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Media
Media releases
9 September 2007
MUSLIMS MUST LEAD OPPOSITION TO EXTREMISM
Fear and suspicion of Muslims will continue until the Islamic community eradicates extremists from its own ranks, according to Queensland Independent Senate Candidate, James Baker.
Mr Baker was speaking after attending a forum today in Brisbane organised to address issues of concern to the Muslim community.
“The forum saw a procession of politicians mouthing platitudes to the Islamic community. They were all keen to reinforce the Islamic community’s victim status, and to blame its image problems on the media and politicians. Some participants even suggested community ignorance was to blame.”
“But there was an elephant in the room that no-one wanted to speak about.”
“That uncomfortable issue was terrorism. This week there have been alleged Islamic extremists arrested in Denmark and Germany on terror-related charges. There have been 30 arrests to date in Australia for terrorism related offences. Also this week there was news that almost half of Britain’s mosques are controlled by a hardline sect that hates the west, and who’s leadership has reportedly called on Muslims to ‘shed blood’ for Allah.”
“That’s not to mention actual terror attacks in New York, London, Madrid, Bali and elsewhere in recent times.”
“It’s no surprise that there is suspicion and fear in the non-Muslim community. The only way for Muslims to feel safer is for them to become the loudest and most active opponents of extremism. Until that happens, many in the wider community will suspect there is tacit acceptance of the goals or methods of terrorists.”
“Telling the Islamic community what they want to hear about their victim status and how the media, politicians and ignorant public are to blame will never fix anything.”
“The only answer is an honest dialogue with people from the ‘other side’ of politics who have the guts to explain a different perspective to the Islamic community. Happily, there were some at the forum today who were prepared to listen, so there is hope for the future.”
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
4 July 2007
TIME FOR A PLAN TO INTERN RADICAL MUSLIMS
Queensland independent Senate candidate James Baker has today called for a plan to intern identified radical Muslims in the event of an Islamist terror attack in Australia.
“With the detention in Australia of a person allegedly connected to the Glasgow bombings, Australia cannot afford to wait until there is a terrorist attack at home until it decides what to do afterwards,” Mr Baker said today.
“During World War II, Australia interned more than 1,500 foreign nationals and Australian residents deemed to be a threat to national security.”
“The threat of attack is no less serious today, because Australia is operating militarily around the world to combat Islamic extremism.”
“The plan might entail lowering the burden of proof needed for detention of persons supporting terrorists or violent jihadis, and for those identified by security services as being a threat to national security,” Mr Baker said.
Mr Baker said he believed that a plan to detain those identified as a threat to national security could serve as an incentive to the Muslim community to be vigilant for potential terrorists amongst them.
“We’ve seen reports in recent days of clerics suspected of propagating the hardline Wahabi ideology preferred by Osama bin Laden in Australia,” Mr Baker said.
“And we’ve seen reports that up to 3000 people in Sydney alone could be susceptible to radicalism preached by hardliners.”
“If these numbers are as much as 99 percent wrong, that still leaves Sydney with 30 hardliners who could act on the messages of hate they are hearing.”
“Civil libertarians will be beside themselves, but I’ve not heard one of them defending the civil rights of the victims of terrorism. I only hear them defending the civil rights of those accused of perpetrating or supporting terrorist acts.”
“A few years ago it would have seemed unthinkable that an Australian government would have had the fortitude to send asylum seekers offshore for processing.”
“It’s going to take similar toughness to intern threats to national security, but that could be the difference between taking potential terrorists off the streets, and letting them roam free.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
17 June 2007
PROTESTERS SHOULD PICKET CANBERRA AND LEAVE THE TROOPS ALONE
Protesters .planning to ‘stop the US military war games’ at Rockhampton should stay home and donate their travel costs to charity, independent Senate candidate James Baker said today.
“Leave the soldiers alone,” was Mr Baker’s blunt message to the protest groups planning ‘peaceful’ actions against the exercises.
“These soldiers, sailors and airmen and women are the people prepared to put their lives on the line for our way of life,” Mr Baker said.
