Ian Britza, new WA State Member for Morley
From Ian Britza’s recent maiden speech in the WA Legislative Assembly (note the reference to Israel):
…When I won the seat of Morley, I knew that the people did not know me and the vote was primarily against the previous government….they did not know where I came from, what I was like, what I believe, and probably hoped that, at least, I stood for Liberal Party policies, which I do.
What are my principles, ethics and personal beliefs? My parents, the Reverend Bill and Beryl Britza, were missionaries for just on 20 years in Malawi, Africa….
…I also share with the house my unashamed support and love for the nation of Israel. I have visited this nation, and my heart is tender towards its people. History has shown time and again that whoever supports and honours this nation truly becomes prosperous, flourishes and increases in influence. Therefore, I publicly declare my support for and loyalty to this nation.
…I have a natural love, admiration and deep respect and honour for the United States of America. I am well aware of this nation’s real and perceived failures, but it stands on its own in the world as a nation whose people stand for what is right and have a deep-seated heart for and belief in democracy, freedom and justice. Whether or not we support the United States of America, it is a sobering thought to consider that no-one thinks to invade us because of our excellent alliance with this nation, whose own armed forces have also given their lives for our nation’s freedom….
In the light of the fact that I have been a minister of the church for nearly 30 years, I understand how many people would immediately, without much thought, put me into a particular religious box. … I am not ashamed of the foundational spiritual principles that were given to me by my parents. They not only gave me sound spiritual guidance for my future welfare and personal benefit; they also instilled in me a sense of right…
… It is quite simple really. Every civilisation that has lost its compass where morals are concerned has simply slipped into history and its people have always played an extremely high price for it. Just because we live in the twenty-first century does not mean that the consequences of the past will not come to us.
Morality is an interesting thing… Just because something is legal does not make it right, and just because a bill is presented and is passed by a majority does not mean that it is right. Just because abortion is legal does not make it right. When a woman who is pro-choice wants a child she calls it a baby, and when she does not want it she calls it a foetus. It may be legal but it is not right.
This brings me to my final point. While obviously holding on to sound biblical, Judaeo-Christian beliefs and principles, I simply ask whether the decision before me is right. Situational ethics is a dangerous path to walk when there are no absolutes to guide oneself in making decisions that affect hundreds and thousands of people. When listening to bills being presented in this chamber, I will be constantly asking myself whether they are right or wrong. I will make decisions based on moral absolutes, because they are not persuaded by how we personally think or feel about a matter. Two plus two will always be four. Even if we do not like it or are angry and frustrated by it, the answer will always be four, and moral judgements are the same. People can say whatever they like, believe whatever they want to believe, and act however they want to act, but moral absolutes simply remain the same.
I conclude with a statement that will be my guiding rule in my term as member for Morley and in this house: it is easy to do justice, but very difficult to do right, therefore let right be done. I thank members of this house for the friendship and goodwill extended to me and I humbly express the honour I feel to be a part of this chamber and to serve the people of Western Australia, the people of Morley, the Premier, his ministers and the members of this chamber.
[...] Ian Britza, a politician from my hometown of Perth, from his maiden speech after winning a seat in the WA Legislative Assembly. Spread the [...]
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 amShlomo, you need to be congratulated more often.
The advocacy you do for Israel is tireless and of the highest standard.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:48 pmHi Ian, I hope Penny nd you are doing GREAT. Duane Tracy told me to contact you. Not only would Ilike to speak with you and Penny, I think I can help the Austrailian government save a heap of money. That is why Pastor Duane told me to contact you. Duane says you are coming to Texas in January. I hope we can get a chance to talk. My mobile is 817-532-7772. Call me if you can spare a moment or two. God Bless you both, Carl
November 29th, 2008 at 1:39 amTHE WA. REDRESS???
THE TRUTH!!!
To Mr Ian Britza,
Can you please help? You seem to be a man of honor and sound morals. I am not sure this is this the forum for this type of discussion but forgive me, i am uneducated about these things.
Thankyou.
Forgive any bitterness and anger over this governments dealings with REDRESS.WA. I have been fighting for justice for almost 2 years for 5,ooo people. I am weary of dishonesty dishonorable actions.
I was 49 when I began my redress application. I am 51 now.
I am standing at my third REDRESS.WA rally now, thinking how I had tried to tell the government they had opened a Pandora’s Box. We are talking about restoring peoples honor, dignity and self worth. We were talking about possibly the most abused child generation in the state, we are certainly talking about one of the most impoverished, both economically and psychological target groups in the state.
It was an honorable idea that the previous government began before losing power to the now Liberal government 2009. . No thoughts of procedures or measures had time to be formulated or taken into consideration, before the take over.
