Dear Delegates,

I would like to welcome all of you to CESIMS Fall 2025! This conference has been carefully planned to ensure all of you have a great conference. Whether you are a brand new delegate or an experienced one, CESIMS will no doubt offer you a challenging and fun Model UN experience.

This committee is about the Emu War in Australia in 1932, and it begins three days into the military operation (please read further in the background guide for more information on this). This war was very unique for a few reasons. First, when we typically think of wars it is between two human forces, but this war was man vs bird.

Second, the Australian “army” in this case consisted of 3 soldiers. Third, this war was waged by the Australian government and Australian farmers against their own wildlife that is unique to their land. Overall, this war revealed that humankind cannot simply dominate nature through sheer force of will, because nature will fight back.

This committee will be run as a JCC, with one cabinet being made up of Australian government officials and farmers, while the other cabinet will be made up of the emus. For this reason, the character descriptions that are a part of this background guide will serve as your main resource. The emu characters are entirely made up, as in real life they did not have actual names or individually known personalities, so you may extrapolate on your character as much as you wish, as long as you include the persona given to you in the description. The same goes for those who receive non-emu characters, as some of them had to be made up due to limited information about individual characters during the Emu War.

As this is not a General Assembly, you will not be writing working papers. Instead, delegates will be tasked with writing private and public directives in response to issues that arise. These directives should all help advance your crisis arc–your goal is to place your character in the most favorable position by the end of the war. We will have several crisis updates that will keep the committee moving along. Keep in mind, crises typically adhere to a quicker pace than that of general assemblies. Additionally, there is no speakers list in crisis committees. We will start committee with a round-robin that will give each delegate a chance to speak, so please come prepared with an opening statement.

I hope you enjoy diving into the world of the emus during this committee. If you have any questions, or would like to talk about the material, feel free to reach out to me at sdd2142@barnard.edu. Good luck, and may you win the war!

Best,

Haila Desai

P.S. As a general rule, if there is a source attached to your character’s description,

they are not made up and you may do additional research on the character. These

descriptions are most likely shorter than the ones for the made up characters.

Code of Conduct

All delegates will be held to a high standard of behavior and will be expected to treat each other and the topics of debate with respect. No harassment or bullying of any kind will be tolerated. Sensitive discussion of topics is expected to be conducted respectfully and intelligently. The Secretary-General of CESIMS reserves the right to remove a delegate from the conference at any point in time.

Attire

All delegates will be expected to wear Western Business Attire.

Language

The working and official language of the committee shall be English.

Parliamentary Procedure

Points

There are four types of points that a delegate may raise.

Point of Order

A Point of Order may not interrupt a speaker and can be raised when the delegate believes the rules of procedure have been violated. The chair will stop the proceedings of the committee and ask the delegate to provide warranted arguments as to which rules of procedure have been violated.

Point of Personal Privilege

A Point of Personal Privilege may be raised when a delegate’s ability to participate in debate is impaired for any physical or logistical reason (for instance, if the speaker is not audible). This point may interrupt a speech, and the dais will immediately try to resolve the difficulty.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

This point may be raised by a delegate who wishes to clarify any rule of procedure with the Chair. It may not interrupt a speaker, and a delegate rising to this point may not make any substantive statements or arguments.

Point of Information

As the name suggests, this point may be raised by a delegate to bring substantive information to the notice. It may not interrupt a speaker and must contain only a statement of some new fact that may have relevance to debate. Arguments and analyses may not be made by delegates rising to this point. A point of information may also be used to ask questions of a speaker on the general speakers list.

Motions

Motions control the flow of debate. A delegate may raise a motion when the chair opens the floor for points or motions. Motions require a vote to pass. Procedural motions, unless mentioned otherwise, require a simple majority to pass.

Motion for Moderated Caucus

This motion begins a moderated caucus and must specify the topic, the time per speaker, and the total time for the proposed caucus.

Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus

This motion moves the committee into unmoderated caucus, during which lobbying and drafting of resolutions may take place. It must specify the duration of the caucus.

Motion to Suspend Debate

This motion suspends debate for a stipulated amount of time.

Motion to Adjourn

This motion brings the committee’s deliberation to an end, and it is only admissible when suggested by the Chair.

Motion to Introduce Documents

A successful motion to introduce essentially puts the document on the floor to be debated by the committee. The sponsor of the document will be asked to read the document and then, if deemed appropriate, the Chair will entertain a moderated caucus on the topic.

