Australian Freedom Fighter Fined, Despite Saving Lives and Helping the Stranded in Floods in Northern NSW when the Government was a no Show. Here is Freedom Fighter Dave Oneegs Public Release
By Dave Oneegs Aussie Chat
Australian Freedom Fighter Fined, Despite Saving Lives and Helping the Stranded in Floods in Northern NSW when the Government was a no Show.
Here is Freedom Fighter Dave Oneegs Public Release
G’day folks, so this morning I had my matter dealt with in the Brisbane Magistrates Court
There were two charges;
The first charge was; unlawful appeal for support.
This is basically not having the necessary license to appeal for help.
It is not a fraud.
It is not theft.
It is not misappropriation.
It is a technicality and a licensing issue.
Many of you would be aware that the founder of Aussie helping hands pled guilty to the same charge and received a small fine and was also cleared of any misappropriation.
Now, I could have argued this case on the basis of being informed that it was legally allowed to collect funds,
However, in looking back,
I failed to do enough due diligence on the legalities,
and this is where I made an honest mistake.
It was obviously made during an apocalyptic disaster.
Nonetheless,
a short amount of research would have shown me that Aussie helping hands needed a license to appeal for support.
By promoting Aussie helping hands publicly here on this platform several times,
this is what the authorities would call an “unsanctioned or unlawful” appeal for support.
I was happy to admit I made a mistake in this regard.
The second charge was;
failure to comply with lawful requirements.
This was related to not having sufficient records of equipment that I dropped off and delivered throughout the Northern Rivers during the floods.
I dropped off dozens of pressure, cleaners, and generators and did not keep adequate records of these items,
and this was also deemed an offense under the collections act.
As a volunteer,
I could have argued that this was not my responsibility.
However, due to working closely with the organisation, the prosecution felt otherwise.
The magistrate took all factors into consideration, and I believe he was very fair.
He understood that I had used my social media platform to promote a charitable organisation, and he also understood that I was under the impression it was legally allowed to do so.
He also understood that I spent a lot of time on the ground, supporting and assisting my community in a disaster.
He also took into account my history and the fact that I have never been charged with anything in my entire life.
He then decided to give me a $750 fine and recorded no conviction.
For me, this is a good win, folks.
I could have argued this case forever and spent endless resources, time, and energy trying to do so.
I’m tired folks.
I just wanted it dealt with.
It was an opportunity for me to pick my battles and also put my case forward to the courts that everything was done in good faith in very difficult circumstances.
It is my belief that the magistrate fully understood this and has issued a small, administrative fine and recorded no conviction.
I’m deeply grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this long ordeal, and I will never be able to find the words to express my gratitude to each one of you.
At this stage, my personal accounts still remain frozen, but I am optimistic that this matter will be dealt with very soon as well.
At the end of the day, despite making a few errors when it comes to ticking all the boxes…
I will never regret acting as a first responder on the first day of the floods and saving several lives.
I will never regret rescuing animals and feeding hundreds of cattle with Mark O’Toole.
I will never regret dropping off several hundred meals to hungry locals.
I will never regret evacuating the injured from remote locations.
I will never regret promoting Aussie helping hands, and I will never regret helping the hundreds of families who were left in need and abandoned by the authorities in one of the worst disasters in Australian history.
We did some perfect things together.
All of us work as one community, to help our fellow Australians to the best of our ability.
No one will ever be able to take that away from us.
Thanks again to everyone who’s had my back.
You restore my faith in humanity, over and over again.
God be with you,
Dave Oneegs
