An Open Letter from a One Nation Farmer to the "Free" Press

Andrew Webber, Policy Co-ordinator for One Nation NSW Division, who is a farmer himself, writes about the Peter Spencer issue, and associated matters.

"It is with great sadness that this letter is written, sadness that it takes an Australian farmer (Peter Spencer) in his despair to create media awareness. I and many other farmers are in the same situation. Listening to talkback radio it is obvious that many Australians just don't get it. There are comments like 'Mr Peter Spencer should not have taken this course of action, but instead should have been vocal some other way'. There is a simple reason that this advice is received with great cynicism by farmers, and that is that if you are just 'vocal' the mainstream media will not report it. Some talkback hosts did not want to discuss it as it goes against the 'feel warm and fuzzy and save the environment' movement, which, instead of saving the environment, has caused great environmental harm and human misery through its extremist ignorance. No, we do not live in the lucky country any more, we are no longer the clever country and we are certainly no longer 'free'. This is one of the primary reasons I joined One Nation. However, for a land that its media loudly proclaims has a 'free press', all know that when it comes to One Nation and the issues it was created to combat, the 'Free Press' and 'Free Speech' and the ability for an Australian to participate in the political system, is nothing more than an illusion.

"Where is the media when it comes to One Nation media releases? The ONP is not afforded the same courtesy that is offered Labor, Liberal and Green political parties and independents. Current talkback radio is a-buzz with all the issues One Nation warned about and formulated policy to correct, yet the media will give no air time or print. Yes, I want to see Peter Spencer end his hunger strike immediately and recover from his ordeal, but I do understand the despair that drove him to take the desperate action he has taken, as I and many other farmers feel the exact same way. Sure, not every farmer is in the exact same situation, but in the past 35 years, over 80% of us have been driven from the land and the main reason has been ever more hostile legislation against the farming and rural family and community.

"Three-tiers of government bureaucracy, impossible expenses and burdens, regulations decreeing we cannot clear land or combat noxious weeds, being under constant threat from exotic disease and pests means ultimately we can no longer farm the land. We cannot remove trees, even when they are obviously too close to a house and a fire hazard. Remember the fellow in the Victorian bushfires whose house was the only to survive? He was heavily fined for clearing a perimeter around his home. So many farmers have committed suicide because they have been unable to cope with the consequences of impossible restraints and expenses imposed upon them by government and big business! Farmers have been financially driven from their livelihoods and land - just look at the statistics. Our farming heritage began before the days of electricity and has survived flood, drought, pests and disease, but we have not been able to survive the politician and the bureaucrat. Where is the media, where are the elected members of parliament who were elected to represent what is in the best interest of their constituents? And where are the Governor General and State Governors who should have interjected on all legislation that breaches the Australian constitution?

"I fully expect to hear nothing but silence in response to this release; unfortunately I have come to expect nothing less. I hope the members of the Australian press give themselves a big pat on the back for their apathy and the contempt they have for the Australian people, the same as it has while it watches our health system failing, our essential services rapidly leaving the affordability of a rapidly growing underclass, and the wealthy living it up as never before.

"Yours most sincerely,

"Andrew Webber "Policy Coordinator One Nation NSW Division".