Motion to Divide the Question

This motion may be moved by a delegate to split a document into its component clauses for the purpose of voting. This may be done when a delegate feels that there is significant support for some clauses of the document, but not for the complete document.

Motion for a Roll Call Vote

A delegate may move to have the vote conducted in alphabetical order.

Motion for Speakers For and Against

If it would help the proceedings of the committee, a delegate may motion for speakers for and against a document.

Documents

Committee Documents represent the product of the committee’s deliberations and their collective decisions.

Directives

Directives are similar to resolutions in traditional committees, with the notable exception that they do not include preambulatory clauses and are much shorter and more concise. Directives are generally written in response to a specific crisis update, and can be as short as two or three clauses. All direct actions by the committee as a whole require a directive.

Communiqués

Communiqués are formal communications (private by default) directed from the committee to other governments, individuals, or organizations. Committee communiqués pass by simple majority.

Press Release

Press releases express the sentiments of the committee (NOT individuals) on any issue. They require a simple majority to pass.

Amendments

After the first draft of a committee document has been introduced, delegates may move to amend clauses of the draft. If the amendment is supported by all the sponsors of the documents, it passes as a friendly amendment.

Communication During Committee

Communication during committee may take place through handwritten notes:

Notes Between Delegates

Delegates should feel free to write personal notes to their fellow committee members. We ask that these notes pertain to the business of the committee.

Notes to the Dais

Delegates may also write to the Chair with questions regarding procedural issues of the committee, as well as a wide range of personal inquiries. Delegates should feel free to write to the Chair on any issue that would improve the committee experience. This could range from a clarification of procedural issues to substantive matters.

Crisis Notes

Crisis notes are notes written in character to fictional confidants. Backroom staffers will respond to these notes in character. The success of your notes depends on how well the notes are written and researched, and how reasonable the request is.

Australia

Australia is the only country that is also deemed a continent in and of itself. It is a country that is known for its isolation from the rest of the world, its especially dry land, and for only having slight changes in elevation.1 These geographic features have fostered the development of a great wildlife population, including the emus. The wildlife of Australia is generally unique to the country because of its geographic isolation. The Australian government is broken up into two forms: national government and state governments. Each of the state governments has developed its own constitution, and has a reasonable amount of freedom to rule over their designated territory. However, they are still subject to the general oversight of the national government.

Emus

Emus are large flightless birds that are native to Australia and have a typical life expectancy of 5 to 10 years. They are found primarily in open plains, but also in snowfields, forests, and savannah woodlands.5 Overall, they like to reside in less populated areas. Emus are a part of a patriarchal society where the female bird helps create the nest and lays the eggs, but then goes on to breed again whereas the male emu cares for the young.6 Female emus can lay 5-15 eggs, and then the male birds protect the hatchlings and teach them to get food.7 After 18 months, the female hatchlings are ready to reproduce. Their scientific name, dromaius novaehollandia, is derived from the Greek word meaning “racer,” signifying their great speed. They are fast and agile creatures that stand roughly 6 feet tall and have a stride of about 3 feet long. Their powerful legs allow them to run up to 55mph and walk up to 15 miles per day. In fact, they are the only birds that have a calf muscle. Emus are extremely important for the environment, because as they travel across vast distances, they disperse seeds and therefore ensure the continuation of crop growth across Australia. Despite their physical power, their short wings mean they are unable to fly. Additionally, they have great eyesight and hearing abilities, which makes them hard to capture.

The main threats to emus’ existence are habitat loss, fragmentation, vehicle collision, and hunting. The main predators of emus are dingoes and wedge-tailed eagles, however, emu eggs are often eaten by feral dogs, pigs, eagles, foxes, snakes, and goannas. When emus are attacked from above, they run in a zig zag pattern, and when they are attacked on the ground, they hiss, bulk up their feathers, and sometimes kick their predator with their powerful legs. Finally, a major threat to emus are the fences surrounding farms and homes. Emus consistently try to trample through them but sometimes groups of them can get trapped and crushed by the fences.

While emus used to populate Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, and King Island, they have gone extinct in these regions. Emus are often killed for food, but also because their fat can be used for oil, their bones can be structured into knives, and their tendons can be made into strings. Emus are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animal meat, so when they find unattended crops, they typically consume them.

