Steve Pratt
Encyclopedia
Stephen George "Steve" Pratt (born 15 October 1949) is a former Australian military officer, aid worker and Liberal
politician in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
for the electorate of Brindabella.
.
Prior to that, Mr Pratt had a 23-year career as a Military Officer in the Infantry of The Australian Army
, seeing service throughout the Asia/Pacific region. Steve worked in dangerous front-line locations including Rwanda
, Cambodia
, Zaire
, Iraq
and the former Yugoslavia
, as well as in Yemen
, Jordon and Kenya
, managing up to 32 international aid workers and 2000 local staff. In 1993 and 1994 Steve Pratt worked as a senior manager in northern Iraq alongside the UN dealing with the humanitarian problems that followed the Gulf War
. He and his colleagues came under fire from Ba’athist Fedayeen as well as religious extremists.
after appeals for clemency.
An investigation in 2000 by journalist Graham Davis
of the Australian SBS
network suggested an arrangement between CARE Canada, part of the CARE Federation, and the Government of Canada
, a NATO member, to recruit a team of people, including former military personnel, to help monitor events in Kosovo during the Yugoslav civil war. It was also revealed that former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser
, who is now CARE Australia's Chairman, and Graham Davis had known of the agreements with CARE Canada and the Canadian Government during the time of Mr Pratt's jailing, but had agreed not to reveal any of the details for fear of jeopardising the release of Pratt, Wallace, and Jelen. Jelen was not released ,in fact, until the following year through the help of Bernard Barron, founder of World Vision in Australia.
, ACT Government school closures, road safety, infrastructure needs in the ACT, the needs of the residents of Tharwa, including upgrades to the Tharwa Bridge
, and opposition to the proposed gas-fired power station and data centre.
for further investigation.
On 15 August 2008, Steve Pratt released a media release describing a new 11 metre tall outdoor wind activated kinetic sculpture commissioned by the ACT Government as 'unnecessary', and a potential traffic hazard for motorists. Mr Pratt stated that he had hoped the construction he had observed would have yielded another light pole or traffic sign
, and not a piece of public art
.
Steve is the author of Duty of Care, an account of CARE Australia’s emergency overseas work 1993 – 1999 and his ordeal under detention, in the former Yugoslavia, during the NATO conflict.
In 2002, he obtained his Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) through the University of New England
, specialising in "International Community Development" (ICD).
Steve is married to Samira and has two children, Haydon and Yasmina.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
politician in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
for the electorate of Brindabella.
Early career
Steve Pratt spent the late 1990s working for the foreign aid organisation CARE AustraliaCARE Australia
CARE Australia is an Australian, not-for-profit, secular humanitarian aid agency assisting in disaster relief efforts and addressing the causes of global poverty in developing countries...
.
Prior to that, Mr Pratt had a 23-year career as a Military Officer in the Infantry of The Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, seeing service throughout the Asia/Pacific region. Steve worked in dangerous front-line locations including Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and the former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, as well as in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, Jordon and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, managing up to 32 international aid workers and 2000 local staff. In 1993 and 1994 Steve Pratt worked as a senior manager in northern Iraq alongside the UN dealing with the humanitarian problems that followed the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. He and his colleagues came under fire from Ba’athist Fedayeen as well as religious extremists.
Iraq spying allegations
Allegations that Steve Pratt used the cover of humanitarian work to undertake spying activities for the UN in Northern Iraq during 1992 and 1993 were published in The Sunday Telegraph of 11 April 1999. Reportedly, Mr Pratt's activities became known to the Iraqi Government and a price was apparently placed on Mr Pratt's Head. Mr Pratt quickly left Iraq in 1993. These allegations were later found to have been inadequately verified by the Australian Press Council.Yugoslav spying allegations
In 1999 whilst evacuating Yugoslavia, Mr Pratt, and fellow Australian Peter Wallace and Yugoslav Branko Jelen, were arrested by Yugoslav authorities and accused of spying for NATO and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Mr Pratt was forced to make a video taped confession, which was broadcast worldwide. After spending 5 months of a 12 year sentence in jail in Yugoslavia, he was released in September 1999 by former Serb Leader, Slobodan MilosevicSlobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
after appeals for clemency.
