The Office of Former President & Senator Polnut - Deregistration

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Campaign Schedule

Tuesday 7 April
- Los Angeles, San Francisco CA - Vancouver BC

Wednesday 8 April
- St Louis MO, Milwaukee, Madison WI

Sunday 12 April
- Toronto ON, Detriot MI, Cincinnati OH

Monday 13 April
- Louisville KY, Nashville TN, Charleston SC

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Police Bill


Senator Polnut will be producing significant amendments to the Bill before the Senate on police matters. He has always been concerned about the fundamental constitutionality of this Bill and is pleased that fellow Senators are considering this important element.

The amendments will not only remove elements that are superfluous and disrespectful of the vast majority of police officers who dedicate their lives to the public, but will be based on ensuring that they are not bound to be thrown out in an inevitable court challenge. Senator Polnut wants this Bill to deliver positive benefits to the whole community and providing a balance between transparency and accountability and ensuring the ability of the police to do their job as we need them to, is not undermined.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Westin Grand Hotel - Vancouver BC

Hello Vancouver

I'm so happy to here tonight in my first campaign visit to British Columbia. Before our union, one thing that was very envious here on the Canadian side of the border was the public investment in arts and culture. Looking at the developments at Coal Harbour, you can see where you end up, when as a society, we don't treat the arts as a luxury or an exclusive bastion of the wealthy. Our arts and culture reflect all of us, good and bad and we should do much more to support and encourage a greater connection.

During my presidency, I advocated for the creation of a publicly funded Atlasian National Broadcaster, with a clear mission. To highlight Atlasian creativity through high-quality local productions that aren't driven by advertising need and massive ratings. I am proud that we saw fresh life in the associated industries by this reform. In the past I have supported increasing the exposure of our young people to art and culture. Now, this should just mean locking kids up in a bus and shuttling them to a gallery or a play. But about understanding and embracing their local cultures and encouraging curiosity in the wider world.

If re-elected, I will be pursuing a new set of reforms for art and culture in this country. Every political movement, good and bad, every social change we have seen over the years, has had some of its most passionate messages delivered through the arts. Again, this is not about subsidising people like me to go to another opening night. It's about making sure that the arts is not an after-thought, that it is reflective of all of us in our society. It's about making sure that we leave as potent and indelible a mark on this country as previous generations have.

Before I go, I want to touch on a few issues that have emerged over the past few days. Firstly, I condemn the commit myself to just punishment for those who attacked our embassy and killed a good representative of the Atlasian people. We have done a tremendous job in our fight against rampant and mindless terror, but the threats against the South East Legislature mean that we cannot take one set of good news and then for granted.

This election is soon to come upon us. Don't listen to polls, this will be close and every single vote and every single preference will matter. I have never taken the voters of Atlasia for granted and I'm not starting today. This is my last campaign in Atlasia, I have been honoured by the support shown here and at every event I have been to in the last few years. But I end tonight by saying this. Nothing I have done, has happened without you. I need your support, your help and your vote.

If you want a clear agenda focused on the future of this country, then I ask all Atlasians, whatever their party, ideology ... join with me to make those changes we need.

Thank you all, Dave Bless!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Police Bill amendments


Senator Polnut tonight released proposed amendments to the Police Bill currently before the Senate. He is committed to ensuring that any measure presented to the people on this matter is not only constitutionally sound, but addresses clear issues and presents clear solutions. This Bill should be about improving the performance of our law-enforcement, not overreach and overreactions that will cripple their ability to their jobs.

This Bill will provide additional funding to the regions, with clear conditions attached. These include quarantining funding for the provision of training, ensuring that funding is directed at non-lethal equipment and the provision of camera-badge technology.

It also ensures that regions have independent bodies that investigate allegations of misconduct and that regions have enshrined in legislation the differentiation between reasonable engagement for law-enforcement purposes and entrapment.   