Emus also have great cultural significance in Australia.They symbolize strength, resilience, and a deep connection to the land. Some popular folktales in Australia deem emus as creator spirits guiding the natural world, while others see them as “celestial figures in the Milky Way.” The birds can be seen on the Australian coat of arms, the 50 cent coin, and some sports team logos. This is important in discussing the Emu War, because while emus had become a hindrance to Australian farmers’ ways of life in the 1930s, the history of emus on the continent goes back much further. In fact, after the Emu War, the birds’ received a new social status as being the embodiment of “survival and adaptability” in Australia.

The Emu War

After World War I, the Australian government offered incentives for Australian citizens to move west and develop the land. This led to thousands of so-called “soldier settlers” migrating west. They were then followed by thousands of emus who were seeking out the crops being planted on the new farms. Furthermore, in 1932 there was an extreme drought in Australia that killed many crops and forced the emus west in search of food. For years, emus were deemed a protected species in Australia, however, in 1922 the Australian government relabeled them as vermin due to the damage the birds were causing to essential Australian crops, especially wheat. Due to their size and strength, emus tend to break into farmers’ properties, and eat or trample their crops. They also break the fences surrounding the farms, allowing other animals to infest the property. This is economically harmful and also limits the amount of food farmers have to consume. So, to solve this problem the Australian government sent three soldiers to kill over 20,000 emus in 1932. This mission was supposed to be quick and easy, however, it turned out to be almost impossible. The soldiers and government officials had failed to account for the speed and agility of the emus. For three days, the soldiers killed only 30 birds. They had expected the emus to stay together, but instead the birds scattered. The emus appeared to create strategies to evade the soldiers, even forming what people described as “units” and lookouts for the soldiers. Another problem was the machinery that the soldiers were using. One day, a soldier had tracked down a ton of emus, but their machine guns stopped working and they were unable to kill any. Additionally, government officials expected the birds to be no match for the relatively heavy weaponry the soldiers were using, but when the bullets just grazed the emus, the birds appeared to be unharmed. It is important to know that the soldiers were using Lewis automatic machine guns and had 10,000 rounds of ammunition. Members of the Australian government will be able to decide whether they want to change the type of equipment the soldiers have, given the results after the first three days of fighting. After 45 days of the Emu War, soldiers had killed just about 2,500 emus out of the 20,000 they set out to eliminate.34 Because this number was relatively insignificant, it did not solve the farmers’ problem–emus were still interfering with their crop production. That being said, the mission did not continue. The Emu War revealed how resilient and cunning emus are, leading to a massive swell of support for the birds’ existence in Australia. In 1999, emus were officially placed under protection by the Australian government through an Environmental Law. The emu population in Australia now totals about 600,000 wild emus. Remember, our committee starts after the first three days of the Emu War, so this outcome may be changed in our committee.

This information is only to serve as extra background information to guide your research and solution making.

1. Where does my characters’ allegiance lie?

2. What are the economic impacts of my proposed solution?

3. How will my solution impact the environment?

4. Is the government more responsible for the emus’ lives or the farmers’

   prosperity?

5. Is there a solution beyond killing the emus?

6. Should more soldiers be sent out to kill the emus?

7. What are the farmers’ roles in this war?

8. What does the war look like to the general public?

9. How can my character control the narrative of the war?

10. When this war ends, what do I want my social position to be?

Emu Cabinet:

1. Emperor Featherplume – Supreme Leader of the Flock: As the oldest surviving emu in rural Western Australia, Featherplume is revered for leading migrations for decades. He is wise but ruthless, and carries authority among all emus. His goal is to totally eradicate fences and wheat farms, which he sees as symbols of human oppression. A charismatic, unifying leader, Featherplume commands loyalty—even to the point of suppressing opposition. Given his age, Featherplume is often stuck in his ways, which creates conflict with younger members of the flock.

2. General Beakbreaker – Minister of Defense: Beakbreaker has fought her fair share of conflicts with farmers’ weapons, as shown by the large scar across her face. She is fierce, hot-headed, and thrives on direct confrontation—qualities that shape her war strategy. Her favored method of war is open-field charges. While risky, she finds them exhilarating and has a special talent for remaining safe from bullets. Beakbreaker can be a loose cannon, and while she is a great leader, her physical strength, mental prowess, and ambition threaten other members of the flock who hold power.

3. Comrade Talonclaw – Minister for Agriculture: Talonclaw has a talent for organizing quick, efficient crop raids in Western Australia. He is a practical, hardworking bird who hates humans for believing they are superior beings. He finds ruining their farms and stealing their crops to be just, as humans have always treated emus as second-class citizens. His loyalty is to his flock, and his goal is to ensure every emu has enough wheat and barley to survive—even if that means breaking into humans’ farms. His organization skills allow him to manage resource distribution among flocks, giving him intimate knowledge of each individual bird which will prove useful during the war.

