Convoy of no confidence in the federal government

There is nothing more valuable, more powerful and more precious than the will of the people. Democracy is defined as a form of government which all people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.

The hung parliament returned in August 2010 did indeed reflect the will of the people, but the subsequent government has reflected the will of less than 14,000 Australians: a tiny fraction of the 14 million votes cast on that day – one in a thousand.

Many ordinary Australians have found themselves on the receiving end of government decisions which have made life harder, increased costs and reduced their options. People from all walks of life: truckies, cockies, graziers, dress shop owners, cafe operators, thousands of small to medium sized business operators and mums and dads with bills to pay have had enough. They feel that their wishes have not been heeded and that the government has found itself captive to the demands of the 1 in 150 members, or – even worse - the desire of the ‘one in a thousand’ who is able to put the minority and special interest wishes ahead of ordinary hard working Australians. Our House of Representatives has been forced into a battle ground of minority interests, special favours, secret deals and broken promises: an Orwellian House of Rhetoric, which does not comprehend the reality of many people’s normal lives.

The Convoy of No Confidence in the Government has grown from the wishes of one man – Mick Pattel - who lost 50% of his business overnight in a decision on live export to Indonesia driven by special interests. He envisioned a progressive convoy from Darwin to Canberra as a form of civil, legal and peaceful demonstration of the frustrations of millions of Australians now without a voice in our House of Representatives.

Something magnificent is indeed unfolding as part of a purposeful, legitimate and democratic form of expression from all over Australia, people whose businesses and jobs are being driven into the ground by bungling public servants, who are gathering to drive from all over Australia to converge on Canberra to demand an election.

The response to the single convoy from Darwin has grown into 11 Convoys of No Confidence, back by the National Road Freighter Association and supported by community talk back radio, local press, small community organisations and big main stream press.

There is movement in Australia, the word has passed around, 

A bob tailed truck is leaving Katherine, NT - Canberra bound.

Now the truck will bolt from his yards on the 17th of August 2011,

No doubt the mob will be joining him, on his journey down.

A progressive Convoy is what he has sent the message for far and wide,

The call will be answered without a moments hesitation from all who can drive.