Greetings, My thanks to Merv Turner for a timely reminder, I have included my submission for your information. Regards Joe Bryant The message Merv passed on was: Dear Friend and co-worker, The following came in the mail, and you may like to take some action on it...... Statute of International Criminal Code TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN THAT IS ALL OF AUSTRALIA On the news report No. 261 issued by Neil Baird, 23/01/01, is the following interesting information. On 13 Feb next, a Joing Standing Committee will meet to consider whether Australia should accept the Statute of an International Criminal Court. Adoption of this Treaty will over ride the power of Australia's own courts on issues considered of interest to the "International Community". The lack of publicity given to this proposal means to date there have only been 23 submissions, most from UN affiliated organisations or lawyers who have a personal axe to grind.. As the writer points out, with a miniscule input from the general public the committee could recommend to the Government as there are so few onjections to the Treatry it should be ratified. It is crucial that we ACT NOW by making it clear what the committee should decide. Submissions should be directed to: The Inquiry Secretary Mr. Bob Morris Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Dept of House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 FAX (02) 6277 4827 EMAIL www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/icc or phone Mr. Morris on (02) 6277 2135 The submission may be kept simple. This is what I have faxed to him: Re - Joint Standing Committii on Treaties Dear Sir, As a private citizen, I wish to indicate my objection to the consideration of any overseas proposal that will be binding on the citizens of Australia. Our elected representatives are responsible for internal issues that effect their electors. But, any issue that ties us to international agreements should be first agreed to, or rejected by, all citizens per medium of a referendum. An International Criminal Court should not over ride the authority of own institutions. Nor should the citizens of this country be bound to decisions made by any external authority, whose recognition of our common law rights are suspect. I urge the Committee to reject this proposal. Yours sincerely My submission follows, The Inquiry Secretary Mr. Bob Morris Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Dept of House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 FAX (02) 6277 4827 9th February 2001 Joint Standing Committee on Treaties Dear Sir, Statute of International Criminal Code SUBMISSION My submission is: Australia should not be party to the Statute of International Criminal Code. Because: 1. It overrides Australian sovereignty: Australia (government) rejected appeals to the Privy Council in order to end jurisdiction by "foreign" authorities. It is therefore hypocritical and a reversal of existing policy of independent sovereignty. It is not in the best interests of the Australian people to transfer sovereignty to an alien foreign power. The parliament does not have the peoples' authority for such a transfer of juridical sovereignty. To transfer sovereignty to a foreign power could only be lawful following a referendum of the population. 2. Should Australia become a party to this Code: it would place all Australians under the control of a foreign alien power without their individual knowledge or authority, and it would place all Australians under an authority over which they could not possible have proper democratic influence, and it would place all Australians under an authority that will be concerned more about the interests of more powerful nations that it would be about Australians, and Australians would have no reasonable or democratic control over future developments of the Code. 3. Should Australia become party to this Code: all persons involved in the support of such involvement will have committed an act of treachery against the Australian people for which they will be held fully accountable. Submission by, Joseph Richard Bryant, Natural citizen elector. 418 Roper Road, St Marys NSW 2670 ---------------------------------------------------------------- This is the Neither public email list, open for the public and general discussion. To unsubscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=unsubscribe To subscribe click here Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Subject=subscribe For information on [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.neither.org/lists/public-list.htm For archives http://www.mail-archive.com/public-list@neither.org