| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 1 | Anonymous | Kava is an integral part of our tradition and culture.
If others abuse kava, there needs to be a better method of managing this rather than such an arbritrary and heavy handed approach. It seems that the intent to ban kava is a quick fix and narrow minded view. |
| 2 | tony Simmons | |
| 3 | John Sanday | More damage is caused to the indigenous community by alcohol than by kava. This is hypocritical. All Pacific Islanders should vote for Labour. |
| 4 | Isoa Bonawai | |
| 5 | David Fong | This is a fijian traditional drink which is enjoyed by Fijians living in Australia and drunk at special occasions & social gatherings. It would devastate the community should this occur. I strongly disagree with any restrictions. |
| 6 | Fiji Australia Community Development Inc., | As a community registered organisation - itis quite concerned about the Resrictions of Yaqona (Fijian Traditional Name) or Kava by the Australian Authorities. Yaqona (kava) is extremely important to in the Fijian Culture, it is used ceremoniously by our Chiefs and all the peoples of Multicultural Fiji.
It is used for bonding, welcoming and there are certain protocols we Fijians, and other Pacific Islands follow which is still practiced today. Fijians in Australia - but within within the organisation, friends of Fiji maintain the protocols of a Yaqona (Kava) ceremony, its importance is 2nd to the cultural icon the 'whales tooth'. This community organisation has always maintained alot of respect towards those consuming the Kava, as mentioned earlier it helps the bonding and welcoming of Australian Families with Fijian
background- when solutions to problems are negotiated, thus creating a good person in society. Yaqona (Kava) is respected by all quarters of our Fijian Multicultural community, and to restrict our cultural rights is an abuse of our rights. The FACDI organisation requests the Australian
Authorities to lift the restrictions on Kava Imports, according to the Australian charter on cultural rights. President of FACDI. |
| 7 | Anonymous | Kava is used for Fijian traditional ceremonies performed in Australia. Dont take that away from us. |
| 8 | Devlin Chung | We grew up with the introduction of kava drinking as a sacret drink with national significance like the Aboriginals in their cultural dreaming traditions. |
| 9 | Anonymous | please do not penalise us for the abuse of our traditional drink by our misplaced and disillusoned aboriginal cousins |
| 10 | Paul Khan | |
| 11 | Charles Fisher | |
| 12 | Simione Sevudredre | If Kava is seen as destructive on society and needs to be banned for whatever reasons, then do so also for all forms of alcohol. |
| 13 | Anonymous | The island community have shops that sell Kava to the Island community and they just have to be informed that it can only be sold to they regular customers that regard the drink with respect and drink according to their custom. |
| 14 | Kai Viti. | If the Australian Authorities really have a heart for the people of Fiji living in Sydney or Australia for that matter, they would call us, or even call our community organisation FACDI for some discussions - how it would affect our tradition, how it would affect the distributors who make this available to the community but no, the authorities could not care less, how the resctrictions can affect our well being, this is part of our cultural background, how our community recognise friendship with the presentation of Kava to one another, this is what is holding us together in this country especially the people of Fiji. I beg the Australian Authorities we're already suffering with the atmosphere in Fiji, our families are suffering, don't start another chaos, to some problems we are not a part of. Contact us and let us come to some referendum, contact our community registered organisation the FACDI, I am a member - through this email address - and let us have a meeting - this should have been done before you activate the restrictions. I await your reply. |
| 15 | Ratu Vilikesa Nawaqaliva | Kava ban is not necessary as it is a common & traditional drink of Fiji. It is a source of income to thousand families in Fiji. If kava causes kidney/liver disease then I don't know how some heavy kava drinkers are still well and alive to over the age of 70 with none of these health problems found on them. Please lift the kava ban. |
| 16 | David.Wedlock | i.would like the ban lifted because kava is a significant part of our culture and custom for this identifies us as a people and taking this away only deprives us of who we are. |
| 17 | Anonymous | It's just not fair dinkum, mate. Like banning wine! |
| 18 | Anonymous | Kava is part of our Fijian Tradition. Cannot go without. |
| 19 | susana seasea | |
| 20 | Linda Fonmoa | |
| 21 | David Lane | It is a cultural drink in Fiji where it has ben drunk for hundreds of years with no ill effects. |
| 22 | Arthur Vera | Its the same as saying coke or alcohol is bad for you so lets ban it,- there is no freedom of choice for the individual. I dont think its the kava thats causing the problem with the indigenous australians but the alcohol and other substances that are mixed with it when consumed. |
| 23 | Abhay Maharaj | This ban is not necessary. This option has been taken to cover up the years and years of neglect of the Aboriginal People by the authorities. By banning Kava the Authorities give the impression that they do care. Instead, respect the people who own the land. Do not use Kava as the scapegoat for NOT PROVIDING for the Aboriginal People. |
| 24 | L H Powell | I,have been drinking kava since my young days and still do, and it's a fijian,Tongan and Samoan tradition custom, for birth, birthdays,weddings,Club meetings etc,and it carms the body down,when you go to bed at nights,since I had two opp's on my back, I don't take pills any more, it help's my pains and carms me too |
| 25 | Linda Sanday | Whether or not I drink kava, banning it from other cultures in a country so 'mulitcultural' is riduclous |
| 26 | Sandra and Curling Valentine | If the Queen of FIJI can drink Kava on her visits BECAUSE IT IS A TRADITION - what it is the real reason for this banning. I, as an Australian have learnt to appreciate both the drink and the reasons for consuming it. If you drink Kava, you don't usually drink alcohol. The banning of the imporation of Kava is ridiculous and obviously indicates that the Australian Government is totally UNINFORMED as well as being racially discriminating against many Islanders from different nations in the Pacific and does not allow us to follow our traditions. Discrimination, at this point in time, is at the top of my list - maybe an educational program on the cultures of the Pacific should be part of the training of Govt. Officials. |
| 27 | Kini Raiqiso | Australian Authorities, why don't you Ban alcohol for starters. You are so right brother Abhay Maharaj (24) and Arthur Vera (23).