An investigation in 2000 by journalist Graham Davis
Graham Davis
Graham Hunt Davis is a Walkley Award and Logie Award winning Australian journalist. He is co-owner of the Australian television production and events company, .-Early life:...
of the Australian SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
network suggested an arrangement between CARE Canada, part of the CARE Federation, and the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
, a NATO member, to recruit a team of people, including former military personnel, to help monitor events in Kosovo during the Yugoslav civil war. It was also revealed that former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
, who is now CARE Australia's Chairman, and Graham Davis had known of the agreements with CARE Canada and the Canadian Government during the time of Mr Pratt's jailing, but had agreed not to reveal any of the details for fear of jeopardising the release of Pratt, Wallace, and Jelen. Jelen was not released ,in fact, until the following year through the help of Bernard Barron, founder of World Vision in Australia.
Political career
On 20 October 2001 Steve Pratt was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly as a Liberal MLA for the electorate of Brindabella. He was re-elected in the 2004 election. As of September 2007, Mr Pratt was the Shadow minister for Urban Services, Transport, and Emergency Services and Multicultural affairs. Steve Pratt wasn't re-elected in the 2008 Legislative Assembly election.Political views
Steve Pratt's political views are generally focused on law and orderLaw and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
, ACT Government school closures, road safety, infrastructure needs in the ACT, the needs of the residents of Tharwa, including upgrades to the Tharwa Bridge
Tharwa Bridge
Tharwa Bridge is a four span Allan truss bridge which provides a high-level crossing point across the Murrumbidgee River, allowing traffic between Canberra and Tharwa village. It is the oldest surviving bridge in the Australian Capital Territory.- History :...
, and opposition to the proposed gas-fired power station and data centre.
Disdain for public art and graffiti removal
Mr Pratt gained notoriety for an ill-conceived campaign against graffiti and vandalism. In April 2007 he 'cleaned up' a legal mural that had been funded by a local sporting club under a program intended to prevent unauthorised graffiti and vandalism. Despite being told by ACT Government officials prior to removing the mural the work was considered to be art, Mr Pratt considered the work "obnoxious" and removed it anyway. The matter was later referred to the Australian Federal PoliceAustralian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
for further investigation.
On 15 August 2008, Steve Pratt released a media release describing a new 11 metre tall outdoor wind activated kinetic sculpture commissioned by the ACT Government as 'unnecessary', and a potential traffic hazard for motorists. Mr Pratt stated that he had hoped the construction he had observed would have yielded another light pole or traffic sign
Traffic sign
Traffic signs or road signs are signs erected at the side of roads to provide information to road users. With traffic volumes increasing over the last eight decades, many countries have adopted pictorial signs or otherwise simplified and standardized their signs to facilitate international travel...
, and not a piece of public art
Public art
The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all...
.
Other achievements
Steve Pratt has the following decorations: the National Medal, the Defence Force Service Medal, the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (clasps: Iraq; Great Lakes (Africa); Balkans), and the Australian Service Medal (South East Asia).Steve is the author of Duty of Care, an account of CARE Australia’s emergency overseas work 1993 – 1999 and his ordeal under detention, in the former Yugoslavia, during the NATO conflict.
In 2002, he obtained his Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) through the University of New England
University of New England, Australia
The University of New England is an Australian public university with approximately 18,000 higher education students. Its original and main campus is located in the city of Armidale in northern New South Wales....
, specialising in "International Community Development" (ICD).
Steve is married to Samira and has two children, Haydon and Yasmina.
External links
- http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/members/index.asp?sortby=&profile=38&assembly=6#38