This current state government is only in their career for the money. They do not have old school honor that previous governments had. It is all about business now, not about people.
Sorry, I digress…
HONOUR.
This REDRESS.WA idea, as honorable and genuine as I believe it was, has never been important in the eyes of this Government.
There has been no processes or procedures implemented.
We are still in wading through the bleak black ice we know as “bleak depression” in limbo waiting for something….ANYTHING… to happen. Some sort of show of good faith, at least,…like where is the memorial we were promised, at the very least where is the blueprints or pictures of ideas for this memorial…where are the free psych sessions, how do you access them, etc…
Instead, here we are two years later, still attending Rallies outside Parliament house, crowds of fragmented, damaged and broken people waiting for Moses to lead us out of misery.
Still NOTHING.
None of us asked for an ex gratia payment, we where offered this.
It is my utmost opinion that the government has made this REDRESS as difficult as they can for the applicants for fear of litigations whereby more than $80,000 would be genuinely, honorably and dutifully given in the form of a litigation payment.
To many a poor, wretched soul, who continues to be plagued every night and day by the injustices perpetrated against them when they were state wards and tortured some to adult degrees, it is wrong to have had this economic carrot dangled over them for the past two years and still counting. Furthermore, to be abused by this government by delaying justice and changing the goal posts half way through an agreement.
Thousands of Christmas plans have no doubt been changed or cancelled again by the applicants who for the most part live in the lower social economic demographics.
It is true… the poor stay poor, the pollies and big businesses get richer. However, I bet Mr. Barnett will continue to have good tidings and merriment at Christmas time. Whilst for many redress applicants this will be the usual time of stress and hardship. Harder for some who thought this Christmas was going to see economic promises fulfilled by now… Not fair Mr. Barnett…have a great time in the Bahamas or wherever!
We the applicants and advocators need to now be moving into a solutions phase that will look at implementing improvements in a way that will be unique and beneficial to each individuals needs.
The plan was to make amends to those thousands of forgotten, abused and not afforded the duty of care all child have a born right to, by previous governments. These applicants had been wards of the state and had been neglected by the governments of their times. Consequently children and babies where left open to the mercy of predatory ,cruel, tortuous inhume foster placements and subsequently these once innocent children’s lives had been affected socially, psychological, physically, for decades, and some continue to be to date, and others that may never thrive. Some have passed down their demons to there children without awareness.
Many countries around the world have taken the step to acknowledge, apologize, and make amends offer genuine support with most countries offering an ex gratia payment. Western Australian government promised a payment of between 10,000 and $ 80,000.
I have never made any secret that I see this as an obscene amount. It was an indecent proposal to begin with.
Good Lord. How does one arrive at any fair $ value on these sort of heinous crimes against children?
What price for lost opportunities, lost childhoods, and lost lives? Who can say?
Nevertheless, a line was drawn. One either accepted this or not… because an ex gratia means,
.ex gratia Ad – as a favor; not compelled by legal right; “ex gratia payments made to nonstriking workers”
optional – possible but not necessary; left to personal choice
Hence, there was no negotiating. I knew that from the start. $80,000 would seem like a lot of money to the lower socio-economic group. In reality, I knew it could make things a bit more comfortable for the abused and their immediate family for the short term, but not life changing for the majority.
Many applicants have subscribed to my views about the money, but if you look at it in real dollar justice, it does not add up.
When you consider on average for example, I was beaten and tortured 6,000 times between the ages of 13 months old to 16 years of age… this works out to about $6.00 for a beating, a rape, indecent assault, assault and battery, and in some cases torture in all its military style. I find it hard to believe I do not deserve more than $6.00 compensation in the form of an ex gratia payment. I have spent over $50,000 in psych fees! I am only one of thousands with stories like this, and others worse.
However, I chose to go along with the REDRESS process. I figured I would get some benefit, be it emotional cathartics, (Got that wrong!) or being able to help my kids out, give them a small holiday, and a small investment somewhere, and I thus chose to put in the application. Money is a great motivator to those in the lower socio economic bracket. However, greater than this is for me is being given the opportunity to reclaim my sense of dignity and autonomy. With these thoughts, I opened the application form and began writing.
From the first question almost, I knew it was not going to be easy. Talking frankly about child rape, assaults and psychological torture took guts. It would take strength and courage to visit the crime scenes repeatedly and harder still to quieten the dormant demons bred from these circumstances and instances.
In all honesty, I do not trust any government, but there a few state ministers trust and I like with uncertainty. Sue Ellery is one. . She is also willing to come out in parliament and admit she got the numbers wrong, but the current government could fix this problem. The REDRESS has become a RE-ABUSE. Re-victimising thousands of some of the most vulnerable Australian people.
