Pirate Congress 2021/Minutes/2021-07-31

= Day 1 2021-07-31 =


 * Note: video for Day 1 is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nbWs57nNRE

Start of Day 1 10:10
Miles Whiticker, Party President. declares the meeting open at 10:14 AEST.


 * Welcome to Congress
 * Explanation of Agenda
 * Acknowledgement of Country

Adoption of Standing Orders 10:26

 * Explanation of remote participation procedure:
 * https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/National_Congress_Standing_Orders
 * Reminder that nominations for positions are open until start of Congress tomorrow.
 * Motions to amend the platform or policies must have been announced two days before Congress, but may be further amended on the floor.

MOTION: To accept the Standing Orders for National Congress 2021

 * Put by: Miles Whiticker
 * Ayes 13; Nays 0; Abstains 0;
 * Motion carried 10:38.

President's Report (Miles Whiticker) 10:40

 * "Hopefully you've seen me around."
 * COVID-19 impact greatest since 2008 recession
 * luckily public-health-oriented approaches usually winning out
 * Australian government effectively ended poverty for 9 months: COVID supplement as UBI
 * Our UBI policy has been a huge winner for us
 * To continue to thrive we must continue to adopt innovative policy for a utopian future
 * In my time as President I've sought to modernise the way we do outreach
 * I'm so proud of everyone who put effort into the 2019 election knowing it may be our last
 * Special shout-out to our amazing candidates, and also to Mark Gibbons and Andrew Downing
 * Nonetheless we don't have the numbers for boots-on-the-ground campaigning
 * So how do we compete?
 * Obama 2008 campaign showed the way:
 * Face-to-face engagement
 * Direct communications
 * Indirect communications
 * Trouble is, this needs a heavy
 * So we don't have many people or money to buy ads? What can we do?
 * Traditionally we run in the Senate, not locally
 * Compare the Qld Greens strategy:
 * still not much money, but plenty of people for doorknocks
 * Do interesting events, promote them on Facebook... let the algorithm do the work!
 * This pulls people in
 * Important to try this with a heap of online events
 * desired end result: engaging content
 * I wasn't just inspired by the Greens for this, but by our own approach with fully-remote National Congress
 * Contrast the Lib Dems which have pretty much always had an exclusively in-person Congress equivalent
 * So we continue to be leaders in online engagement
 * "Meet the candidates" streams instant success
 * Post election videos went well too
 * Online video efforts continued since
 * Desirable features include interactivity, having a real person presenting, be on a solid theme, and linking to a real-world event
 * Usually met at least two of those criteria
 * Special shout-out to John August as our most prolific video presenter
 * Recent Cryptocurrency discussion performed very well (extra happy to not be a presenter)
 * "probably my favourite livestream was the one with the three European Parliamentary members"
 * those guys are straight-up winning, with multiple elected members
 * Special mention also to Bryn "mandrke" Busai who's been the technical backbone
 * I hope to develop this strategy further in the coming year

Secretary's Report (Alex Jago) 11:58
We need you to step up, seek out something to do that interests you, and then do it.
 * This year has been in many ways productive, but also disappointing.
 * The key events relating to my portfolio were the triennial AEC registration-eligibility review and consequently the Party’s voluntary deregistration in autumn 2021.
 * With our formal membership numbers at just over half the required 500 in September 2020, we sent a “please renew” email to remind people that their membership might’ve lapsed. About 50 of you renewed in the following few days: thank you!
 * We also spent big (by previous standards) on online advertising to attract new recruits. I estimate that this largely paid for itself in terms of new member donations, though (as we try to avoid tracking people extensively) I don’t have the tools to measure conversion scientifically.
 * Since emails are easily ignored, the National Council even took the unprecedented step of calling up lapsed members to ask that they renew their membership, something that required a minor change to the Party’s privacy policy to permit me as the Secretary to divulge member details for this purpose.
 * As the Secretary I am responsible for safeguarding the privacy of our members’ personal information. Thus, I took effort to ensure that contact details were handed out only in small time-limited batches to individual National Council members, by the use of the Party’s pastebin server.
 * However, the AEC deadline (twice extended) still eventually came, and we still were about 100 members short. The National Council opted to voluntarily deregister rather than have it forced upon us. We hope to seek re-registration at the earliest possible opportunity.
 * This past year, I’ve also done most of the graphic design work for the party, much of its social media, and I am also running the Congress voting.
 * As always, this report contains a request to you, the ordinary party member reading this report.