“Protesting against troops and their training achieves nothing but a tawdry show for the cameras, and the cause endangers the lives of our troops.
“If the armed forces do not train, then lives are lost in action. It’s as simple as that.
“If plans to defend Australia, its allies and those people who cannot defend themselves, are not tested, then Australian troops die when we send them to defend us.
“Protesting against Australians training with the Americans also shows a willingness to endanger the security of every Australian man, woman and child.
“If it were not for the security guarantee of the Americans, most of Europe would now probably be under communist rule, as well as many parts of Asia, and who knows where communism might have been stopped.
“If it were not for the help of the Americans in World War II, Australia could now be under the occupation of totalitarian Japan, instead of enjoying peaceful and friendly relations with that country today.
“The training our military personnel undertake today in Australia saves lives and helps to keep Australia secure.
“The protest crowd should protest all they like against the Canberra politicians who make the decisions, and those who support them like myself, but leave the troops alone,” Mr Baker said.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
15 June 2007
BAKER KICKS SENATE CAMPAIGN UP A NOTCH
Queensland Independent Senate candidate, James Baker, today took the next step in his quest to return the Senate to being a state’s house with the launch of the first of several advertisements.
The newspaper advertisements are running in major Queensland metropolitan and regional news papers from today.
In the ads, Mr Baker contrasts his approach to the Senate, which is to put Queensland first, against those of the major political parties.
“As much as the major parties say they are not obsessed with staying in or achieving power, Ron Boswell let the cat out of the bag last year with his claim that ‘the party must come first’ (SMH 16 Oct 06),” Mr Baker said.
“In fact, every time someone like Barnaby Joyce stood up for Queensland, he was told to sit down and shut up by party bosses”.
Mr Baker’s advertisement says:
Today, elections are all about trying to find the party you hate the least and just living with the result. But:
• If you’ve had a gutful of politicians just ‘rubber stamping’ government decisions;
• If you’re sick of the Opposition being whiney and negative;
• If you want your Senators to actually read the legislation, debate it and amend it for the good of
Queensland – as the Constitution says should happen; and
• If you want Senators who stick up for their state, not their party;
Then you should know James Baker is standing for the Senate. He’s independent and he puts Queensland first.
Mr Baker’s Senate campaign is also heavily focused on his on-line campaign, with his regular blog entries and YouTube posts.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
15 June 2007
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACKS BRINGING BACK CANE AFTER ALL
The Federal Government appears to be heeding James Baker’s call for a return to real discipline in schools, with a return to using the cane as an option for unruly school bullies.
Queensland independent senate candidate James Baker last raised the prospect of bringing back the cane in schools a month ago, and now a federal minister has caught on.
According to Australian Associated Press, Federal Health Minister Tony Abbot, after seeing shocking pictures of an attack on a Melbourne schoolgirl, has told the media:
"I mean, we've taken corporal punishment out of the schools because we think that's brutal and yet our playgrounds seem to be becoming more brutal than ever."
"Maybe a little bit more discipline in the schools would prevent some of the ugliness that we've just seen."
“When I raised this at a National Party Conference more than three years ago as something the Nationals should support, it was rejected because it would make them look ‘too redneck’,” Mr Baker said.
“Well we’ve tried the other way and it doesn’t work. The discipline problems are just getting worse.”
“I raised the issue again a month ago after the Prime Minister laughably proposed easier hiring and firing of teachers, and for schools to publish more information for parents as the answer to school discipline problems.”
“Now the Federal Government seems to be taking another look at corporal punishment.”
“But I note with interest it’s not the Nationals who have proposed this, because they are still terrified of being labelled ‘too redneck’”.
“The Canberra Nationals have no political courage. They stand for nothing, and it is no surprise that they have hit record lows in the polls,” Mr Baker said.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
15 June 2007
BAKER KICKS SENATE CAMPAIGN UP A NOTCH
Queensland Independent Senate candidate, James Baker, today took the next step in his quest to return the Senate to being a state’s house with the launch of the first of several advertisements.