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[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Final week of the Campaign


The final few days of Senator Polnut's final campaign will be dedicated to those issues he is most passionate about. From Thursday he will travel by bus and train from Richmond VA to Boston MA. He will outline clear plans to address issues that are his driving forces- the environment and helping the most vulnerable.

There will be announcements on priorities to address domestic violence prevention and management, further support for the disabled and real tangible plans to improve our environment - both an extension of his passed Bill on biodiversity but new measures to deal with industrial reform and renewal. It is Senator Polnut's view that a greener economy is based on encouraging innovation and creativity.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Unscheduled stop


Senator Polnut, this evening, attended a fundraising BBQ outside Atlanta GA for a local disablilty respite centre. His remarks and a policy announcement will  be released over the coming hours.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Remarks

Thanks so much for inviting me along this evening.

This centre is so important for many families in this area. And it's just one of many in this area, this region and nation-wide.

All of you here sacrifice so much to care that those that mean the world to you. This isn't done because you're asking for thanks or for Government hand outs. You're doing it out of love. I know from my own experience how hard you all work and how much more help you need from us in Government.

I know I'm here on a campaign trip and I don't want you to think I'm here for your vote. But you know my commitment to give you as much help as we can. I can't begin to tell you how terrible I felt that I couldn't deliver the special support I wanted to make sure you had access to. We have delivered some support increases. But I want to assure you, it's not enough and I know that. Again, I know you don't do this for the support, but because I've seen how hard you all work and your dedication, while I can't make promises about what specifically we can do, if re-elected, I won't leave the Senate without doing more for you.

I've seen some of those others running keep using the word 'radical' like its a means to an end. I mean, the reforms I've led while in the Senate, like the complete overhaul of University funding are hardly small-target initiatives. If radical reforms are needed, I'll advocate and back them, if they're not, I'm not going to waste time if a more sensible path can be found.

I'm going to leave you to enjoy your dinner, but thank you again.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Indeed I have

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Indeed I have

Well at least someone is reading it haha

I try to read what I can

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Senator Polnut to visit alternative pathway centre


Senator Polnut will tomorrow visit a centre in Albany NY that undertakes intervention therapies to avoid the entry of young or criminals with high probability of rehabilitation into prison. Senator Polnut will be visiting this centre as an example of what happens when you take promising people out of the prison system and enable them to build skills without being exposed to an environment that encourages returns in the future.

These centres and what they are trying to do, will be a hallmark of the reform agenda that Senator Polnut will be driving if re-elected.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

REMARKS

Thanks so much for having me here this evening. Thanks to the staff and the residents of this facility.

I've been talking a bit, recently, about the need to take seriously the reforms we need to undertake in our prison system. In the review we did in the Senate, we brought together the available evidence, we opened up to public submissions and brought forward a set of, honestly, alarming findings and necessitated a set of proposed reforms, that are just as strong.

This is why I am in the Senate, this is why I am running again. To do the work, to address the real issues that both help and harm our communities. I will drive these reforms of our prison system. You can look online to see more detail, but these reforms will get people who shouldn't be in the prison system out, using facilities such as this, they will reduce the number of federal crimes for which prison sentences will automatically apply, we will do more to address the clear discrimination against people of colour and the poorer in the judicial system and perhaps most important of all. We will break the stranglehold of the prison industrial complex and ensure that no more in this country, will prisons be a growth industry. 

I am determined to return control of our prisons to the Government, both Federal and regional. We must work with the regions, not dictate to them. But this needs to happen and I need your vote to make it happen. These reforms will have significant effects on the quality of life of those who have found themselves in trouble, but one mistake doesn't have to ruin their lives and the lives of their families and often their communities.

