Let the sunshine in!

Lets restore democracy, transparency and accountability to our College

Dear Colleague,
This weeks general meeting provides an important opportunity for us as the members of the RACP
to restore the traditional values that once made us the most respected and influential medical
organisation in Australia and New Zealand.
The proposals on which we are being asked to vote are simple and straightforward. Indeed, many
have expressed amazement that they could even be regarded as controversial. Why would anyone
oppose the introduction of the words democracy, transparency and accountability into our
stated objects, when these are indeed our shared values? Why would anyone oppose the idea of a
register of interests, when this has already become the standard for most public agencies, including
the NHMRC? How could anyone object to fellows and trainees expressing their opinions about how
they want their own organisation to be run?
Like you, we treasure our College and are proud of its achievementspast and present. Like you, we
have watched with dismay as the values we have prized have been replaced by centralised, secretive
managerial processes that have alienated and disenfranchised many members. Like you, we hope
for a restoration of values, for a return to the principles and traditions that served us so well for so
many years.
Over the last few weeks we have sought to provide you with some information and arguments about
why we think that together we need to take the modest, careful actions we have proposed. We have
been overwhelmed by the support we have received, but have also been disappointed by the
reluctance of the College leadership to provide a forum for both sides to put their cases equally and
fairly. Instead, we have had to rely on other mechanismssuch as private lists, personal contacts
and social mediato communicate our message.
We have repeatedly emphasized our belief that no single individual is to blame for the current
predicament of the College and the importance of keeping in focus the many good things the
organisation continues to do. We do not feel that it is helpful to become involved in personal
recriminations. We will leave it to you to decide whether you are satisfied with excuses about the
voting irregularities in previous elections, or implausible claims about the cost of a general meeting,
or scare campaigns about junior secretaries having to reveal their private affairs, or about how
decision-making will be paralysed if one of the most highly educated groups in Australia and New
Zealand is provided with a mechanism for expressing collective views to its representatives.
We leave it to you to judge these claims and to make up your own mind. We hope that you will
decidewith usthat the traditional values and principles of the College we prize so dearly should
be restored, so that we can work together to make our organisation stronger and more inclusive.
With kind regards,
Paul Komesaroff, Ian Kerridge, Peter Brooks, David Isaacs, Stephen Leeder, David Allen, Shane
Carney, Robert Clancy, Christopher Clarke, Ric Day, Niki Ellis, Henry Kilham, Rob Loblay, Raina
MacIntyre, Philip Morris, George Rubin, Alex Wodak
on behalf of the 406 movers of the motions.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ON-LINE VOTING CONCLUDES AT LUNCH TIME ON TUESDAY. YOU ARE URGED
TO REGISTER YOUR VOTE BEFORE THEN.

ABN 90 270 343 237

Notice of Meeting

Dear Member,
Your College has received a request from a group of more than 100 current members to convene an
Extraordinary General Meeting to consider four proposed special resolutions to amend the Colleges
Constitution.
A General Meeting of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians will be held at 4:00pm (AEST) on
Thursday, 9 July 2015 at the following address:
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
College Education Centre
Level 8, 52 Phillip Street
Sydney, NSW, Australia
How to vote
Lodge your vote in 2 easy steps.
Simply click on the 'Vote here' link below. This will take you to the Voting Services site, our online
voting service.
Vote here
Or, copy and paste the following web address into your browser:
http://www.votingservices.com.au/racp
Votes submitted through this site must be received by 4:00pm (AEST), on Tuesday, 7 July 2015.
Member document
The following member document can be viewed on Voting Services:
Notice of General Meeting
Further information
If you have further enquiries, please
(AEST).
Inside Australia:
Inside New Zealand:
Outside Australia or New Zealand:

call the numbers below, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm

1300 393 142
0800 524 533
+61 3 9415 4173

Yours sincerely,
Company Secretary
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians is obliged by law to provide this Notice to all Members, including
those who have indicated they do not wish to receive any correspondence from the College.