The newspaper advertisements are running in major Queensland metropolitan and regional news papers from today.
In the ads, Mr Baker contrasts his approach to the Senate, which is to put Queensland first, against those of the major political parties.
“As much as the major parties say they are not obsessed with staying in or achieving power, Ron Boswell let the cat out of the bag last year with his claim that ‘the party must come first’ (SMH 16 Oct 06),” Mr Baker said.
“In fact, every time someone like Barnaby Joyce stood up for Queensland, he was told to sit down and shut up by party bosses”.
Mr Baker’s advertisement says:
Today, elections are all about trying to find the party you hate the least and just living with the result. But:
• If you’ve had a gutful of politicians just ‘rubber stamping’ government decisions;
• If you’re sick of the Opposition being whiney and negative;
• If you want your Senators to actually read the legislation, debate it and amend it for the good of
Queensland – as the Constitution says should happen; and
• If you want Senators who stick up for their state, not their party;
Then you should know James Baker is standing for the Senate. He’s independent and he puts Queensland first.
Mr Baker’s Senate campaign is also heavily focused on his on-line campaign, with his regular blog entries and YouTube posts.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
13 June 2007
RAISING FIRST HOMEBUYERS GRANT WILL PUSH HOUSE PRICES UP
Moves to put up the first homeowners grant will only push up further the cost of housing and do absolutely nothing to make property more affordable, independent Senate Candidate James Baker said today.
“Plans being pushed within the Coalition to double the first homeowners grant from $7,000 to $14,000 will cost the budget dearly, and push up the price of housing by many times that amount,” Mr Baker said.
“Last time the Government raised the first homeowners grant, house prices exploded and it prompted the last property boom. It was great for those who already owned property, and disastrous for people trying to get into the market.
“The reality is those first home buyers will take the Government’s $14,000 and use it to outbid each other for properties.
“The exercise becomes self-defeating.
“There are benefits to the program, in that it takes tax money and returns it to the public, albeit in a highly targeted way. And it loads the dice slightly more in favour of the first home buyer as opposed to the investor. But the benefit is far outweighed by the distorting effect on the market.
“The best thing Governments can do to get first home buyers into a home is to ensure more land is released. That affects supply and will bring the price of property down. Land supply is generally out of the control of the Federal Government, but it is the answer to housing affordability.
“Pushing taxpayers’ money into futile but expensive gestures does nothing to help first home buyers into the market. It just helps the Government look as though it’s doing something, when in fact it is causing more heat in the market.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
27 May 2007
NEITHER ABUSE NOR MONEY WILL FIX ABORIGINAL PROBLEMS
Abuse directed at Prime Minister Howard today, accusing him of genocide achieves nothing and is symptomatic of why Australia’s aborigines are in such appalling circumstances, Queensland Independent Senate candidate James Baker said today.
“The way to fix aboriginal social problems and inequality is through the leadership stopping the blame, abuse and victimhood, and for them to start taking responsibility for their own problems,” Mr Baker said.
“How can aborigines have respect for themselves when to be black in Australia is to be drunk, uneducated and not being the best they are capable of being?
“The aboriginal leadership needs to follow the lead of people like Noel Pearson, and face up to the issues in their own communities, and not simply pass the blame to history or ‘the government’.
Kevin Rudd’s plan to rush headlong into an apology for the stolen generation will not take one aboriginal child out of poverty; it will not raise the life expectancy of one aboriginal person; it will not feed one malnourished child; it will not get one aboriginal person off grog. The list of things not achieved by an apology is endless. The only thing it will achieve is a cheap grab at populism by a Labor leader who wants to be all things to all people.
Mr Rudd’s promise to close the 17 year gap for mortality rates between aborigines and non-aborigines with a few hundred million dollars is completely unbelievable. He is planning to throw more money at a problem that has not yet been fixed with billions.
The Prime Minister’s call to have aboriginal children learn English also falls far short of what is needed. Sure, teach the kids English. But first, teach them basic hygiene; teach the parents to spend their money on food and essentials, not smokes and grog; teach kids that they need to get to school, and teach parents the same thing; teach the aboriginal leadership that they need to roll their sleeves up for work in their own communities, not blame and posturing on television
.