We are heading into the final stretch of a long campaign. While this hasn't been my first, it will be my last. I said in the speech launching this campaign that you deserve better and you should demand better. The Senate is yours. You determine who has the right to serve, you make the call and it should be respected. I am out there, every single day and night, talking with you about the reforms we need to drive this country forward. I am presenting a clear set of policy priorities, so you know, if I am fortunate enough to earn your support and one final term in the Senate, what you're going to get. Prison reform, continuing environmental reform, ensuring that the best and brightest are able to get into and stay in college, not just the richest. Over the next few days I will be outlining my plans on family violence. My focus is delivering good public policy, effective government services and not, repeat, not wasting my time and energies on pointless arguments that are only designed to distract you from the lack of genuine policy debate and differentiation out there. On the upside, it's clearly helping create bipartisanship and new political relationships, so I suppose it's not all bad.

Thank you.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Senator Polnut to announce youth unemployment initiative


Senator Polnut will tomorrow announce his intention to deliver a set of initiatives to aggressively combat unemployment in people under 25.

"This is a situation that can create life-long disadvantages, we need to do much more. However, this is not just something that government can fix, but we can create effective partnerships and help get more young people into work that build skills for the future"

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Ivy Tech Community College, Terre Haute IN

Hello everyone,

I want to thank you for coming out this tonight.  For all of us, evenings are a precious thing, so I really appreciate it, especially since you didn't get a lot of warning.

There are some things I want to say about the big questions facing us as we head toward the election this weekend, but I want to talk about what I see as one of our big crises, youth unemployment. As we know, our unemployment rate remains an issue. Efforts to arrest unemployment have borne some fruit. We should celebrate that, as more people are able to get the reward and feel the dignity of a good days work. One group that are continuing to struggle to enter the job market are young people. Our youth unemployment rate is alarmingly high and that creates knock on effects for them and for the community.

Tonight, I want to talk about my plan to create greater opportunities for young people to get into the job market and stay there. This effort must be broad in scope and cannot rely on Government alone to do it. This must be a national partnership, between the Federal and regional governments and private industry. The enthusiasm, creativity and energy of our young people should be harnessed not dismissed. In the same way that the knowledge, experience and wisdom of older Atlasians should be embraced.

This plan will build on existing legislation, including those to increase support to those in trades and the radical overhaul of University funding that I presented, earlier this term. This plan is not focused on making the unemployed, employed but also making them more employable for the long-term. The plan will create a national apprentice program to enable those want to work in a trade, to find masters who wish to train and employ them. It will direct subsidies to those small businesses that take on younger workers and build their skills. It will create opportunities for people to study and train in their chosen fields without fearing crippling personal debt. But this will not be a one-way street. Taking on a young person and helping them develop is not just a way for businesses to get subsidised labour. There will be expectations and accountability, businesses will be expected to take these young people on for a set period of time. Those engaged under elements of this plan will be protected from unfair workplace activity. This is not an internship program, these people will be employees and be entitled to all reasonable protections and processes. If this partnership is to work, it needs to be based on honesty and mutual obligation.

There's a lot of scuttlebutt going on around here, we're a few days out from the start of what will be a very hotly contested election. As expected, there are some loud voices out there. That's politics and that's democracy. But pitch, volume, tone and length should not be confused for fact. I am running with a clear set of policies, I have never pulled the wool over the Atlasian people's eyes and I assure this is not starting in my final campaign. Very few running can outline their policy victories, I'm pretty sure some take defeat as some kind of badge of honour, fewer still are outlining what they will do with the seats that you have given. As someone who has spent years working on good progressive and practical policy, designed to help as many Atlasians as possible, one thing I have learned is that you need to take the people with you. As a politician, if I present a policy reform to you, and it fails, I'm  not going to rage and make threats, because guess what? The fault doesn't lie with you for disagreeing with me, it lies with me because I didn't make the case to you.

This election will tight, make no mistake, and the closer we get to the end, the louder the voices will become, the more extreme the charges will become and it seems the political partnerships will become weirder and weirder. But I promise you, I am running with goals based squarely in good policy. The reforms to our prisons will be a massive overhaul, we are transitioning to the largest reforms to our universities in decades and we still need to do work to improve our environmental and economic outcomes. I need your help and your support this weekend. Again, if you have any questions please let me know.