I want to sue Premier Mr. Barnett and Ms Robyn McSweeney for abusing me now, because psychologically they are continuing to make my life hell and play games with me emotionally and intellectually. With all this bureaucracy rubbish, I am fed up for the most part. They admit that it is re-abuse, but do not do anything about it. It is reminiscent of what they did to me as a child.
Therefore, in my uninformed, uneducated legal mind this still amounts to abuse.
Justice delayed is justice denied, and amounts to ABUSE.
Never mind the REDRESS SCHEME. Around the traps, it is known as the REDRESS SCREAM. Alternatively, THE REDRESS W.A REDRESS SCHEME
The slogans around the rally read “REDRESS-REABUSED AGAIN” and suchlike.
I am tired of being abused so unless Mr. Barnett stops it, I will sue him, and all involved, including Minister Robyn McSweeney.
It may not have been the law of the day 50 years ago, but psychological abuse is a crime of today Mr. Barnett.
I signed a legal document for an ex gratia payment for between $10,000 and $80,000 not for $10,000 and $45,000. Who thinks they can legally change the conditions of a legal document without the other party’s consent?
Can some lawyer please tell me if this is illegal or just dishonorable? I would think a contract is a contract no matter what, and cannot be arbitrarily changed.
In my limited experience, Sue Ellery’s has shown honor, honesty, ethics, and although I have only spoken to her half a dozen times, because my heightened sense of emotional intelligence, I know she is compassionate, because I feel her compassion.
On the flip side, others are simply in politics to line their pockets. These people I do not trust.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:42 pmWith-in my limited time spent with Ms McSweeney, unlike Sue Ellery my emotional sensors felt her coldness, and in my opinion her” forced compassion”. “Camera Compassion” if you like.
Her steel eyes lacked warmth; they betrayed her fear and lack of genuine compassion, and potency. I sensed she had no political autonomy and I do not trust her.
Was it her personal defense?
Probably, she was busy trying to not saying anything, just in case the 150 odd protestors outside Parliament house suddenly attacked her. This could have potentially been a sad reality.
She stood up in front of these applicants. 150 people whose rage was (and still is), running silent and angry and deep, and told them, “We can’t fulfill the previous governments’ promises because we don’t have enough money…so we are changing the offer to a maximum payout off 45,000” oh and “further to this one will only receive this amount if hard evidence can be shown. “Sorry about that”
Talk about kicking a man when he is down. It is not simply dishonorable it is not Australian.
They changed the goal posts! The rules where changed because the government have now confirmed a great majority of applicants did not have hard proof. Initially we were told we did not NEED hard evidence, now it seems we do. Applicants are not going to get a true redress because of these changes.
It would seem that emotional, cognitive, and psychological injuries are at the lower end of the abuse scale.
Now unless you have proof of broken bones or other physical disabilities caused whilst in state care your suffering is minimized and heavily discounted.
To the Premier and collogues of his, I say “I am sorry I didn’t have the adult cognitive skills not to shower after my rape when I was 7 years old, and to organize a rape team to visit me to collect DNA, so that now I could produce “hard Evidence” of what happened to me more than 40 years ago.” How remiss of me…
“I am sorry it took me 19 years to tell the then Director of Child Welfare, Mr. Keith Maine, about my abuse”…I was terrified of divulging this for a number of reasons. One was being not having anything done about it, not being believed and having any shred of dignity taken from me for lying. Worse still, to have it hushed up and swept under the carpet, which is was back then, as it is attempting to be done again. I went in with a social worker and laid complaints against foster parents, and Mr. Keith Maine did nothing, even knowing these foster parents still had half a dozen at least of state wards in their care. Did nothing then. He could have, should have taken action then…but he did not. No one knows why, everyone agrees it was wrong nobody wants to make amends.
So there is not enough money? I don’t really believe that for a moment, but by some slim chance, this is perhaps true for now, so what? Go find the right amount. Instead of the vast majority of pollies taking a 3% pay rise, they could have taken 1.5, given half to the vulnerable groups of this state, and divided it up amongst them. This would be considered honorable and ethical. Instead of million or however much is spent on advisors to tell pollies what to say to look good, why not speak from their hearts and minds and if they have nothing to hide, they wont need to pay these clowns 6 million to think up stuff to make them look good.
The Pollies will get a pay rise again soon enough. A lot sooner than the average person, I dare predict.
PLEASE can some lawyer who dares shows honor and courage answer me and tell me if I can sue the premier and Ms McSweeney?
I am a survivor, this is true. However, I do not want to just be a survivor, I want to be a Thriver.
Please help someone, even just to answer me.
Thanking you for your patience, time and advice.
Respectfully
Cheryle Warner
Ph; 0892752335
MB 0405663770