Audio conversation with Hetty Johnston of Bravehearts 18 July 2012 re the missing petiton and its 30,000 signatures calling for a Royal Commission in Child Sexual Abuse John Brown transcript 07 20 12
(J- John Brown, F- Female)
[00:00:00]
JohnB: John speaking.
Hetty Johnston: John. Hetty Johnston
John Brown: Hi. How are you, Hetty?
Hetty Johnston: I'm good, and you?
John Brown: I'm bloody appalled.
Hetty Johnston: And so am I. Tell me in this latest email that you sent through, You say that Bravehearts had said we never withdrew our support for a royal commission. Can you tell me where you read that?
John Brown: On your, on your Facebook page this morning.
Hetty Johnston: That's Carol, she's got it wrong, we did indeed withdraw our support for a royal commission.
[00:00:30]
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] Well I heard you did. Yes.
Hetty Johnston: Yeah that's right and I make no apology for it either, John by the way.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] Well I do, I do, I do.
Hetty Johnston: [OVERLAPPING] Well because it's not your call.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] Because I know people who have- it is my call. Now I have to deal with-
Hetty Johnston: Well it's your opinion John and everyone is-
John Brown: It's not an opinion.
Hetty Johnston: -is entitled, it is an opinion.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] when people's lives have been taken because of it-
Hetty Johnston: -and it's and it's defamatory when you blame [UNINTELLIGIBLE] John.
John Brown: -as a result of it.
Hetty Johnston: John, that's just not true. And it's a [SOUNDS LIKE] long bow to draw. You know, I mean-
John Brown: It's not a long bow to draw.
Hetty Johnston: It is, it is, John. I know what you're saying-
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
Hetty Johnston: Listen to me just for a second. I know what you're saying and I understand how angry you are.
[00:01:02]
But you have got things by the wrong end.
John Brown: Is that right? Can you explain-
Hetty Johnston: [OVERLAPPING] yes it is right-
John Brown: You explain it to me.
Hetty Johnston: We withdrew our call for a royal commission because we believed that the COAG document, or the COAG push and combined states efforts would be a better way to spend the money and would actually start to deliver some results. But it hasn't.
John Brown: That's obvious.
John Brown: Yes, so this is why we're back on for a royal commission. I mean, we have to do what we think is going to work, John, because it's about stopping children from being sexually assaulted.
[00:01:34]
And I have to say to you I know how passionate you are, I can hear it in your voice. Don't think I'm any less passionate.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] Oh I understand, I understand.
Hetty Johnston: In case you've forgotten, my daughter was a survivor too. That's why we created this organization. Well just don't forget there's no excuse for it. [OVERLAPPING] [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] [UNINTELLIGIBLE] I'm not throwing-
Hetty Johnston: Yes you are, you're throwing all sorts of vile around the place and you just need to get your facts straight first and discuss it sensibly.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] Well then you- you respond-
Hetty Johnston: Before you start doing that.
John Brown: You respond to those things, you didn't respond to them at the time that you withdrew the, the thing.
[00:02:04]
Do you have- still have the petition? [LONG SILENCE]
Hetty Johnston: Um, I don't know.
John Brown: If you, in my opinion- if you were genuine-
Hetty Johnston: [OVERLAPPING] I don't even know It's thirty thousand signatures, so I don't know where that petition is, I'm not sure, anyway, I'll find out, go on.
John Brown: Well, if you were genuine, as has been put out here-
Hetty Johnston: Please don't say if.
John Brown: Oh?
Hetty Johnston: One thing, now John, just let's get this straight. It's called mutual respect.
[00:02:38]
There is no question about my position on child sexual assault, just as there is no question on yours and you can't- if we can't agree on that, John, then I'm going to hang up now.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] It is [SOUNDS LIKE] petty- just five minutes.
Hetty Johnston: No. We agree on that before we go forward.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] just a minute, just a minute. Don't blackmail me, woman, don't.
Hetty Johnston: [OVERLAPPING] oh, John, okay, this is hopeless. I'm going to go now.
John Brown: I understand, I understand. You will do this, I understand. And it will avoid addressing this issue in this context-
Hetty Johnston: [OVERLAPPING] oh no. John. John, John, john, john, john. All I'm asking you to do is this.
[00:03:08]
You respect my position in this and I'll respect yours. I don't expect to be treated and spoken to this like a piece of crap.
John Brown: [SOUNDS LIKE] I have no respect.
Hetty Johnston: You have not shown us any respect at all, John.
John Brown: Exactly right. Exactly right.
Hetty Johnston: [OVERLAPPING] So we've got to address that. Are we address that or we don't- unless you do that, we're not going anywhere.
John Brown: [OVERLAPPING] [SOUNDS LIKE] that's all we have to- you're just worried about your ego.
Hetty Johnston: Oh my god, John, I'm going to go. Thank you. Bye-bye.
[END OF CONVERSATION]
Y3G7L4: Transcript is in your email... hmm
Y3G7L4: I never could figure out how to open a file through Skype but yes I am still using it now and then for backup, using my cell phone these days more. That number by the way is[{REDACTED]
John Brown: Thanks for that - I can touch up a few places as I recall it - willprove to be of value I believe
Y3G7L4: Any time. You were lucky you caught me on a day when I wasn't working... much
John Brown: athat was excellent thank you - tweaked the few bits I knew - Koag = COAG - a govt body - dont't (indible) = don't blackmail me woman
Greatly appreciate this - thanks again I owe you for this
Y3G7L4: Oh, don't blackmail me woman! It was inaudible as she was talking over you... You guys were overlapping a lot...
It was about five dollars worth of work. You can buy me a shot of Jack D when you come visit me...
John Brown: it effectively was the continmuation of our last conversation back in 2009 when I was speaking about the abuse of trust through dumping the 30,000 signature petition she was supposedly holding in trust - she traded that for a seat on the COAG committe - she simply cannot bring it out now as that will jepordaise her relationship and position with COAG
John Brown: She acknowledge COAG has failedf - forgets that she sat on the executive and made the decisions along with them
Y3G7L4: hmm, sounds familiar. They buy off people with titles and fame
What does COAG stand for again?
John Brown: Now you Jack and I have had some exoperiences together - think that will be cartried out if ever we get together
Y3G7L4: Your typing looks like you are visiting Jack right now... just joking
John Brown: [:)] - still cool this morning - fingers not awake entirely yet - The Council of Australian Governments
Y3G7L4: and church?
John Brown: That is unknown as it is often conducted in secret - Hetty released a press statement in 2010 (while she was sitting on the COAG exec) in glowing terms of the Catholic church and their very close and ongoing relationship - I have no doubt ithe church was well represented
*as I recall re timing re sitting as exec