To fix their problems, Aboriginal people first have to get leadership that will lead them to a better future, not just throw blame.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
14 May 2007
TERRY HICKS NEEDS TO SHUT UP ABOUT HIS SON
Terry Hicks, the father of convicted terror supporter, David Hicks, needs to back off now and let justice take its course.
Mr Hicks senior has done what any father would do in mounting a vigourous campaign to have his son returned to Australia after being arrested in Afghanistan defending the Taliban.
But David Hicks has spent five years at Guantanamo Bay for taking up arms against the military coalition that included his own countrymen, to defend possibly the most hateful regime on earth. He was no innocent abroad.
In whining about the unfairness of labelling his son a terrorist, Terry Hicks tries to continue the fantasy that he was a poor dumb backpacker caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But David Hicks was in Afghanistan for “adventure”. And his idea of adventure was fighting for the Taliban, (but apparently not if it was dangerous).
In admitting to firing wildly at Indian soldiers on the Kashmir border he shows his disregard for the lives of non-Muslims.
David got sucked in to a reprehensible cult of Islamic extremism.
If he trained with terrorists, and fought with terrorists; then he’s a terrorist.
Terry Hicks should be satisfied that his son is alive and coming home to South Australia. He should let justice take its course so David can do his time and maybe start life again – this time without a new round of terrorist adventures.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
14 May 2007
SCHOOLS NEED THE CANE TO TACKLE BULLIES
School bullies will be laughing at the Prime Minister’s ‘plan’ to reshape schools, flagged today in media reports, independent Senate Candidate James Baker said today.
Mr Baker believes disruptive students will be laughing because even the Prime Minister doesn’t have the political courage to bring back corporal punishment.
“The Prime Minister says he is concerned about reports of school violence and disorder, and is planning to ‘reshape the nation’s education and training landscape’”, Mr Baker said.
“All the Prime Minister has outlined so far though is a plan for easier hiring and firing of teachers, and for schools to publish more information for parents.”
“To really tackle school violence and bullies, disruptive kids need to see there is a consequence to their actions – and one of those consequences should be the cane.”
“What do school bullies care if a teacher gets fired? What do they care if a report gets sent to their parents about school academic performance and attendance rates?”
“For many bullies, the only time they take notice is when they are standing in front of the school principle and receiving ‘six of the best’”.
“In Queensland, the Labor Government stopped corporal punishment in schools in 1995. Before they closed down the statistical database in 2000, there had been a 20 percent rise in school suspensions and expulsions in just two years.
There have also been reports of teachers having knives held at their throats, being bashed, stabbed, spat on, stabbed with pens, beaten with chairs, slammed into doors and threatened with death.
Others have had blood flicked at them, laser pointers aimed in their eyes, and been hit and threatened with a range of makeshift weapons including Stanley knives, lunch boxes, school bags, pot plants and classroom furniture.
“Corporal punishment is not the only answer, but denying it as a tool available for school communities means these discipline problems are just going to get worse,” Mr Baker said.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
15 April 2007
CONGRATULATIONS SUE BOYCE: NOW PUT QUEENSLAND FIRST
Independent Senate candidate James Baker has offered his congratulations to new Queensland Liberal senator-designate Sue Boyce on her appointment to replace Santo Santoro.
But Mr Baker has also issued a challenge for her to stand up for Queensland when it counts.
“One of the first tasks she must undertake is to express without qualification that she will put Queensland's interests above those of the Liberal Party – even if that means crossing the floor,” Mr Baker said.
“The people of Queensland deserve to know whether Sue Boyce is willing to vote against her party on a matter of importance to Queensland.”
“Any senator’s top priority should always be the interests of the voters who put them there.”
“We have seen other senators vow to put the Coalition first or their party first, and encourage others to do so.”
“But Sue Boyce does not owe her first allegiance to the Liberal Party or to the Coalition, or to the Government. She owes her first allegiance to the people of Queensland.”