4. High Priest Longstride – Minister for Religion and Tradition: Like humans, emus have their own religions and traditions. Longstride’s job is keeper of ancient emu migration stories. He is mysterious, poetic, and believes in the great beyond. While he witnesses the deaths of many flock members during the war, he sees their physical demise on Earth as the beginning of their lives elsewhere. This perspective makes him one of the most optimistic birds in the flock, which is vital during the trying days of the war. His goal in the conflict, which he frames as a holy struggle, is to preserve sacred roaming lands.

5. Madam Swiftfeather – Minister for Speed and Reconnaissance Swiftfeather is the fastest runner of the flock. She is proud, competitive, and always testing her limits. While she is not a fighter, she plays an essential role in the emus’ war effort. Her special skill, which she loves to show off, is outrunning soldiers and mapping safe routes. This makes her invaluable at surveillance and intelligence gathering, but her confidence may prove fatal if she is not careful.

6. Professor Stonebeak – Minister for Science and Engineering Stonebeak is obsessed with studying human fences and tools. He is an inquisitive bird whose messy feathers and askew glasses highlight his eccentric personality. While he often gets distracted, his intelligence is unmatched by any other bird. His goal in the war is to find weaknesses in farm infrastructure, especially wire fences, and to start taking over farms one by one. He provides the emus with technological insight for sabotage that can extend well beyond farm equipment.

7. Lady Grasswhisper- Minister for Environment Grasswhisper, following in line with her name, is an advocate for protecting natural food sources beyond wheat. She is a calm, diplomatic bird who is always pushing for migration into untouched bushland. While Grasswhisper always stays loyal to her flock, she detests conflict and hates to see her fellow flock members die. She also hates what war does to the environment. Throughout the war, she’ll push for paths of compromise while others demand constant raiding of farms. As such, some will view her as too soft and want to diminish her influence within the flock.

8. Colonel Duststorm- Minister for Guerilla Warfare Duststorm is a master of vanishing into scrublands after raids. He is patient, calculating, and quiet until he makes a decision, then he commands attention from everyone around him. He supports hit-and-run tactics that utilize the strength, speed, and agility of the emu body while exhausting their human enemies. He constantly proposes different forms of ambushes and psychological warfare. This leads to many conflicts with General Beakbreaker’s charge first philosophy.

9. Ambassador Sharpplume- Minister for Foreign Affairs As a young bird, Sharpplume roamed as far as South Australia, bringing tales of kangaroo allies. He is a smooth-talking and diplomatic bird who is skilled in multiple avian dialects. This allows him to communicate with other species, which could be of great use in this war. His goal for the conflict is to forge alliances with other species, such as kangaroos, cockatoos, feral camels, etc., and collectively fight against their human oppressors. He is a skilled negotiator and extremely persuasive, but can sometimes be seen as an outcast of emu society because of his obsession with non-emu species.

10. Chief Nestkeeper- Minister for Families and Welfare Nestkeeper oversees hatchlings and egg-guarding fathers, ensuring that the emu species lives on. He is a protective, nurturing, and pragmatic bird, and is committed to the longevity of his species. He sees this war as a threat to the emus’ existence, and believes it needs to end swiftly. He makes many speeches on this topic, and coined the phrase “think of the chicks!” to persuade emus to stop fighting this war and migrate to uninhabited territory. This puts him in conflict with other birds who believe more direct action needs to be taken.

11. Captain Ironleg- Minister for Logistics Ironleg is known for walking hundreds of miles during droughts, and consistently running 50 mph for hours at a time (though Madam Swiftweather likes to remind him that she can run for 55 mph for longer than he can). Ironleg is stoic, tireless, and all business. During the war, his role is to plan supply routes to send aid to members of the flock who have scattered elsewhere, find watering holes, and map out marching schedules. His primary function within the flock is to keep his fellow birds properly fed and moving during campaigns. He resents dreamers and radicals who don’t understand logistics, and conflicts with those who want to drive headfirst into battle without thinking through a plan. Ironleg prioritizes the safety and efficiency of his flock above all else, but hopefully he does not get preoccupied with logistics and forget about keeping himself out of harm's way.

