Minutes/National Council/2013-02-27

Agenda

 * Accept last meeting minutes:
 * https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Minutes/National_Council/2013-02-13
 * Visit Action Items:
 * Simon to create Terms of Reference for Election Committee.
 * New membership levels motion (Brendan)
 * Increase in electoral nomination fees (Brendan)
 * Sam's resignation from PDC (Sam)
 * Motion of no confidence against Victorian State Coordinator (Brendan)
 * Bylaw review (Brendan)
 * Petition result (Brendan)
 * Approve the attached business card design (Campaigns) (see email)
 * Complaint from Andrew Glancey on conduct of IRC operators, possible CoC (draft already avaiilable)/other action required (if any)? (see email)
 * Selecting a media contact (Mozart)
 * Other business

Start: 20:10 27/02/2013 AEDT

Finish: 21:26 27/02/2013 AEDT

Attendance

 * Brendan Molloy
 * David Campbell
 * Glen Takkenberg
 * Mozart Olbycht-Palmer
 * Rodney Serkowski
 * Sam Kearns
 * Simon Frew

Accept last meeting's minutes

 * See motions
 * Note: No response, or acknowledgement of receipt from PPI regarding PPAU's complaint.

Revisit of action items from previous NC meeting

 * Terms of Reference for the Election Committee
 * Current draft written by Simon is available at: http://pirateparty.openpad.me/electioncommToR
 * Discussion over the structure of the ToR being inconsistent with other committees. Also missing several headings.


 * New membership levels not yet completed by Brendan; postponed to next NC meeting.

Increase in electoral nomination fees.

 * Legislation has passed the senate and has been send back to the House of Representatives for another reading.
 * Will likely pass before the election.
 * Fundraising will be required to fund the $4000 required per state.

Pre-selection bylaw

 * http://pirateparty.openpad.me/preselection-bylaw
 * See motions
 * By-law adopted, see https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/By-laws#By-law_2013-02_-_Preselection

Increase in electoral nomination fees

 * Legislation has passed the senate and has been send back to the House of Representatives for another reading.
 * Will likely pass before the election.
 * Fundraising will be required to fund the $4000 required per state.

Sam's resignation from PDC

 * Sam has resigned from the Policy Development Committee

Motion of no confidence against Victorian State Coordinator

 * Mark's contributions in the last 12 months are recognised by the National Council, especially those networking with the Wikileaks Party.
 * Meetings have been attracting attendance rates of nil to several members and cancelled last minute, with a formal complaint made by a member.
 * Mark has been difficult to contact and often absent from General meetings.
 * The National Council explicitly notes that this motion is not of malice; they thank him for his contributions as state coordinator over the past few years and hope he continues to contribue to PPAU where he can. The National Council, however, feels another candidate with more time to actively commit at this point would benefit Victoria.

Ben McGinnes appointed interim State Coordinator for Victoria.

 * The role will be filled by Ben until the Congress when the position is up for election.
 * "I'd be in favour of Ben taking the position at the moment, but is it not unfair not to open it for other applicants?"
 * Ben is currently one of few trusted and active members within Victoria and stability is needed in an election year.
 * David Haidon has not been active recently.

Bylaw review

 * No e-mails receieved in objection to the bylaw
 * Clarification requested by Brendan - does the NC have discretionary powers to disendorse a candidate in the event of a public relations disaster or the discovery of objectionable behaviour in their background?
 * National Council may expel a member if they bring the Party into disrepute, which includes candidates. Appeal to the Dispute Resolution Committee is then an option.

National Security Enquiry petition result

 * Presented in the senate today and will be recorded in Hansard.
 * A supporting motion by Senator Ludlam asking them to acknowledge that 98.9% of submissions received were against provisions in the National Security Inquiry was defeated in the Senate.

Approve business card design proposed by the Campaigns Committee

 * Business cards available to NC members and State Coordinators; other officers representing the party by request to the NC.

Complaint from Andrew Glancey about the conduct of IRC operators

 * Miscommunication between IRC operators led Andrew being kicked from the room.
 * An IRC Code of Conduct is being drafted.
 * Only 1 person has been permanently banned from the IRC network for harassing party members; most infractions only incur a kick from the chat room.
 * IRC CoC will be disseminated - see action items.

Formation of Election Committee

 * Post-poned till the next NC meeting.
 * See action items.

Selecting a media contact

 * Mozart is no longer available Tuesdays and Thursdays, Simon is the designated media contact for the aforementioned days.

ADA Forum

 * Brendan and Glen will be attending the ADA Forum this coming Friday and meeting ACT members this Sunday
 * See: http://digital.org.au/content/2013-australian-digital-alliance-copyright-forum

Motions
Motion: To approve https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Minutes/National_Council/2013-02-13 as the minutes of the last NC meeting.
 * 5 ayes
 * Motion passes.

Motion: Accept http://pirateparty.openpad.me/electioncommToR pending missing chunks and correction of formatting by next NC meeting.
 * 5 ayes
 * 1 Nay
 * Motion passed

'''Motion: The National Council recognises the effort that Mark Street has put into the position of State Coordinator for Victoria over the past year. The NC believes that Mark Street no longer meets the requirements of the position and declares the position vacant. David will inform Mark of our decision.'''
 * 7 ayes
 * Motion passed

Motion: appoint in the interim to the position of State Coordinator of Victoria, Ben McGinnes.
 * 7 ayes
 * Motion passed.

Motion: amend Preselection Bylaw, "Character Assessment and Disclosure Requirements" to include "All possible conflicts of interest must be disclosed to the National Council."
 * 6 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

Motion: add a heading "Miscellaneous" and move "This by-law becomes invalid after the next National Congress."
 * 6 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

Motion: that a thank you letter will be send to Senator Ludlam regarding his presentation of our natsecinquiry petition to the Senate.
 * 7 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

Motion: Approve the attached business card design (Campaigns) (see email).
 * 7 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

'''Motion: permission for business cards is granted to all NC members and state coordinators. All other members may only receive permission by request to the NC.'''
 * 7 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

Motion: adopt the IRC Code of Conduct.
 * 5 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

Motion to close
 * 6 ayes.
 * Motion passes.

Action items

 * David to inform Mark Street of the decision of the council to declare his position vacant.
 * Brendan will pen a formal letter to Senator Ludlam and his assistant thanking them for their support on behalf of the NC.
 * IRC CoC will be added to the wiki and linked in the channel topic. It will also be published to the discussion list and the complainant notified