3rd General assembly – Monday 17 october 2011
Declared open at 6pm
Acknowledge to traditional owners
Agenda
General meeting style explained
Purpose explained
Facilitation proposal 1
Working group feedback confined to two minutes but can request extra time
That they only make proposals that are very relevant to issues that concern everybody at Occupy Melbourne
They should establish a daily working group meeting
Passed by consensus
Proposal 2
To have a distinction between ideals, demands and actions
Eg – war in Iraq – ideal = against war, demand = withdraw troops, action = march
To divide discussion into one of those three elements at any given stage
That it is opened up for discussion and people can put forward any ideals, demands or actions that they would like Occupy Melbourne to support, the Facilitator’s team then collate those suggestions, on Saturday, have a big get-together which will be publicised, and put together list of ideals. Saturday would then become the “ideals” day, and we have another day, later in the week, that is the day of “demands”
Dissent shown – we should set aside a time for reaching 1, 2 or 3 core demands
Can be a dozen other proposals but we should focus on not more than three
Original proposal Not carried by consensus
Alternate motion not carried
Opened for discussion
Two or three core demands
Andrew speaks against
We cannot demand because then we agree with the current government and are asking them to do something for us
Seraph speaks for
What are we trying to achieve? We should have a clear set of demands that are small and achievable
Owen speaks against
We are too diverse to agree on only a couple of demands. We need to relate to the vast bulk of people in the public. Supports original proposal
Natalia speaks for
We’re not in as dire straits as the americans, it is more difficult to relate to so many people, we need to attract more people by presenting as reasonable, rational people and not a fringe radical group
Proposal that we have only two or three concrete demands
Dissent still shown
No consensus shown
Working groups return and report
Indigenous working group
Media working group
Bring video footage and photos requested to be brought to media tent
it will be published online for you
Education working group
In the spirit of internationalism, we have taken inspiration from brothers and sisters in Spain to set up alternative departments
Proposal that they are not just a working group but instead an alternative education department in it’s own right
The education working group is an alternative education department that will rethink education and foster educational experiments at occupy Melbourne.
We propose that we have a particular space set aside as an education centre for learning leadership and discussion. We would like this space allocated at occupy melbourne. This space would include a whiteboard for purposes of classes, discussion, learning, et cetera.
Passed by consensus unanimous
We would also like to put forward the statement that occupy melbourne believes in free education for all
Passed by unanimous
Point – Kitchen needs someone to get propane gas bottles for dinner
Decision making is consensus-based
Attempt for unanimity, then by 90%, then to 66%, recorded in minutes as to which manner it is passed
Motion not passed
Promotions working group
Carlson and Costa
Have been working on banner “welcome to occupy melbourne, welcome to direct democracy”
Have two designs to choose from, one banner and one sticker
Both designs applauded
Artwork passed by consensus
Request for anyone with experience with permaculture and other sort of stuff – spread thru artistic communities
Proposal for an occupymelbourne fashion show
Passed by consensus
Community and union outreach liaison group
Want to get unions and other community groups involved
Corporate scumbag tour of Melbourne on Friday at 5pm
Proposal that people name their scumbag corporations and a route is planned to visit as many as possible, end at postie union to show solidarity
Passed by consensus – one dissenter – rather happen after the assembly
Passed by 90% consensus
Names of corporations called out for two minutes
Safe spaces and grievances
A proposal that occupymelbourne has a safer spaces policy. Not a set of rules rather a set of values that make everybody comfortable
Passed by consensus
Action – Meeting 3pm Tuesday 18 October 2011 to sort policy
Direct action working group
Report on march to stock exchange – brought back quite a few people and public learned
Wednesday – planned march on Circo – company that runs detention centres
Bhp on Thursday to join friends of the earth
Have mass leafleting tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12:30 and again at 5pm and leaflet major train stations
Passed unanimous
Legal announcement RE leafleting - we cannot use vicroad property so be careful not to get caught
Any other business
Individual proposals
Ben Convey
Proposal that we vote every day on who will be the facilitators for the next day
Dissent shown
Complex debate – facilitation team is understaffed
Not passed
speakers for and against called for
jess speaks against
is impractical to carry out the proposal with the current staff numbers
speaker for
creates less of a target for arrests, high profile people easy to isolate
davey speaks against
will become too political. Keep the current system
proposal put against
consensus not reached
facilitation meets at 5pm every day. We need more volunteers near brunettis coffee
serafia
proposal that we have information that specifically relates to how the jewish holiday also being celebrated in the space is in solidarity with occupymelbourne
further call for clarification
dissent shown
passed by 90% consensus
kavida
nothing should be sold at occupymelbourne
that there should be a moratorium on selling anything on site until we reach a consensus
dissent shown
speakers for and against called
sarah speaks against
this movement is inclusive and should accommodate all peoples.
Proposal amendment –
Proceeds for anything sold on site should go to occupymelbourne
Consensus not shown
Dave
Proposal is that outside political interests are kept at a low key.
“low key” being directed away from general public
Dissent shown, speakers called for and against
Baron speaks for the proposal
We are all here for one political movement. We should show a unite front.
Jahari speaks against
The various political posters are what is having an effect on the public
Clarification is that the posters are not about specific issues, rathe that the issue is that we should not have large posters or banners for particular political groups facing the street
Consensus not reached
Jared
Point – At night time we need someone rostered in the kitchen
Simon
We as a movement are fundamentally against the principal of theft
James speaks against
Not against people who shoplift from supermarkets
Consensus not reached
Rob
That we ask a radio station to come and broadcast live from occupymelbourne
We shouldn’t be vilifying anybody by calling them scumbags. Alienating our audience is not a good idea
Speakers called for and against
Alex speaks against
It just seems a cool thing to do. The people we are targeting _are_ scumbags
Grahame speaks for
Scumbag is an inappropriate word. Using words like that will create a division that cannot be overcome
Rachael speaks against
Corporations ar evil and Rachael has personal grievances AND is opposed to slave labour
Another speaking for
It’s not a smart idea to alienate people who will become our allies
Julia speaks against
Those people ARE scumbags and deserved to be called such. We are standing together against the 1%
Consensus not reached
Proposal from direct action working group
That the corporate scumbag tour be rename to be called “shame on corporations tour”
Consensus not reached
Proposed for 90%
Consensus not reached
Simon
We all have an equal right to self-determination
Passed by 90% consensus
Simon
That we are against the principal of violence or the initiation of force
Consensus not reached
Meeting closed at 8pm
