Australian Disclosure Project

The concept of a “Disclosure Project”, is one where people of a given country, through, direct appeals to politicians or Government bodies, or by the assembly of citizens that can add testimony to the fact and or by an intense record search of government archives, open a dialog with the current Government to reveal hidden or undisclosed information, projects, policy or agendas’. The Australian Disclosure Project represents that concept in respect to the subject of Australian UFOs or Australian Ufology.

Early Disclosure:

The concept is an old one, and has been undertaken by many Australian citizens over the years, in various forms and intensity. The official Australian government records held at the National Archives of Australia show these attempt, to bring about disclosure on the subject of UFOs.

First Attempts

After a string of reports to Government authorities and the press, the Melbourne based news paper “The Argus” (1846-1957)NAA in 1952 attempted a program of disclosure through various Members of Parliament. Mr Downer (MP) took up the challenge and directed questions to Minister for Air.

Then again, on the 20th Nov 1953, another question was asked in the House of Representatives 'Question time' by Mr Downer (MP), about numerous sighting of UFO's over Australia. Downer asked; “Last year, when I directed a question to the Minister for Air about flying saucers, the honorable gentleman gave a facetious reply. Is he aware of the attention now being devoted by air force authorities in Canada and England to the nature and origin of these mysterious objects? Are similar investigations contemplated by the Royal Australian Air Force, or does the Minister regard flying saucers as a problem for psychologists rather than defence authorities?”

Unfortunately, Downers question gave the Minister an easy reply path. The then Minister for Air, Hon. William McMahon (MP) (later Prime Minister) replied that the "saucers" were a problem more for the psychologist than the defense authorities. [http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ShowImage.asp?B3332403&S7&T=P National Archives of Australia: A705/1, 159/2/304, digital image p7.]

Recent Times:

Saturday 14th June 2003, The National UFO conference for 2003 was hosted by UFO Research Queensland in Brisbane, held at the Italo-Australian Centre. Saturday began with opening remarks and an official welcome by UFORQ’s Chairperson Tino Pezzimenti. Following this was Tino’s reading of an announcement by Mr Keith Basterfield from Adelaide. Basterfield was to be a conference speaker but was unable to attend the National Conference due to ill health. His planned presentation was entitled ‘Disclosure - An Australian Perspective’ and this was an exploration of the history of ‘disclosure’ in countries to date, a close look at the recent US project, a review of Australian disclosure and a proposed strategy for an Australian disclosure project. Basterfield announcement was in relation to the launch of a new ‘Disclosure Australia’. ().

5th June 2004 at the Australian National UFO Conference held in Campbelltown (NSW) was hosted by UFO Research New South Wales (UFORNSW), Debbie Payne a Director from the ‘Australian UFO Research Association’ spoke on ‘The Australian Disclosure Project - What the Government has on UFOs’. Paynr said "what you discover through searching the archives will depend largely on who you ask. If the staff have or develop an interest in the UFO subject they will tend to bring to your attention other information they have come across while helping with your initial request". (Sheryl Gottschall:2004)

In July 2007, after 4 years at collecting documents from the National Archives of Australia, the Basterfield project was finalised and closed. Basterfield reported that they had reviewed around 12,000 UFO related documents from the NAA.

Source

*Basterfield, Keith, Disclosure - An Australian Perspective, Australian UFO Research Association (AURA), 2003

*Gottschall, Sheryl, Third Australian National UFO Conference Review, UFO Research Queensland (UFORQld), 2003

*Gottschall, Sheryl, 4th Australian National UFO Conference 2004 Review and Summary, UFO Research Queensland (UFORQld), June 2004

*Payne, Debbie, The Australian Disclosure Project - What the Government has on UFOs, Australian UFO Research Association (AURA), June 2004

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