Thank you all. 

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Final campaign stretch


Senator Polnut will later this morning start the final campaign trip of his final campaign. It was commence in Richmond VA and end on Sunday afternoon in Boston. Along the way he will visit Virginia, the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Today's events will include visiting the College of William and Mary and a tour of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, where he will announce his renewed environmental policy.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - Nr Cambridge MD

I'm here on the edge of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. This is just one of many across the country that provide safe-havens for threatened and vulnerable species and to maintain our country's unique biodiversity.

One of my first acts on being re-elected was to put in place new aggressive regulations to be boost and protect our natural environment. This Bill included more funding to the regions to address their unique challenges when it comes to protecting their environment, whether through the removal of pest species or the re-introduction of vulnerable native species. This matters, it is not a ‘latte-drinker’s’ issue as it’s so often called. We live on a planet that is vulnerable and based on a fine balance, with species needed for the continuation of others. Sure, bees are a great way to ruin a picnic but without them our plant-life, including agricultural crops are in serious jeopardy. This measure is designed to do what we can to limit the damage.

This was also the week when we learned that the last male black rhino in the wild is being watched around the clock by armed guards. This is what we have come to. Black market hunger for so-called alternative remedies has destroyed one sub-species of rhino, at least one tiger species and the rest. This is wrong and considering the rhino-horn lie is not based on even ancient Chinese medicine but a snake-oil salesman from the 1960s, it even more pointless.

My Bill placed significant penalties on those who imported for personal use or sale, the products or by-products of threatened or endangered species. This country is a high-level importer of these products and we will do whatever we need to, to stop the senseless and pointless slaughter.

But what the future? Our environmental challenge is great and I thank Senator Blair for talking about our issues when it comes to our environment. We need to not just deal with averting the worst impacts of climate change, but dealing with the impacts we cannot avoid. This is a cold-hard reality, but we will be impacted and we need to protect vital infrastructure. Therefore, if re-elected, I will work to develop a national plan to protect vulnerable infrastructure from the risks of climate change. These include stronger winter and summer storms, the impacts of greater and more prolonged heat-waves. This recognises a practical issue that goes beyond just the environment. It speaks to our ability to continue to develop and for people to simply move around and live with a greater degree of security and comfort.

The election is pretty much upon us. I take absolutely nothing for granted. There are strong forces out there who are fighting tooth and nail and I expect and expected nothing less. This campaign has been driven by a clear set of policies that I wish to work on with colleagues in the Senate, regardless of their party or ideology. I am talking about national issues that require national solutions. All of us who serve in the Senate should be driven by a passionate desire to serve you and sometimes that means difficult decisions. We’ve seen a lot of angst recently in the Senate, some pretty unfortunate behaviour, threats, name-calling and deliberate misrepresentation. But I am running with these policies so you know what you’re getting. I can’t win this election by force of numbers; I am running to win by the force of what I am offering and what I have delivered.

I need your help and your vote.  Thank you!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I used to have campaign theme, quite a few campaigns ago. I thank Mr Poirot for bringing them back.

But, thinking on this final campaign... what have I been listening to, to power through?

So, everyone, my unofficial campaign theme ... Come For Me.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Thank you for your support Mr Vice President.

And thank you all for such a vote of confidence. But this election is not over by any means. My message to those who want to send the message that policy matters and that the people are to whom we owe our first loyalty - keep voting and I am asking humbly for your support. Preferences will determine this election and I urge you to consider them carefully.

But regardless of who earns your support, please vote!

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Everyone - if you haven't voted yet, regardless of who you support please vote!