10 minute break 11:10

 * by unanimous procedural motion 11:06-11:09

Treasurer's Report (John August) 11:22

 * A few years ago, the excellent Mark Gibbons was Treasurer, stepped down mid-2019
 * Alex Jago effectively acting Treasurer 2019-2020
 * John August has been the Treasurer this year, but there have been online banking access issues.
 * Looking to resolve these post-Congress
 * The Party has three accounts. Presently $11044.90 in them collectively as of July 19th
 * Presently owing about $1070 to Alex Jago for social media advertisements, so about $10K in the bank
 * This is enough to stand a couple of candidates! Albeit being careful of overreach. A proper campaign needs $30K minimum.
 * Approximately $5000 gain over the past year.
 * Membership donations of about $6000, including some multiple-hundred donations.
 * IT expenditure of about $1000.
 * A fraudulent direct debit of $999 was initiated against us at the end of FY1920 - this is since recovered.
 * Question from Dave regarding deregistration impacts - our name not on the ballot paper
 * Note from Alex that you need 100 signatures per candidate to run independently, so re-rego practically an easier task
 * Some discussion on who PPAU banks with (ANZ) and the relative merits of other banks
 * Liam Pomfret notes that many other civil society orgs bank with Bendigo
 * Notes from Miles:
 * $10K is our usual bank balance leading into an election year, so pre-election fundraising always required.
 * $2K/candidate times two candidates per ticket = $4K / state minimum to hav our own ticket
 * Some discussion on the impact of increased prepoll and postal with COVID
 * Alex thinks it's a wash: being at booths is really helpful, but we have never been able to do many
 * Pre-election brand awareness more critical than ever
 * Discussion on member engagement and retention in the post-MemberDB era
 * People... don't always remember to renew
 * Weeding out not unhelpful, but there's collateral damage
 * Need for positive growth rate!
 * All goes back to engaging online content

FM-1 11:50

 * Alex Jago explains the motion.
 * Seeking party endorsement for the NC to negotiate joint tickets and co-campaigning, as we haven't campaigned
 * This could save half our candidate fees
 * Question from Jesse Hermans about timing of deals re preference poll
 * Clarification that poll comes before negotiation
 * Question about distinction between FM-1 and FM-2
 * "FM-2 extends FM-1" - Alex
 * Some clarification still required, amending motions to FM-2 incoming.
 * Andrew Downing raises that the party constitution states:
 * "The National Congress has the exclusive right ... to allow the Party to merge with, affiliate with or disaffiliate with any other organisation"
 * Miles asserts a narrow reading
 * Roger Whatling reads the statement as implying a specific organisation.
 * Alex: "Andrew, would you accept FM-1 as a delegation of the right under certain circumstances?"
 * Alex also asserts a fairly narrow reading of affiliation in terms of generally being formal, legal relationship
 * Andrew: "If we're expecting our members to campaign for another party, it's hard to interpret that as anything other than affiliation"
 * Alex asks Andrew if he'd accept joint tickets only as not counting as "affiliation" for this purpose
 * Andrew says the key feature is the two-thirds membership approval
 * Alex amenable to this. FM-1 amended. FM-2 to be withdrawn.

MOTION: approve FM-1

 * Put by: Miles Whiticker
 * Ayes 17 (Sean O, Liam P, Matt R, Fred G, Morphs, John A, Alex J, David K, Miles W, Andrew D, Roger W, Peter S, Bryn B, Jesse H, Simon M, Mark G, Jed B)
 * Nays 0
 * Abstain 0
 * Motion carried 12:55 AEST; proceeds to online vote.

FM-2

 * Miles Whiticker proposes an amendment to FM-2 during FM-1 discussion:
 * "Any joint ticket or campaign deals negotiated by the National Council [under FM-1] are automatically ratified by the party, and do not need a specific membership referendum."
 * Further discussion on FM-1 to add the approval poll makes FM-2 redundant
 * Alex withdraws FM-2 at 12:49 AEST.

