42nd General Assembly of Occupy Melbourne
Wednesday 8th February 2012

Facilitating: Joel Hynes

- Introduction

WORKING GROUP REPORTBACKS

- Overnighters reportback from Thomas: only four occupiers last night; two visits from council today, some NTCs issued (including for the broom, which was seized) but in general no big problems. POI from Michael stressing radical self-reliance.

- Kitchen reportback from Connie: the KWG needs to have a meeting; Moustafa is on strike. Connie has found a table she wants to buy for the kitchen, but needs money.

- Yikes reportback from the newly-created Yikes WG: Office at Irene's has successfully had the crap cleaned out of it.

- Education reportback from Joel: EWG is meeting at State Library tomorrow 4pm. Also, there's a whole bunch of stuff on Friday. POI from Yikes about screening of END:CIV at OccFri.

- Media reportback from Joel: OM has been in the media a fair bit this week, as has Doyle talking about OM, using softer language than in the past. Hassle from Council this week is very much a reaction to media coverage. POI from Simon Dicko: Doyle is like a rapist; it doesn't matter if he's being hard or soft.

WORKING GROUP PROPOSALS

- No WG proposals.

INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS

- "That the permanent occupation of City Square that commenced on Monday 20th January 2012 is formally recognised and supported as an Occupy Melbourne action." (from Teigan) - PASSED (unanimously; approx 23 in favour; some abstention)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Indy: Teigan has purchased a dedicated phone for the occupation, but it has no credit. Hat passed. $27.45 raised.

- Joel: I'm making a website, with a calendar that everyone can add to. We're too focussed on Facebook.

- Simon Dicko: Apparently the Facilitation WG no longer exists. Can we start a new one? POI from Joel explaining the background to this situation. Some discussion of this.

- Request from Kenji to put an additional proposal. Voted on; passed.

ADDITIONAL PROPOSAL

- "For one day we set up shop at City Square as a 'Re-Occupy' event, advertised as such, with structures, etc (disposable ones we can lose), much like Occupy Fridays but once off as a test, and to show we're still here and strong to MCC and the media." (from Kenji)

- Free discussion of this. Temperature check. Some support; some dissent.

***

- Meeting temporarily broken up due to passing Sam Schwartz of MCC spontaneously ripping down OM signage.

- Vote taken to discuss & debrief over this incident. Passed.

***

- Vote taken to suspend discussion of additional proposal for...

ADDITIONAL REPORTBACK

- Sam Castro from Direct Action: Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement DFAT public consultation meeting mic check action took place this morning. Explanation of TPPA.  Account of action. Action was highly successful.

RESUMPTION OF ADDITIONAL PROPOSAL

- Speakers for and against.

- Motion by Sam Castro to table proposal until next GA, with additional clause: "This is to be a targeted, strategically planned event, as a vigil over three days, open to all groups, to support James and the Federal Court case." - PASSED

- GA closed.