SA election.

David McCabe and I are fulltime campaigning at the minute. There's a great deal of organising to be done. The mainstream media have been ignoring us. The Independent Weekly posted a 30 second clip on youtube recently which was appreciated. I'm beginning to wonder if I don't need to run naked down Rundle Mall to get some attention! Maybe I should start one of those blogs: Donate here if you DONT want Paul to do a nudie run!

I was completely outclassed the other day by the DLP future member for Harltey, Mark Freer's new blog. Take a look. A great effort from a great candidate. http://mark4hartley.wordpress.com/ And there's some great music courtesy of Mark's recordings!

Mark learnt today that he's in the 'donkey' position ont he Hartley ballot paper (number one). Not a reflection on Mark's looks nor physique at all! Go Mark!

In the Upper House, the DLP is box 'O' which is in the second row above the line and the third position from the left (no ideological reflection). We're directly below the ALP which is precisely the reverse of Mark's ticket positin in Hartley.

I really wonder what effect it will have upon voters when they're given the white ballot paper with so many boxes to choose from. Let your friends know, the simple way out of the dilemma is to place a '1' in the 'O' box for the DLP.

Remember folks, there are very serious and might I say diabolical consequences afoot for this state at this election. It is imperative that we make this vote count on euthanasia - all our votes. As David pointed out today: Of the 23 Parties/Groups contesting the upper house, 7 are Pro-euthanasia, 13 have no interest either way and 3 are anti-euthanasia.



This does not include a further 12 candidates who are standing as independents. The numbers are against us!!!!

Campaign Launch: Huge success!

Last Tuesday a packed house joined the SA DLP team at the Pagoda Restaurant to launch the SA 2010 Campaign.

Guest of honour, Peter Kavanagh MLC from Victoria spoke passionately about the history of the DLP, the current problems facing Australia and argued that now, perhaps more than ever, Australia needs the DLP!

The DLP is growing again in every mainland State. Its growth builds upon our history; a history of integrity, passion, commitment and innovation. As Kavanagh said, we're for Families, for workers, for life and for Australia. This is not some empty slogan. For the DLP it's a way of life, an abiding philosophy that seeks the very best for every Australian.

THis resurgent DLP stands on the shoulders of giants. In SA that includes people like Mark Posa. It includes all the men and women who sacrificed privilege and position for principle and it includes the fallen heroes who have gone to their reward.

The DLP, like no other party, is built on principle. Like no other party, we honour our hiostory and have stayed true to our founding principles.

Now that the election is here it's time for action. With yor support, we can make a difference!

Paul Russell

BTW, if you want to help the campaign in any way, email me at dlpforsa@esc.net.au

For more pics of the Launch visit my facebook site HERE

hospitals and hoo haa

I can't help but think of the No Hoo Haa Party started by Adelaide businessman, Mr. Albert Bensimon some years ago when I look at the posturing of the major parties over the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

It strikes me more about dangling trinkets before the voters of this state than it does about a rational response to a very important subject(Have you seen those u beaut videos?)

Let's face it, we would all love a new or rebuilt-to-new major hospital in Adelaide regardless of where our government wants to put it. I'd like a new family car, too. but, you know, if my wife and I can't afford it we still need transport for the family so any reasonable (and more affordable) option will do right now.

Yes, the people of South Australia deserve the very best of medical care and state-of-the-art facilities can, indeed, provide that. But if the numbers of beds aren't there and there aren't enough nurses and with doctors in the public system on voting with their feet it doesn't really amount to much, does it?

Let's just take a deep breath and count to ten. Now is not the time to be focussing on the buildings as much as it is about increasing bed numbers and services. Sure, build a new oncology wing if it's needed but let's make sure that the need(s) are genuine and the solution, long term. The State Election will be over after the 20th of March 2010 and so will the Hoo Haa - but the need, present and future, may still remain unresolved.

Is the die cast?

‘The die has been cast’ (Lt. Alea iacta est) is the phrase supposedly spoken by Julius Caesar in 49 BC as his armies crossed the Rubicon river in defiance of the Roman Senate. Thereby he began the long civil war against the northern Italian states.

Its modern usage is evocative of having gone beyond the point of return; having set things in motion without the ability to cease from moving towards a destiny. ‘Crossing the Rubicon’ holds a similar understanding for obvious reasons.

Some scholars render the Latin in the imperative: “Let the die be cast” or perhaps “Let the games begin”. For the sake of this comment I prefer the former simply because there is an inevitability about it – a reckoning if you will.

So, what’s my point? Four months from now, on March the 20th to be precise, political tribes of every hue will engage in battle. A battle where every South Australian voter will (theoretically at least) determine the winners and the losers. For some this is about as exciting as watching paint dry. For others (like me) it is a fascinating melodrama, a mixture of improvisation and strategy that is eventually reduced to plain numbers and simple mathematics on the tally room floor.

Already the major parties have their ‘troops’ chosen and the lines established. There’s a cold predictability about the outcome for some while, for others, the possibility of loss of ground or the unexpected, but hoped for gain, flairs the nostrils for the battle earnest.

I admit, it’s all too easy to adopt and extend the metaphor of battle – but it does work on so many levels. For those of us who, with the DLP, are concerned about life issues and the gradual decay of the voice of faith and reason in our polity, then the collateral damage at the next South Australian election in the Upper House (the Legislative Council) should be of more interest than who does or does not form government. Why? Because the effects will outlast this government and its successor and will not easily be undone or remedied.

This ‘House of Review’ will grow more hostile to life issues on the 21st of March next. For the first time, those supporting euthanasia will probably be in the majority. I call this ‘collateral damage’ principally because I cannot see that either major party designed or engineered this as a deliberate outcome – they’re just not that organised. It is, clearly, an unintended consequence of the ravages of war.

I return to my question: is the die cast? Well, is it or isn’t it? You tell me. It’s essentially your call now for there is little else that can be done. It depends now on whether or not we’ll simply retreat to our shelters and pretend that all is well; whether we’ll line up with one or another of the major parties ignorant of the possibility that the enemy may be in our midst or whether we can heed the warning and claim the territory under dispute for the side of life. It depends also on accepting the chain of command; else maybe we’re just renegade mercenaries fighting pointless skirmishes at the sides when the real battle lies elsewhere.

Well! Is the die cast? Tell me what you think