I invite all people of Fiji and the Pacific to come forward and my big vinaka vakalevu, to you great people, brave enough to speak up and participate in the petition, and also vinaka to the friends of ours of Fiji, who sent in their petition to support the restrictions. Save our Yaqona or Kava tradition. |
| 28 | Michael Hoyt | It is our culture and our tradition to drink Kava during family and social gatherings. So to ban Kava because a section of the community in Australia (who has no affinity with the custom/tradition of drinking Kava) abuses it, is an injustice to us the people who owns the customary drink traditionally. |
| 29 | Anonymous | |
| 30 | Steve Bullock | |
| 31 | jeannie simmons | It is considered culturally and traditionally for our communities to be able to access kava for our meetings, gathering and traditional protocol.
All restrictions will do is limit access and make it too costly for our communities. |
| 32 | Lee Murray | |
| 33 | Joe Saukuru | Much needed for cultural progression... Especially here in Aust for the children of tomorrow. |
| 34 | Maureen Campbell | |
| 35 | Rina and Nemani,Canley Vale. | Kava is not to be taken as the reason why Aboriginals are not conforming. Government should ban the alcohol and strengthen the abuse of drugs, which is the main reason of the problem and importantly send in Bishop Pell and his line of church Ministers, send in the Uniting Church Leader, the area needs good spiritual cleansing, don't blame the prolem on the Kava. This is the last thing you want to think about, in as far as solving problems is concerned. Thank you everybody from Fiji for voicing your concerns, only we know how controlling the Kava is to all of us, as part of our culture and tradition.Vinaka vakalevu. |
| 36 | johannah drotini | This is a cultural drink that is widely respected in the fijian community. Please allow the fijians to hold onto this part of their custom, whilst adopting the australian lifestyle. with thanks |
| 37 | Fi and Robert Howard | Don't do this to us!!!! |
| 38 | Graham Evans | |
| 39 | Anonymous | |
| 40 | sandman, central coast. | this is ridiculous folks!!! . john howard is losing it ,especially with that memory lapse a couple of days ago .vote for LABOR!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| 41 | Anonymous | "I totally disagree" with the banning of kava importation here in australia. To me personally is the only way i feel at home(Fiji) is around a bowl of kava, & less argument with the partner while intoxicated with alcohol. Thank u....! |
| 42 | Temujin | |
| 43 | Tamai Temujin | For a country that encourages migrants to keep their culture and traditions as well as adopt the Australian way of life, it is HIGHLY HYPOCRITICAL of the Howard government to impose a ban on Kava which is drunk during Pacific Islanders' ceremonies. It is an IMPORTANT element of our culture and tradition. It is the equivalent of alcohol and the great aussie tradition of the barbie!
It is not Kava that fuels rage and rowdiness, but what's added to it and that is only being done by a minority who do not use Kava as a ceremonial drink! |
| 44 | Philippe Watek-Tariliu | Kava is a tribal traditional drink of Melanesia/Polynesia and Micronesia in the Pacific.People of Pacific background should be able to have a access to the kave here in Australia.Thank you. |
| 45 | Stan ritova | Its for a great cause. |
| 46 | christian grant | i am a former fijian who has lived in sydney australia for almost 40 years and have drunk cava socially, this ristriction on the importation of kava for us former pacific islanders is ludicrus to say the least, i hope when labour wins the upcoming elections that they may change things. |
| 47 | John Groom | This is a heavy-handed response which punishes the Pacific Islanders, to get to another section of the Australian Community.
Kava is used for traditional customary and social occasions and should never be banned for import and use by Australians of Pacific Island heritage. |
| 48 | Tepola Raicebe | I hope kava will be sent in to where we have Pacific Island communities. |
| 49 | Simon Lavulo | Let yaqona rule.
Pacific Islanders should not be discriminated agasinst because one one indiginous group of people. |
| 50 | Harry Tripp | To restrict the kava supply will increase the demand,therefore it will increase the price. Imagine if there was a restriction in alcohol in Australia. Is this some sort of money raising exercise for the govt...take away the kava supply,so Islanders could turn to alcohol. |