Greens call for more firefighters to tackle environmental disasters
Meet the candidates at the Southern Metro Big Night Out
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March 17, 2010
Dr Richard Di Natale, Greens Senate candidate for Victoria, spoke to over two thousand supporters at the same sex marriage rally in Melbourne last Saturday.
“Governments have taken away from you the choice to marry,” said Dr Di Natale.
“They are saying that the love you feel for your partners is different to the love that heterosexual couples feel for each other
“A couple of weeks ago the Greens Equal Marriage Bill was debated in the Senate and it was defeated 45-5.
“Labor senators didn’t even have the courage to turn up and vote against the bill.
“They just let the Coalition do the dirty work, while running on exactly the same policy; marriage is between a man and a woman.
“60% of Australians are in favour of same-sex marriage, this isn’t a fringe issue.”
In Victoria, the final Senate spot is going to come down to two people; Family First’s Steve Fielding, or Richard Di Natale.
As Richard puts it, “Me or Steve”.
See Richard serve it up to Steve on Twitter here.
Greens call for Madden, adviser to go before an inquiry
The Greens are today calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the Madden 'strategy document' scandal.
"This fiasco shakes confidence in the independence and accountability of the planning system from every point of view - including that of developers and residents,” said Greens Candidate for Melbourne Brian Walters.
"The strategy document demonstrates a deep-rooted culture of contempt for the community that runs right through the Brumby government."
"We want the Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration to investigate this matter fully, calling the minister, his adviser and the head of his department as a start," said Greens MLC Greg Barber.
The strategy, which was mistakenly leaked in an email from Minister Madden’s office, encouraged the government to release a report on the redevelopment of the Windsor Hotel for public comment, and then use the reaction as a pretext for rejecting the project. Click here to read The Age's article
For more information: Greg Barber 0433044771 or Greens Candidate for Melbourne Brian Walters 0411020967
Brumby’s Music Deal Just a First Step
The deal on live music licence conditions announced by Premier Brumby today is a first step, not a solution, say the Greens.
Greens MLC Greg Barber said “They're proposing a review that concludes some time after the election and that's not good enough.”
“There are many, many other venues with the same conditions and lots of pubs that won't run any kind of music at all because it's too much of a hassle."
"We'll continue working with live music venues to get this accord implemented speedily.
“We understand there are over 600 of these venues across Victoria, so there is a lot of work to do.”
Click here to see the Greens four point plan on how to save live music in Victoria.
For more information, call Greg Barber 0433 044 771
Adam Bandt and Melbourne to make history
Melbourne Greens candidate Adam Bandt last night inspired a packed hall of volunteers to take a simple message to Melburnians this year.
“The seat of Melbourne is on a knife edge,” said Adam to hoots and applause at Dante’s restaurant on Gertrude St, Fitzroy.
“If just one in 10 people who voted Labor last election switched their vote to Green, Melbourne would make history.
“For the first time ever, we have the chance to send a Greens member to the lower house in Canberra.”
Adam also screened his campaign video - click here to check it out
Adam was joined by Greens candidates for the state election Cindy Dawes of Brunswick, Kathleen Maltzahn of Richmond and Brian Walters of Melbourne.
2% swing to the Greens in Altona by-election
The vote of 10.5% is up from the last highest recorded vote of 8.99% in 2002, a good response to David Strangward’s campaign, who ran as the ‘public transport candidate’.
"If we repeat our swing in Altona across the state, which the polls say we will, there'll be many more Greens in the parliament by year's end," said Greens candidate David Strangward.
The increase of 25% on the 2006 vote indicates Altona residents are pleased with their upper house representation by Western Metro MLC, Colleen Hartland, who described the vote as a “strong, steady result”.
The strong swing away from Labor of 12.3% shows the Brumby government cannot continue to ignore the West.
The Liberal Party will not be completely satisfied with their result, achieving only 34.4% of the vote after spending an unprecedented amount on this campaign.
Mr Strangward received praise during his campaign for highlighting public transport issues in the city’s neglected western suburbs.
The Greens currently hold the balance of power in the State Upper house.
In the State and Federal elections this year, the Greens have a good chance in a number of lower house seats, especially in Brunswick, Richmond and Melbourne.