12. Oracle Softplume- Minister for Prophecy and Spirits Softplume can predict wheat harvests by wind patterns–or at least she claims to. Her prophetic ability is somewhat contested within the flock, but one thing remains for sure, Softplume is confident in her supposed talent and no other bird should mess with it. She is an enigmatic bird, but is often isolated from the group as she tends to speak in riddles. Her goal during this war is to get in touch with the spirits and find out what path the emus should take to attain glory. She has a small cult following within the flock, so her predictions are of great influence and can be used for both good and bad.

13. Marshal Thunderfoot- Minister of Training and Drills Thunderfoot has led mock military charges since youth to train recruits, which has prepared her for her current responsibilities as Minister of Training and Drills. She is strict, disciplined, and a drill-sergeant type, but is greatly respected and admired by those she trains for her clear directions and great skill. Thunderfoot can turn chaos into ordered professionalism at any time, and is a great resource to plan and execute emu raids with formations and signals during the war. However, there are some flock members who see her tactics as being too rigid for guerilla warfare, and may not listen to her orders.

14. Seer Windcall- Minister for Weather and Migration Windcall is an expert in seasonal wind and rain cycles. He is a patient elderly emu, who is thoughtful and extremely observant. Many flock members come to Windcall for advice, and he is willing to listen to any young bird’s problems. Windcall can predict environmental changes, and analyze how they will affect the flock. He is essential in determining their migrating patterns and helping the flock find food, and now he has taken a place in the emus’ war cabinet. He plans to use this prediction skills to correctly time emu raids with storms to hide the emus’ movements from their human enemies until it is too late.

15. Duchess Featherflare- Minister for Culture and Morale Featherflare is known for her elaborate courtship dances that inspire the troops when they feel demoralized. She is glamorous, dramatic, and proud, and is great at keeping spirits high with ritual dances and displays. Her greatest strength is that she can build unity through culture, which is an important role to play during wartime.

16. Brother Pebblechaser- Minister for Youth and Education Pebblechaser is famous among chicks for teaching survival games. He is a cheerful, hopeful, and optimistic young bird that likes to train the chicks to outsmart farmers from the start. He is essential to the emus’ war agenda, as he focuses on involving all of the flock in the war effort, thereby increasing their numbers and strength. He is also important to the flocks’ longevity, as he ensures each new generation gains the skills to defend themselves. Although he is an important member of the flock, some older members will dismiss him on account of his youth.

17. Major Strongshell- Minister for Defense Technology Strongshell specializes in testing emus’ ability to withstand bullets. He is boastful, confident, and a bit egotistical. His goal during the war is to prove that emus’ resilience is their greatest weapon. Strongshell serves as a symbol of indestructibility within the flock, however, he is also seen as a potential danger to the emus because of his dangerous tactics. He consistently uses his fellow emus as his test-subjects, often leading to fellow flock members getting injured. Strongshell’s greatest weakness will be

    his own ego and belief in emu supremacy, as he may underestimate human ability and persistence in pursuing the cause against the existence of the emus in Western Australia.

18. Sir Dustbeak- Minister of Espionage Dustbeak is a skilled infiltrator of farms, and once he even stole bread from a farmhouse porch. Daring, secretive, and sly, Dustbeak often whispers instead of speaking as he is worried someone will overhear his plotting. Because of his strength and cunning, he is able to gather intelligence on human troop movements, farmers’ initiatives to protect their properties, and wheat shipments. His greatest weakness will be the general sentiment of distrust toward him felt by much of the flock because he reveals so little about himself.

19. Countess Sharpclaw- Minister for Justice Sharpclaw is known for punishing deserters from the flock and settling flock disputes. She is harsh, unforgiving, cold, and yet fair. Her goal during the war is to maintain strict order and discipline within the flock. While the rest of the birds look to external threats, she will be trying to determine internal ones. Sharpclaw is highly respected, and doesn’t make accusations until she is certain a crime was committed. As such, once she labels a bird as a transgressor, that bird will be labeled for life. Sharpclaw hates cowardice and disunity, and will strive to ensure these qualities do not poison the emu army.

20. Bard Featherquill- Minister for Stories and Memory Featherquill likes to roam around campfires retelling tales of emu victories over settlers. He is witty, entertaining, and committed to keeping history alive. His greatest asset is his knowledge of past emu successes and failures against humans, which he will use to inform strategy in the present. In general, he shapes emu identity and morale, and will ensure that the Emu War is remembered forever.

