Addressing the Freedom Ball

I had the opportunity to attend the Freedom Ball over the weekend with some truly inspiring people. I spoke on why freedom is so important and where I see the movement is headed after this election.

Apologies for the mobile phone quality but I hope you enjoy what I have to say.

Transcript

Thank you very much. I wanna thank especially, Claire and Tyron for organising. Everyone is often organised. And for everyone that is here: Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m going to read my speech tonight, might be a little jump here and there. Because, otherwise I’d be here all night. Freedom. What is it? Freedom is an essential ingredient for human beings to flourish.

[Audience Member] Yeah I agree.

Freedom is the foundation for prosperous and caring communities. Freedom is the basis for our Australian democracy and our way of life. Tonight we acknowledge everyone around Australia who has taken a stand to protect our rightful freedoms.

[Audience Member] Yes!

Our freedom marches have been [inaudible 00:00:57] and they’ve been the largest protests in Australia. They have many of us who, for the first time in our lives, took an activist role. Because we knew we couldn’t wait around for someone else to do it. Who came to Canberra? That’s a sizeable commitment. Who else felt pride for the first time in two years marching in Canberra? That’s Australian pride. So I thank everyone I’ve just mentioned. I thank you. Our freedom movement has many leaders coming from many different parts of our community. Australians, I believe, now have a greater appreciation for our front line workers than ever before. Where’s Dan? Dan. Dee? Where’s Dee?

[Woman In Audience] Right here.

Helena? Wonderful people. And the policemen, and the ambos. And the fierys. We’ve seen many leaders emerge from our frontline workers, our firefighters, health and education providers our defence forces, police, and corrective services our emergency services, including ambos and paramedics and the SES. Wanna acknowledge people like Andy Anderson who stepped up. Johnny, Claire, Marshall. Thank you. Pat Msiti. So many I could mention. I thank you. Because when push came to shove, you people stood up. You didn’t leave it to politicians you stood up. Speaking of politicians, I want to acknowledge the work of my colleagues, Senator Pauline Hanson. Former MP George Christensen. And Craig Kelly. Senator Gerard Rennick. And our mate, Alex Antic. Also people, who haven’t had the limelight for people like Queensland State MP, Steve Andrew NSW State MP Mark Latham and Tanya Davies. And Victoria State MP David Limbrick And there are others. Together, we’ve all echoed your call for freedom, that’s everyone’s call for freedom, across parliaments and across state borders across our nation. Thank you so much. The freedom movement has been a powerful player in recent times. It has conveyed to the people’s clear sentiment that we will not give up our freedoms! It has been a powerful voice to politicians of the unacceptable overreach into our lives. Whether it be the bedroom, the kitchen, schools, doctor surgery. And this movement is a beacon of hope for those that state and federal government incursions have left impoverished.

[Audience Member] Yep.

As Dan said, “Absolutely impoverished.” The freedom movement’s power shifted the vote in the recent election. It shifted that vote, leading to a sorry, low, primary vote, for any political party taking office. Ever. As, Rebecca said it best at the start. “The women of the freedom movement will continue. It stays relevant into tomorrow. Well into our future.” We know that unchecked government intervention stifle progress and creates perverse outcomes. We know that when markets are free we get innovation, efficiency and prosperity. It’s the same for people when people are free. We know we’re at our best ’cause we are at our best When. We. Are. Free.

[Audience Member] Yes. Yes.

We all are members of this New Alliance: The Freedom Alliance. Look at it here. And our mission will continue to be relevant. That which unites us involves us. Involves our strength of our unity. That message of unity, is that freedom is central to our Australian way of life. And we will never. Ever. Give it up.

[Audience Member] Yes.

But let’s pause for a minute. And just briefly remember the tragic consequences that so many of us felt over the last couple of years. Dan touched on it. “Australian families are still grieving for loss of their loved ones.” On behalf of my wife, Christine and I, I extend our heartfelt, deep sympathies to your families, for your recovery and healing. It’s been a very tough time for an awful lot of people. And some, it hasn’t ended. There have been numerous economic casualties, and as a nation we will take some time to recover from that. Our nation’s recovery is intimately linked to our freedoms. Freedom of speech. Freedom of association and exchange. Freedom of religion. Freedom to make our own medical choices.

[Audience Members] Yes!

Freedom to move around our great country. Freely. And freedom for our economic participation. All of these should be hallowed ground. But they have been trampled. Our freedom remains though. We’ll continue to safeguard those freedoms, and we will take collective action to say “No. Bugger off.” When our freedoms are threatened. Government has three roles. Protecting life is number one. Protecting property is number two. Protecting freedom is number three. They are sacrosanct. And freedom is not a gift from our government. It’s rightly ours because we live in a free and democratic nation. Remember what Claire said. We are human beings, of our universe. Not a part of our universe, of our universe. Right Marshall? Of our inherently, universally, free universe. That’s the way our universe is. That’s where we live. To all courageous Australians I say “thank you.” For moving to the front line to defend and uphold our freedoms for us all today. And for our future generations of Australians. Australia became the land of the free, because those that came before us were brave. It is now our duty to restore freedom and to keep Australia free. All Australians. All Australians, who have been part of the Freedom Movement have been brave. And our continued unity and commitment will ensure that Australia is always free. Thank you so much for what you are doing.