Lunch 13:00

 * MOTION: Break for lunch for 1 hour
 * Put by: Miles Whiticker
 * Carried without dissent; lunch from 13:00 to 14:00

Guest Interview with Jpeg 14:10

 * Runs the Studio 9001 project, almost 7 years old now
 * Brisbane activist photographer with a focus on human rights and the environment
 * "So you're a regular sight at rallies and protests and such in Brisbane - would you describe yourself as political?" - Miles
 * Well, being apolitical is a stance in and of itself, but I've always considered myself more of an artist than an activists. I think Bill and Ted summed it up well: "Be excellent to each other".
 * Why do you do what you do? - Miles
 * I look to provide a megaphone via my photography for people, from there it's up to everyone to love, hate, share it
 * Do you ever have notable interactions with the police?
 * I try to keep my nose clean, but I've had more than my share of interactions with the police.
 * First one that comes to mind, I was on the way to a protest. Admittedly I was fare evading, and playing cat-and-mouse, so I got slammed a bit when they got me. Cop said he thought from the way I was running that I was wanted for murder. They went through my bag, gave me a bit of shit for my Anonymous mask... sassed them back and the temperature dropped real quick
 * During G20, at the tent embassy, I was taking photos to get a feel for the atmosphere, really something to behold. I get to the eatery at SB TAFE, swarming with cops. Took a few photos and got a pat-down and going through my gear for the trouble. Most of the cops were pretty pleasant but there's always a couple who are salty and accusing me of trying to get through the rent-a-fence.
 * Miles explains the context of the G20 (Brisbane, 2014) and the KP120 (refugees detained in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane for 8 years - like hotel quarantining but even less fun)
 * Jpeg recalls an older gentlemen trying to shake down a barricade at a KP120 rally and then get dropped by a cop
 * You're well known for turning up at protests in a V for Vendetta Guy Fawkes mask, tell us more
 * Yeah, so I got into the Anonymous thing, it was the perfect outlet
 * This one friend of mine referred to Anonymous as "gateway activism"
 * The idea was to try and maintain some anonymity - I didn't want the fame for it
 * Tends not to wear that mask any more, but still a mask
 * So it all goes back to G20...
 * So we'd set up shop around from Musgrave Park, protestors are coming along, there's the big bang and everyone runs towards me and I got this incredible shot of everyone pissed off and running at me. Don't think I've topped it since.
 * Dethroning Campbell Newman was a great time, I've got a picture of myself flipping him off
 * I've met the Veronicas (speaking at a gay marriage rally), Richard di Natale and Pauline Hanson, quite a mix
 * "Where do you think Australia is heading the next 10 years
 * Well, I certainly wouldn't have expected today's situations two years ago
 * Everyone's wearing a mask now which is certainly a change
 * So now I don't make predictions - I just want to go with the flow and be the best human I can
 * Check out facebook.com/Studio9001 and instagram.com/jpeg.studio9001 for more work from Jpeg!

PM-1 Gene Patents 14:39

 * Updating the Gene Patents section of our patents policy
 * Turns out the High Court of Australia effectively ditched them in 2015, so our policy should reflect that to instead of saying "remove them", say "disallow them"

MOTION: accept PM-1

 * Put by: Roger Whatling
 * Ayes 13 (Sean O, Fred G, John A, Alex J, David K, Jed B, Matt R, Peter S, Bryn B, Miles W, Roger W, Andrew D, Simon M)
 * Nays 0
 * Abstains 0
 * Motion carried at 14:47; PM-1 proceeds to email vote.

PM-2 Marriage 14:48

 * Sean O'Farrell speaks to the motion
 * Much of the rationale is already in the motion text
 * There is no long-standing reason why marriage should be limited to two people; many cultures have had marriages of three or more people
 * I've been on poly relationships myself; they are no less legitimate than any other
 * If everyone's OK with it, who are we to regulate what consenting adults do with each other?
 * We'd like to cover the cases where these unions - already legal, just unrecognised - fall into the legal cracks
 * (Also, looking forward to PM-3, this could give us some more progressive cred). Media can hyperfocus on areas where we diverge from the progressive parties - so let's assert our progressivity
 * David K would like a small clarification to ensure that we don't commit to recognising overseas marriages involving minors.
 * Alex J proposes "Adults in legally recognised unions from overseas will be recognised under this Act, provided such unions meet Australian standards"
 * Agreed to by all four proponents

MOTION: advance PM-2 as amended

 * Put by: Sean O'Farrell
 * Ayes 13 (Sean O, Roger W, David K, Alex J, Jed B, John A, Miles W, Matt R, Fred G, Bryn B, Andrew D, Liam P, Mark G)
 * Nays 0
 * Abstain 0
 * Motion carried at at 15:13 AEST; PM-2 proceeds.