21. Viceroy Grainthief- Minister for Raiding Strategy Grainthief is famous for stealing whole sacks of wheat from rail stations. He is a bold, daring, overconfident, and slightly reckless bird, who will focus on maximizing food theft during the war. Resourceful and quick-thinking, Grainthief is an essential member of the emu team, but he will prioritize food raids over larger strategic goals, and may just find that his ego gets him in trouble.

22. Admiral Riverplume- Minister of Waterways Riverplume is skilled in leading emus through river crossing, and is essential in securing water resources during campaigns. He is calm, cautious, and tactical, and will keep the flock hydrated throughout the war. However, he is considered overly cautious by many, which may cost him a lot.

23. Matriarch Sunfeather- Minister for Elders Sunfeather is one of the oldest hens in Western Australia, and commands great moral authority. She is gentle but shrewd, respected but feared, and overall greatly admired by all. Her goal during the war will be to remind the council of generational

    survival beyond warfare. And while some younger birds that are in charge of military operations may claim she is stuck in her ways, Sunfeather is a force to be reckoned with and will make her opinion known.

24. Captain Grainbeard- Minister for Trade and Smuggling Grainbeard is known for hoarding great amounts of grain and redistributing it among allies. He is shrewd, calculating, and sees himself as a dictator of justice. His greatest strength is that he can keep resources flowing in lean times, however, he is often accused of corruption or self-interest. His goal during the war will be to keep his fellow emus fed by selling them stolen wheat. The only question is, who will be using the profit?

25. Princess Quillstrike- Minister for Youth Militias Quillstrike is young but ambitious, and rose quickly through the emu ranks by leading chick militias. She is energetic, passionate, and sometimes reckless. Her greatest asset is that she harnesses youthful energy for war, however, she can be a bit too impulsive. That being said, her goal for the war is to arm the young and strike boldly before humans adapt to the emus’ new tactics.

1. Sir George Pearce- Minister of Defense As the Minister of Defense, Pearce is responsible for approving the deployment of soldiers to eliminate the emus. He strongly aligns with the position of the farmers and supports the elimination of the emus. Pearce is known for being a great military strategist and is a highly respected member of the Australian government.

2. Joseph Lyons- Prime Minister of Australia (United Australia Party) Lyons is not directly involved with organizing the deployment of soldiers against the emus, but it occurs during his rule in Australia. Lyons is the 10th Prime Minister of Australia and serves for 7 years.40 He is a widely popular political figure of the time, and holds major sway over both the government and the Australian people. His influence can be greatly impactful in changing public opinion of the war and altering military strategy.

3. Major G.P.W Meredith- Royal Australian Artillery Meredith is the commander of the soldiers sent out to eliminate the emus. It is under his direction that the two other gunmen—S. McMurray and J. O'Halloran—operate during the short war. He became a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Artillery in 1910, and in 1932, as a major, he was appointed as the Officer Commanding Royal Australian Artillery.

4. S. McMurray- Gunman Not much is known about the two gunmen who accompany Major G.P.W Meredith. However, McMurray is a skilled gunman and is an important part of the military team during the Emu War. He is extremely outspoken and does not fear standing up against his commander.

5. J. O’Halloran- Gunman Like McMurray, O’Halloran is a skilled gunman and an important part of the operation. However, unlike McMurray, O’Halloran is very quiet. In general, he goes along with Major G.P.W Meredith’s strategies without much protest. While he is a brave and loyal soldier who follows directions, he is also a caring man who feels compassion for the innocent birds he is sent to eliminate.

6. James Mitchell- Premier of Western Australia (Nationalist Party) Mitchell is a strong supporter of the wheat farmers’ call for federal assistance. While he is not personally involved in the decision to deploy soldiers to eliminate the emus, he advocates for it. In 1892, Mitchell became a farmer himself and quickly gained a good reputation for his farming abilities. As such, throughout his career as a politician, Mitchell has been a strong advocate for farmers’ needs, which will impact his position during the Emu War.

7. Frederick Broun- Minister of Agriculture in Western Australia As the Minister of Agriculture, Broun feels great sympathy for the farmers’ plight with the emus. He supports the deployment of forces against the emus to help the farmers’ crops. Broun is known for being a kind man who supports community endeavors. He cares deeply about other people and feels great sympathy for the farmers who are losing their livelihood to the emus.

8. W.B. Menzies- A local farmer and Wheatgrowers’ Union organizer As a farmer, Menzies’ life is severely impacted by the emus’ destruction of crops. He advocates for the protection of farmlands and supports the Australian government’s mission to eliminate the emus. He is a strong orator and a highly opinionated man who does not back down from a fight.

