Endorsements
1in50 gratefully acknowledges the statements of support from these eminent Australians:
Ian Temby
AO QC
Ian Temby AO QC was the first Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (1984-89) and the first Commissioner of the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (1989-94). He conducted the Royal Commission into the Finance Broking Industry in Western Australia in 2001 and is a former President of the Law Council of Australia (1983–1984). He initiated prosecutions and inquiries to the detriment of eminent politicians from both sides, and fell out of favour with both of the major parties. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2000.
“It is my strong belief that the present Government is quite unfit for purpose, indeed the worst at Federal level since Billy McMahon was PM. The latest disgrace was the refusal to even bring forward for debate a Bill for an Integrity Commission. My view is that the return of the Morrison government would be very much against the best interests of the Australian people. They are the least competent, and he is the least convincing PM, we have had for a long time.”
Philippa Smith
AM
Philippa Smith AM is a former Commonwealth Ombudsman, Defence Forces Ombudsman, CEO of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, Manager of Policy and Public Affairs at the Australian Consumers’ Association, Member of the NSW Law Reform Commission, Director of the Telecommunications Ombudsman Scheme, Director of First State Super, Chair of Food Standards Australia New Zealand and lead spokesperson for the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).
“There’s never been a more critical time for us to think about the importance of who is in government: who sets the rules and values for public accountability, disclosure about how decisions are made and ensuring that they are in the public interest, now, and in the longer term. On issues like a strong anti-corruption body, the pollution of our air and waterways, and environmental sustainability; as well as training and a better deal for the unemployed. And ending our cruelty to refugees. Enough of the spin. Decent policies and decision-making processes are needed.”
David Williamson
AO
David Williamson AO is among Australia’s most successful and celebrated authors and playwrights, having written: Don's Party, The Removalists, The Club, The Department, Travelling North, The Perfectionist, Emerald City, Money and Friends, Brilliant Lies and Dead White Males. He also collaborated on the screenplays for Gallipoli and The Year of Living Dangerously. Many of his works have become icons of Australian culture, informing how we see ourselves. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1983.
“If you agree that this government's record over the past nine years should not be rewarded with three more years, remember: it doesn't take much to change it. It has never been more important to consider the future when casting our vote.”
Judith Brett
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor Judith Brett taught Australian politics and public policy at La Trobe University from 1989 to 2012. A former editor of the literary and cultural magazine, Meanjin, Judith has written multiple books on Australian politics, including three on the Liberal Party, notably Robert Menzies’ Forgotten People. Among her several prize-winning works was her biography of Alfred Deakin which won the 2018 National Biography Award. Judith’s most recent works are From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting and her latest book Doing Politics: Writing in Public Life.
“Aged care is in crisis, our national debt out of control, our universities imploding, and our wonderful natural environment degrading. After nine years the Coalition government has no plausible plans to tackle any of this.”
Richard Ackland
AM
Richard Ackland AM is a lawyer and journalist best known for publishing Justinian through his company, Law Press of Australia. He has worked as the Canberra correspondent for the Australian Financial Review, and for the ABC as host of Late Night Live and Media Watch, sharing a Gold Walkley Award. He is now a regular correspondent for The Saturday Paper, writing mainly on legal affairs. He was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2016, for services to media and publishing.
“This a tired, dispirited government. After nine years in office, the Coalition has become arrogant, directionless and unaccountable. Imagine if it was elected for another term.
This is what you could expect:
- Continued inaction on global warming as Morrison and Joyce march to the tune of their paymasters in the fossil fuel industries;
- Unchecked indulgence and impropriety in the face of a toothless or non-existent Integrity Commission;
- Revocation of the pre-election funding pledge for the public broadcasters;
- Further social dislocation, disparity and inequality;
- Bickering and backstabbing among ministers and backbenchers;
- Increasingly on the nose with our neighbours in the Pacific and Asia.
That's just for starters.
Australia would not survive as a decent society with three more years of Morrison and Joyce.”
Anthony Abrahams
AM
Anthony Abrahams AM made his debut for the Australian Rugby Union Wallabies in 1967 and was subsequently chosen for the Wallabies’ 1969 tour of South Africa. During the tour he spoke to a range of local opponents of the apartheid regime and then took a stand against continuing sporting ties with the Republic. He was later joined by six other Wallabies and they campaigned against the South African Rugby and Cricket tours of Australia in 1971. Years later, South African President, Nelson Mandela, honoured Rugby’s “Magnificent Seven” with the Medal of Freedom. Abrahams’ stance was widely credited with influencing Australian and international policy on South Africa at the time. Apartheid in South Africa was eventually abolished in 1994. In 2020 Abrahams was awarded membership of the Order of Australia for services to Australian – French relations, with his stand on apartheid being also cited.
“Morrison and Joyce hide behind conflicted, self-interested claims, obfuscation, falsely denying overwhelming evidence. Too old to have to face the consequences themselves, they do an incredibly sad disservice to our nation's future.”
Jenny Hocking
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor Jenny Hocking (Monash University) is a political historian and biographer. She has written numerous books on Australian politics, including acclaimed biographies of Gough Whitlam, Frank Hardy and Lionel Murphy. Among her award-winning works are Gough Whitlam: His Time; Gough Whitlam: A Moment in History and The Palace Letters: The Queen, the Governor-General and the Plot to Dismiss Gough Whitlam. Jenny's landmark legal action against the National Archives of Australia, seeking public access to secret correspondence between the Queen and the Governor-General relating to Whitlam's dismissal, succeeded in the High Court, overturning the Queen's decades-long embargo over the letters. The so-called “Palace Letters” revealed the true extent of Buckingham Palace’s influence and knowledge of the dismissal.
“The Morrison government has failed us. From Covid to bushfires and devastating floods, it has done too little, too late, and with breathtaking incompetence. After nine years the government has failed to deal with the crisis in aged care, act against global warming, protect the ABC, or introduce the promised integrity commission. We cannot afford another three years of this.”
Greg Barns
SC