PM-6 Right to Repaid 15:13

 * Motion to adopt a Position Statement rather than amending the Platform
 * John August speaks to his motion
 * making progress in Australia
 * really fits into our overall framework regarding intellectual property, unlike in e.g. other parties where it might be a more idiosyncratically or opportunistically adopted position
 * Minor copy-edit amendments

MOTION: advance PM-6 as amended

 * Put by: John August
 * Ayes 16 (John A, Fred G, Jed B, Matt R, Bryn B, Sean O, David K, Roger W, Peter S, Morphs, Miles W, Alex J, Mark G, Andrew D, Liam P, Simon M)
 * Nays 0
 * Abstain 0
 * Motion Carried at 15:34 AEST; PM-6 proceeds.

PM-3B 13:38

 * Andrew Downing states the rationale for 3B
 * Liam P questions whether the position statement needs to be repealed at all, as all 3A/B/C propose
 * John raises that it doesn't necessarily require that
 * Sean O raises that 18C potentially derives from Australia signing up to the International Convention on eliminating racial discrimination, so looking to amend the law's more problematic parts is a good middle ground
 * Jed B (in regard to 3A): PPAU shouldn't trouble itself with tribal issues, and anyone who would call us racists for it are silly
 * Liam P
 * Sean O: "hard to take 'reform 18C' out of context in comparison to 'repeal 18C'"
 * Alex J outlines his position: adopting a very small amount of nuance makes it much harder for people to take us out of context.
 * Miles and Liam reiterate the final line from the position statement: advocacy for violence or harm cannot be considered "free" speech, as it comes with the cost of reducing the "freedom" of the victims. None of us can be free until all of us are free.
 * Alex J proposes to amend 3A to simply remove that final paragraph of the position statement. Accepts the need for a floor motion on it.
 * Miles expresses desire to disentangle Position Statement and Platform changes
 * Alex and Sean agree to remove "Repeal PS-2020-02 and" from 3A and 3C conditional on PM-4 becoming a rewrite of PS-2020-02. John agrees to such a rewrite.
 * Sean withdraws support for 3C, on the basis that the statement still needs significant re-writing.
 * 3B now being orthogonal to 3A and 3C, it can be put forward without limiting them.
 * If PM-3B succeeds, PM-4 effectively puts PS-2021-01

Motion: advance PM-3B

 * Put by: Roger Whatling
 * Ayes 11 (Andrew D Bryn B Roger W David K Jed B Fred G Alex J Peter S Sean O Simon M John A)
 * Nays 1 Liam P
 * Abstain 4 Ash, Morphs, Matt R, Miles W
 * Motion carried 16:43, PM-3B advances

PM-3C
Amended to remove "Repeal PS-2020-02 and" -- see discussion under 3B


 * Sean speaks to his motion
 * The big problem with 18C is actually the "reasonably likely" threshold. This is a very low barrier for speech regulation.
 * Firstly, I want to amend it to require intent. I want malice, not just potential forseeable harm.
 * Secondly, I want clear evidence.
 * Thirdly, I give a more explicit statement of the harms. Unlike 3A I don't think the government can regulate "Humiliate" so I want to focus on provable harm with objective legal standards. I retain Harrassment, Intimidation, and add "grave psychological abuse".

MOTION: advance PM-3C as amended

 * Put by: Sean O'Farrell
 * Ayes 8 SO DK Ash MR BB LP AJ FG
 * Nays 4 JA AD RW PS
 * Abstain 3 MW Morphs JB
 * Motion carried 17:08 AEST. PM-3C advances (at the expense of PM-3A).

PM-3A
Amended to remove "Repeal PS-2020-02 and" -- see discussion under 3B

MOTION: amend PM-3A to read as follows

 * Delete the final paragraph of PS-2020-02
 * Change the 18C policy to be the following line:
 * Remove the words "offend, insult" from section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).


 * Alex Jago speaks for his motion
 * In short, he seeks the most minimal 18C reform targeting the most egregious problems, and one that can be the least taken out of context.

MOTION: advance PM-3A if 3C doesn't also advance
* Put by Alex Jago * Ayes 12 (JA, Morphs, SO, MR, AD, DK, Ash, FG, AJ, BB, SM, LP * Nays 3 (JB, PS, RW)
 * Abstain 1 (MW)
 * Motion carried at 17:03 AEST.