9. Ignattius George Boyle- President of Wheatgrowers’ Association of Western Australia Ignattius George Boyle, as President of the Wheatgrowers’ Association of Western Australia, is a strong advocate for farmers’ rights and the protection of their lands. He is a strong leader and wants to maintain his power within the Association, so he is constantly paranoid of others trying to steal his presidency. This greatly impacts the way he leads.

10. George Lambert- State Labor figure When the troops were withdrawn from the Emu War, George Lambert publicly criticized the government’s decision. Lambert is the political intermediary for farmers, and as such, he feels strongly that the emus are great dangers and should be eliminated. Lambert is a strict man with strong opinions and a stronger voice. He believes that the farmers have rights over the emus and insists that the soldiers should keep fighting.

11.Brigadier A. M. Martyn- District/Perth Commandment (5th Military District) Martyn is in charge of implementing Defense Department instructions on the ground. While he is the one to carry out the order to withdraw troops from the Emu War, he does not support it. He is merely following instructions. Martyn believes in the government hierarchy that he is a part of, so when he is told to do something, he follows through. That being said, he is a sympathetic man and feels the emus deserve better. But as this is an unpopular opinion within the government, he largely keeps it to himself. It can be assumed, though, that he is, in some way, ultimately working to free the emus.

12. Joseph Joyce- Local farmer Joseph Joyce owns one of the farms most impacted by the emus. His fences are constantly broken, and his crops are trampled and eaten. Since the emus are close to his farm, the three deployed soldiers fighting the emus stay on his property. This gives Joyce a direct line to the men fighting the emus, and he can gain information about the failures of the operation that others will never know.

13. T. McGeorge- Local farmer McGeorge’s paddock is frequently attacked by the emus, which greatly affects his ability to produce crops. As such, he is enraged at the emus and wants the birds gone. He supports any initiatives that eliminate the birds, and as a creative man himself, he also develops numerous strategies to get rid of them.

14.Mr. Parry- Local farmer Mr. Parry owns a farm where the troops often camp and operate from. As such, he has access to information about the operation that many others lack. Parry’s farm is a frequent victim of the emus, and he supports any and all initiatives that will get the birds off his land. That being said, he believes the emus have a right to exist and does not want to see the entire species eradicated from Australia.

15.Chris Holmes- A Fox Movietone Cinematographer Chris Holmes works for Fox Movietone as a cinematographer, and is in charge of documenting the soldiers’ mission to eliminate the emus. He has firsthand knowledge of the war and has seen both how the soldiers and emus operate. While Chris is in the Anti-Emu cabinet, he does not have allegiance to the soldiers or the Australian government. His only allegiance is to his art and telling a truthful account of what happens. This makes him a loose cannon.

16.Travis Blackburn – Minister for Technology and Armaments Blackburn is a former munitions engineer who worked in weapons design during World War I. After the war, he entered politics, where he gained great respect as a man who understands machines. He is slightly eccentric and prone to over-engineering solutions. He sees the emu problem as a chance to test experimental weaponry in the field, and argues for mechanized hunts, improved Lewis gun deployment, and even armored trucks. He brings inventive proposals to the table, which often bring him into conflict with more fiscally cautious ministers.

17.Victor Glenn – Minister for Immigration and Settlement Glenn is the son of English migrants and was a soldier settler after World War I. Upon returning to Australia after fighting for his country, he entered politics, motivated by his firsthand knowledge of the struggles of men resettled on marginal land post-war. He is charismatic and appeals to a sense of national duty to win people to his side. He frames the Emu War as a test of Australia’s commitment to its soldier settlers, the very people who have fought for the nation. He positions himself as a spokesman for the average rural farmer and speaks with strong moral authority.

18.Harold James Thompson – Local Farmer Thompson is one of the World War I veterans who migrated to Western Australia under government incentives to develop the land. He is serious, disciplined, and believes in following military orders. He advocates for the deployment of troops to eliminate the emus and protect the crops, and sees the emus as enemies to the farmers. He pushes for coordination between the Defense Department and farmers, framing the war as a patriotic duty.

19.Norman Leslie Wright – Minister for Finance Wright is from Perth and rises quickly through state politics. He is constantly worried about overspending and believes in supporting causes that are the most economically beneficial to his country. As such, he only supports the Emu War as long as it is cost-effective, and in hopes that the restoration of farmers’ crops will boost the overall economy. However, he is constantly worried about the expense of machine guns, ammunition, and soldier deployment, so if the war becomes an economic drag, he supports efficient measures to end it.