“Many pay lip service to putting the people first, but the test is a willingness to lay down personal advancement by challenging the party apparatus in the interests of the state they represent.”
“I lay the challenge down to Sue Boyce to promise she will always put Queensland first, even if that means crossing the floor.”
Mr Baker left the Nationals earlier this month after seven years, when he realised the Party was too focused on being in Government, and not focused enough on representing the people.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
14 April 2007
NO WONDER MANY AUSTRALIANS FEAR MUSLIMS
Some of Australia’s senior Muslims are apparently praising violent jihadists in their mosques, then denying it to the public, according to independent Senate candidate for Queensland, James Baker.
“If the Islamic community wonders why Muslims are viewed with suspicion by many members of the wider Australian community, they can blame the likes of Sheik Mohammed Swaiti and Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali,” Mr Baker said.
“There is no rocket science to this. People fear Muslims because it is Muslims they see strapping bombs to themselves and killing innocent people all over the world.”
“And with so-called spiritual leaders praising these suicidal murderers in mosques and behind closed doors, there is little wonder there is fear in the community.”
“Those Muslims who reportedly feel threatened by ANZAC Day commemorations should spare a thought for how non-Muslims may feel threatened by suicide bombers.”
Mr Baker made the comments after reports that a senior Muslim cleric in the national capital has been praying for victory for the mujaheddin in Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Iraq.
“For this cleric and his apologists to now claim he was only talking about those confronting their own inner struggles in these countries is obviously untrue,” Mr Baker said.
“They must take the Australian public for fools.”
“I again call on the Government to take a close look at these clerics and their supporters, and seriously consider revoking their citizenship and kicking them out.”
“Follow Britain’s example and find some other country to take them.”
“Treating preachers of hate or violence as a joke, as the Prime Minister is asking us to do, will not neutralise them in their own communities. The only thing they will understand is tough action. It is time for us to take some.”
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
10 April 2007
AL-HILALI SHOULD BE KICKED OUT – NOT INVITED TO LEAVE
The federal government should revoke Sheik Taj al-Din al-Hilali’s citizenship for what amounts to incitements to hatred and violent jihad.
Independent Senate Candidate for Queensland, James Baker, made the call after noting the pathetic response from Government ministers following the latest incitements from the so called mufti of Australia.
Iranian media is reporting the Sheik has called on the Islamic world to ‘stand in the trenches with the Islamic Republic of Iran’, which faces international pressure and condemnation over its nuclear program.
“The Immigration Minister yesterday invited the Sheik to move overseas or to ‘reconsider his Australian citizenship’. The Sheik knows the Australian government doesn’t have the guts to take him on,” Mr Baker said.
“Sheik al-Hilali is travelling the globe, furthering the divide between the Muslim world and ‘the west’ - his chosen place of citizenship – and he knows there is nothing anyone will do about it.”
“The usual response from the Government is that citizens cannot be made ‘stateless’, and therefore, unless they have dual citizenship, Australia is forced to keep those deemed undesirable once they have been granted citizenship.
“But the UK has got around that. They have approached middle eastern countries to take back extremists deported from the UK – including citizens who have had citizenship revoked.”
“If Nauru can take illegal immigrants, why can’t Egypt or even Iran take the likes of al-Hilali?”
Sheik al-Hilali has previously attracted condemnation for comparing women to uncovered meat, and saying Muslims were more worthy of Australian citizenship than those descended from convicts.
“It is time for Australia to get tough with the likes of Sheik al-Hilali and his supporters. If the Islamic community won’t show its condemnation by sacking him, the Government should act.”
“Tossing this shocking Sheik out of Australia would be a good start.”
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
5 April 2007
DEMOCRATS RECRUITERS TARGET DAVID HICKS
The Democrats have managed the near impossible. They have reached out from inside their own coffin and hammered in some more nails, according to Queensland Independent Senate candidate, James Baker.
South Australian Democrats leader Sandra Kanck is reported to have said that David Hicks could apply for membership of the Democrats, and party members probably would not object. She has apparently denied media reports that she said he would be welcome to seek endorsement as a candidate.