There are nearly 100 people who could vote and the dynamics of this race could change - preferences will decide this election.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I am honoured and incredibly humbled by this result. I will say more later, but thank you all and I promise I will not let you down.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Ladies and gentlemen,

The votes this weekend, that I received from across the political spectrum, speak to a broader issue. We have allowed ourselves and our Government become the toy of a few. As I said, a Senate seat is not he property of one party, or an individual, it's yours. When I launched this final campaign in Chicago I said we need to demand more from our political class. I believe this result speaks to that desire.

I outlined a clear set of priorities on areas from education, environmental reforms, a massive overhaul of our prisons, and more. I will not leave the Senate without progress being made. Your support for me, is a support of this agenda and it is an expectation that I will deliver what you expect in the spirit in which it was offered.

I return to the Senate for one final term, my final elected office, with fresh determination. I will work with whomever I need to, I will reach across party and ideological lines. I will seek consensus, but make no mistake, I will not surrender progress for the sake of ease, I will fight for what I believe in and to fulfill the promises I have made to you.

I send my congratulations to those who were successful this weekend and my best wishes to those were not. I also want to note the leadership and tireless workers of my campaign and the party. Thank you, words cannot express it.

But today, the work goes on and I will start this next and final term full of hope but driven by the endorsement you have given me.

Thank you, Dave bless.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Vote YES for true reform.

This evening I endorsed the proposal to see at-large Senate seats replaced with districts. This has multiple benefits.

* It forces parties to focus on regional strength and organisation at the local level, not just the national.
* It gives voters more local representatives and therefore greater recognition of the importance of constituent needs.
* It will create new debate, new alliances and hopefully greater productive activity.
* Most importantly of all, this will end the stagnation of at-large races.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Justice Reform


Senator Polnut tonight released the first of a number of Bills relating to the reform of prisons and our system of justice. He pledged that if re-elected this issue would be a key priority for him.

Justice Reform Bill 1 2015 - will deal with the need to bring all Federal institutions of criminal detention under the full control of the Federal Government. The need to end the commercialisation of incarceration is was a key finding of the Senate's work on this issue. While the aggressive nature of some measures may concern some, Senator Polnut believes that they are necessary reforms, with social, cultural and economic benefits.

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Three more Bills will be presented over the coming days.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Protecting infrastructure


Senator Polnut tonight released a Bill to be presented for Senate consideration designed to not only protect Federal infrastructure from the impacts of climate change, but to assist the regions to undertake their own necessary projects. He identified this as a key issue during the campaign and he intends to see this issue addressed.

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Senator Polnut will be visiting Florida and Louisiana next week to see a number of areas where high levels of climate risk have been identified.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

the Next President and other issues


Senator Polnut tonight made the following statement.

I am supporting President Bore for another term. He has shown the exact qualities that led me to support him before his election, reasonableness, a calm nature and a desire to see pragmatic outcomes, not opportunities to grandstand and claim ideological purity.

But I am alarmed by a lack of competition, so I urge those who are interested to thrown their hat in the ring. Our democracy is only as strong as the competition it engenders. I fully support the President, but we need a true competition.

As my political career heads toward its end, I will be visiting areas that mean a lot to me, and I will be speaking about those issues about which I care the most. I've long been accused by the more drama-seeking among us of being a moderate for the sake of moderation. True, I don't believe in melodrama as a form of political discourse, but there are a number of issues where I believe we have fallen down and I will be talking about what I intend to do not just in my remaining time in the Senate, but once I have left.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

PRESS RELEASE

Protecting Vulnerable Infrastructure


Senator Polnut tonight made the following statement.

I am very happy to see a majority of senators support the common-sense Protecting Vulnerable Infrastructure Bill 2015. I presented this to the Senate to address some cold-hard realities about the situation we face from a changing climate.

There are measures we can take to prevent future instability, but there are already changes taking place that we cannot avoid and we must adapt and guard against. This is both the Federal Government looking after its own infrastructure, as well as going into partnership with the regions to enable them to put suitable processes in place.