Hi.

Our petition in joint with the Parliamentary petition I created  went to Parliament for debate. It was defeated 13 to 8, however the impact was immediate. You can read the full wrap up and video highlights of the Parliamentary debate on my Twitter X page: https://x.com/jacksonmoon/status/1964949032780079330 

ABC RADIO and RAF EPSTEIN'S CONSPIRACY THEORY

Last week on ABC Radio 774, host Rafael Epstein dismissed the official Parliamentary debate to cancel a statue of disgraced Daniel Andrews as:

“I put in the same pool as conspiracy theory rhetoric...”

This was a deliberate misrepresentation. Disinformation. A lie.

Epstein was well paid in his secure taxpayer-funded job during Andrews’ lockdowns. He didn’t miss a funeral because of Hotel Quarantine—a deadly disaster overseen by Daniel Andrews that killed almost 800 Victorians, required an inquiry, and remains unaccounted for.

He may have been comfortable living under Dan's lockdowns. But not everyone had that luxury. Many Victorians were forced to protest the return of their rights to work and movement.

He shows no concern for accusations of human rights violations against Daniel Andrews.

Epstein may have been irked by MP Ann-Marie Hermans’ comparison of Dan Andrews to Joseph Stalin. Yet almost on cue, photos and video emerged from Beijing: Daniel Andrews alongside Vladimir Putin and a conga line of authoritarian leaders.

In the eyes of the Australian public, Andrews disgraced himself. Different era, same family portrait of despots. Stalin, Putin, Andrews—right at home together.

Some people could argue that this is reason enough to cancel a statue to Daniel Andrews.

Epstein has never formally interviewed anyone connected to the statue petition—a lawful right of the Victorian people. That official petition drew over 13,600 signatures, forcing the debate in Parliament. A separate Change.org petition neared 23,000.

He blithely implied petitioners and the process they used are, in his words, "conspiracy theorist rhetoric". 

A Parliamentary Petition would not be approved without a valid reason to do so. An expert committee within Parliament oversees the entire process. I know this to be true, because I went through that process.

In order for the petition to be debated, it requires at least 10,000 signatures, an MP to sponsor the petition, and, at the debate, three (in this instance) MP's to take turns debating for and against the petition.

That's not 'conspiracy theorist rhetoric.' That's proper Parliamentary procedure. Raf Epstein should, or ought to be, aware of this.

From his ABC cocoon, Epstein insulted decent Victorians who signed the petitions and the Parliamentary procedure that is one of the oldest and most formal tools citizens have to raise an issue in Parliament. 

Bias or ignorance is one thing. But to deliberately lie and smear a lawful Parliamentary process as conspiracy raises serious questions about Epstein’s loyalties, judgement, and ability to meet public expectations of his role.

He should acknowledge the error, and being a reasonable man, issue a full public apology to those Victorian who signed the petitions. If he refuses to do so, then the ABC should stand Epstein down pending a full investigation into his conduct.

More to come ... Jackson Moon.