20. Douglas Clarke – Minister for Local Affairs Clarke represents farmer voices, and as such, he is one of the strongest proponents of eliminating the emus. In fact, he believes that the goal of eliminating 20,000 emus is not enough, and that the government should double that number. He is from a rural area where he himself works on a farm, which leads to a general distrust of city politicians. He demands immediate relief for farmers and pushes for more ammunition, more soldiers, and less bureaucracy. He even supports farmer-led initiatives to rid the land of the birds.

21.Franklin Cooper – Minister for Trade and Supply Cooper is a wheat exporter with ties to London grain markets. He is a businessman who always thinks in terms of profit and loss. He pushes for grain protection measures to keep exports steady and maintain Australia’s reputation abroad. As such, he is a strong supporter of eliminating emus, but not out of passion. He simply wants to protect crops and plans to make profits off the killed birds (by using their fat, bones, and tendons to make commodities). He is known for framing emu control as essential to maintaining trade revenues during the Emu War.

22.Arthur Mitchell – Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure Mitchell was an engineer early in his career before entering politics. As Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure, he is responsible for roads, rails, and fences. He is a practical and impatient man who is always ready for a good debate. He advocates for large-scale barrier fencing projects and state-funded repairs to help farmers. He offers concrete alternatives to machine guns, which often puts him in conflict with more militaristic members of this committee.

23.Reginald Charles Brown – Minister for Propaganda and Information Brown is a former newspaper editor who joined the United Australia Party as a young man. He is persuasive and loves taking any opportunity that comes his way. His main goal during the Emu War is to use the press and Fox Movietone reels to frame the emu campaign as heroic and necessary. He is a master at shaping narratives and wields great influence over how the Emu War is remembered domestically and internationally.

24.Stanley O’Connor – Minister for Internal Security O’Connor is an Irish Catholic labor organizer who enters politics through the union movement. He is a fiery orator who uses plain speech to reach great masses of people. He frames the emus as a threat to working-class soldier settlers and pushes for direct action against the birds. He appeals to public opinion and rallies others with dramatic speeches.

25.Edward Harris – Minister for Health and Public Morale Harris is a former country doctor who gained a strong reputation for treating soldiers returning from war. He is compassionate but blunt, and speaks with great authority. He is greatly respected in his community, and people often find themselves agreeing with him on many matters. Harris frames the emu crisis not just as an agricultural issue but as a public health and morale problem. He argues that failing crops lead to malnutrition, disease, and despair in rural towns. As such, he pushes for swift action, often clashing with the Minister of Finance, who accuses Harris of valuing lives over money.

Reminder: This committee starts 3 days into the Emu War. The soldiers have only killed 30 birds, and their goal is 20,000.37 Additionally, these are not the only topics you can or should debate. This section is meant to help you jumpstart your research.

1. Farmers’ Rights vs Emus’ Rights: Depending on what cabinet you are in, your character will either support the farmers’ rights or emus’ rights more. However, it is important to remember that both groups have their rights in Australia, and while the classification of emus changed to vermin in 1922, that does not mean it cannot be changed back. Delegates should stick to their characters’ positions, defending either the right of the farmers to grow their crops unimpeded by the birds or the right of the birds to exist in their natural habitat, but should also be open to compromise. There are various solutions to this problem.

2. Environmental impacts: Delegates should be thinking about the environmental impacts of killing the emus, and the loss of farmers’ crops. It is important to recognize that there is environmental damage occurring on both sides, and delegates should prioritize seeking sustainable solutions.

3. Economic impacts: The loss of farmers’ crops is bad for the economy, but so is a costly war. While delegates in the Emu Cabinet will not have to worry about money, delegates that are playing humans should. Think about the cost of equipment, manpower, rebuilding of fences, replanting of crops, etc. While you may be preoccupied with the emus, many of you will be playing members of the Australian government, meaning you still have a country to run.

4. Government responsibility: Delegates must think about who the government is most responsible for–the emus or the farmers. The emus are a species unique to Australia, and the government has a responsibility to protect its wildlife. On the other hand, the government incentivized farmers to move out west and develop the land, making them also greatly responsible for what is happening on the rural farms. Delegates should come ready to discuss how to navigate these seemingly contradictory responsibilities, and create a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solution.