“While I am horrified that any supposedly responsible representative of the people would welcome a confessed terrorist and sharia law lover into their party ranks, I am not surprised that the desperate Democrats are the first to lay out the welcome mat,” Mr Baker said.
“I know membership of political parties is down generally, but surely even the Democrats can’t be so hard up that they would welcome internationally convicted felons still under sentence.”
“Or could it be that the treasonous and treacherous are the new standard-bearers for Democrat ideals?”
“It would be interesting to see them reconcile his views on sharia law with the previously peace-loving politically correct Democrats platform.”
“David Hicks has done some stupid things in his life. He has served time in prison for that and hopefully learned what most Australians know from birth - that “Australia is the best country on earth” and “its unwise to travel abroad to defend totalitarian Muslim regimes that sponsor terrorism”.
“To try to turn him into some sort of folk hero and cash in on his ‘celebrity’ is obscene.”
“Anyone who supports Australia’s troops who are right now risking their lives around the clock to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan should bombard the Democrats with protest until they abandon this outrageous canonisation of David Hicks,” Mr Baker said.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
27 March 2007
HICKS NEEDS TOUGH SENTENCE NOT SYMPATHY
The breathless campaigners for David Hicks should stop to think about the victims of terrorism and the Taliban now that he has pled guilty to supporting terrorism, according to independent Queensland Senate candidate, James Baker.
Mr Baker made the comments after hearing the many sympathetic statements from all sides of politics in Australia following David Hicks’ guilty plea on supporting terrorism.
“What is not in dispute is that Hicks served with either Al Qaeda or the Taliban. Either one is sufficient for him to be locked up and the key thrown away. He was certainly no hapless backpacker caught in the wrong place,” Mr Baker said.
“This sympathy industry that has grown up around a man who left Australia to fight for such despicable organisations is nauseating.”
“Mistakes have been made in the legal process dealing with captured fighters. That doesn’t mean they deserve this gushing sympathy. Mr Hicks was kept in a US prison, and is reported to have gained weight, even if he was not very happy.”
“Anyone in any doubt about how abhorrent Mr Hicks’ chosen regime is should check out the many reports of ongoing Taliban atrocities in and around Afghanistan.”
“The Taliban just capture people and cut their heads off:
- Like the driver and translator of Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who was beheaded this week while Mr Mastrogiacomo was forced to watch;
- Like Malim Abdul Habib, the teacher who the Taliban dragged out and beheaded in front of his wife and eight children. His only crime was educating girls;
- Like K. Suryanarayana, the Indian telecommunications worker who the Taliban accused of spying and also beheade
“The Taliban is the regime David Hicks was in Afghanistan to fight, kill or die for.”
“David Hicks made a decision when he turned his back on Australia to fight for hateful groups like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. He and others tempted to do likewise need to know those decisions have consequences.”
“He deserves no sympathy, and the strongest possible sentence of imprisonment. Then he can be thankful he is not being sent to serve the sentence back in Afghanistan,” Mr Baker said.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
21 March 2007
SANTORO SHOULD APOLOGISE TO QUEENSLAND
Senator Santo Santoro should apologise to the people of Queensland for his failings, not just his party and Canberra mates, according to independent Senate candidate James Baker.
“Senators are supposed to represent the people of the state from which they were elected,” Mr Baker said.
“So why has Senator Santoro apologised to everyone but the people of Queensland in announcing his resignation in the Senate?”
“In his resignation speech, posted on his website, he apologised to the Government, to the Liberal Party, and to the Senate.”
“Where is the apology to Queensland? The people of Queensland do not rate a mention.”
Mr Baker made his comments after reading Senator Santoro’s resignation speech, made in the Senate on Tuesday night. Senator Santoro resigned over revelations of a lack of appropriate disclosures of his share trading activities.
“I do not wish to dance on the Senator’s political grave, but he is Queensland’s man in Canberra. He is not supposed to be Canberra’s man in Queensland.”
“He owes his first allegiance to Queensland and these are the people to whom he owes the biggest apology.”
Mr Baker has recently resigned from the Nationals to stand as an independent candidate after realising the major parties were putting their own needs above the people they are supposed to represent.
Email: james.baker@jamesbaker.com.au
Friday 16 March 07
Extract from Crikey.com.au
"Another Queensland candidate putting state above party"
By Mark Bahnisch
While political circles are abuzz with talk of Ruddslides and any number of scandalgates, as usual in election years, the vital election for the Senate is receiving little attention from pundits. Though the government has been viewed as favourite to hold on to an absolute or blocking majority, this outcome is by no means certain. Particularly if, as in Queensland this week, a potentially strong conservative candidate emerges to fragment the government's core vote.
Queensland Nationals policy director and Army officer James Baker has resigned from his party position and will contest the Senate poll as an independent. Baker, an ally and friend of Barnaby Joyce, contested pre-selection against Nationals Senate Leader Ron Boswell last year and lost, in a contentious vote where Boswell pulled out all stops, including arranging an appearance before delegates of Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen. I interviewed Baker on behalf of Crikey. He pinpoints the motivation for his decision as being a disaffection with the closeness of the "Canberra Nationals" to the Liberals, and their strategic ineptitude. Baker describes Vaile's leadership as an attempt to "manage the party into a gradual demise" and dismisses his differentiation strategy, adopted after the defection of Julian McGauran, as a "Jedi mind trick". He points to the loss of 50% of the Nationals' Queensland Senate vote since Howard was elected as his trump card to demonstrate the failings of Boswell and other federal Nationals.
Baker's appeal to the electorate is premised on a belief that Joyce's record in the Senate shows that Queenslanders will support a candidate who will put the interests of the state above that of his party. He describes the major parties at federal level as "political cartels" and believes that his candidacy will have appeal across the state to disillusioned conservative voters. He argues that the failure of the federal National leadership to represent its constituency bleeds votes away to the Liberals as supporters ask, "why vote for the puppet when you can have the puppetmaster?" Baker doesn't minimise the obstacles to running a successful campaign, but believes that his independent effort can be financed. He points to the success of Brian Harradine as a precedent, and Fielding's election as an example of a non-major party candidate leveraging a quota through preferences. Baker has not yet considered preference deals.
There's no doubt that Baker's candidacy will shake up the dynamics of the Senate race. He offers a much more mainstream and serious alternative than Pauline Hanson's vanity campaign to disaffected conservative voters. Whichever way the House of Representatives vote goes, the Senate election
just got a lot more interesting.
Like Joyce, Baker has a colourful way with words, and doesn't mince them. He has a political track record federally, having worked for Tim Fischer and John Anderson. He was also Joyce's running mate in 2004. What does Barnaby Joyce think?
"Frankly, Barnaby thinks I'm nuts. But people have said the same about him," says Baker.
12 March 2007
JAMES BAKER CONFIRMS SENATE BID
James Baker has confirmed he will stand as an independent candidate in the 2007 Federal election to represent Queensland in the Senate.
“The Senate is a vital institution that the major political parties abuse,” Mr Baker said.
“It was designed as a States’ house – to represent State interests - but the major parties treat it as either a rubber stamp if the Government controls it, or an opportunity to grandstand if the Opposition controls it.”
“I am standing to make sure that more Queensland Senators put Queensland first – ahead of their parties.”
IIt will be the second election Mr Baker has contested. In 2004 he was part of the successful Nationals team that saw Barnaby Joyce elected to the Senate.
Mr Baker has worked in the media, been an adviser to several Coalition Cabinet ministers, and is currently in the Army.
“Barnaby Joyce is doing a great job of representing Queensland, but he does it almost in spite of his parliamentary party colleagues in Canberra,” said Mr Baker.
“While I differ on some issues with Barnaby, I think he hits the nail on the head with his ‘Queensland first’ approach to the Senate.”
“We need more of that type of fearless representation, not less.”
“So I will nominate for the Senate, and stand as a candidate that will put Queensland first, as opposed to putting a political party ahead of the voters.”
“I challenge others to do the same.”
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