The Greens will also push for more state upper house seats, and they will expect to win their first Federal Senate seat in Victoria with Dr Richard De Natale.
Make no mistake: The Greens support live music
8-2-2010
To all Melbourne musicians and music fans,
Make no mistake: the Australian Greens are tremendously proud of Melbourne's famous live music culture and we lend our full support to the upcoming Save Live Australian Music (SLAM) rally on 23 February.
That's why we are sending out an email to all our members in Victoria, encouraging them to come to the SLAM rally, where I will be speaking on behalf of the Victorian Greens.
An article in the Sunday Age (7/2) inaccurately reported that The Greens voted against a Liberal motion in Parliament regarding live music. In fact, The Greens abstained from voting on the motion, because, as often happens, there were parts of their motion we couldn’t agree with.
During the debate we made very clear our opposition to the requirement that venues must provide security guards when live or amplified music is played, even where there is no history of violence. This senseless requirement is crushing Melbourne's live music culture and it’s making it very hard for musicians to find venues with live audiences. The closure of The Tote shone a light on this issue, which has forced other small venues to simply stop holding live music.
Certainly, preventing harm from alcohol-related violence is crucial, and The Greens will continue to support evidence-based, positive approaches for reducing such violence. However, music doesn’t cause violence.
The Greens are your genuine supporters of live music inside Parliament and out on the Melbourne streets. We will do whatever we can to ensure that Melbourne's live music scene continues to thrive. Have a look at our four point plan that outlines how we will make sure that live music remains viable.
On a personal note, I have been going to live gigs around Melbourne for years and years. It is one of my great pleasures in life. I have many friends who play in bands, so I know the issues facing our musicians and Melbourne's live music culture.
Thank you,
Sue Pennicuik, Greens MLC and Spokesperson for The Arts
Greens Altona By-election Candidate Launched ‘On The Buses’
David Strangward has launched his campaign as the Greens candidate for the Altona by-election at a bus stop in Point Cook today.
“I am the public transport candidate”, said Mr Strangward.
“I’m launching the campaign at a bus stop in Point Cook, to show you how our buses only work part-time.”
“The Greens provide a new opportunity for people who are politically weary. I like the community engagement in the Greens. We are accessible. Colleen Hartland is a shining example of that.”
David Strangward is a 45-year old small businessman who lives in Altona North with his partner Kathy. For the Altona By-election web-page click here!
- To view The Greens' How to Vote Card for the Altona By-election please click here
- You can contact David through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/David.Strangward.Greens.Candidate
- You can follow David (@davidstrangward) on twitter at http://twitter.com/davidstrangward
- You can follow David's blog at http://greenaltona.blogspot.com/
- If you want to help with David's campaign, please email altona@vic.greens.org.au
- Click here if you would like to donate to the Altona by-election campaign .
Come join David Strangward at the Altona By-election Family Picnic.
There will be a BBQ, live music (Penelope Swales plus The Rosie Burgess Trio) and activities for kids.
You will be able to talk to David about how public transport is a dog's breakfast and what the Greens will do about it!!!
MC will be Colleen Hartland MLC, your western metropolitan Upper House member of State Parliament.
When: Wednesday 10 February, 6pm - 8pm
Where: The Rotunda, Logan Reserve, Pier Street, Altona. (Melways p54, G11 - a 5 minute walk from Altona Station)
RSVP: altona@vic.greens.org.au or ring 9602 1141
The Flyer: click here.
Have your say on Victoria's EES process
21-01-2010 Ever felt that the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process in Victoria needs an overhaul? Ever wondered how our current EES process could deliver outcomes such as the underloved desalination plant currently under construction at Wonthaggi, the equally controversial North-South pipeline or major freeways through unspoiled native reserves? The Environment and Natural Resources Committee have opened an Inquiry into how the EES process operates in Victoria, including an assessment of the Environment Effects Act 1978.
In supporting the reference to the Environment and Natural Resource Committee when this inquiry was proposed last year, Greg Barber commented "The problem with the EES process is not that it takes a long time and costs a lot of money and delays projects. The problem is that at the end of that exercise and all that time and investment -- not just from applicants but from the community -- we never get an outcome that is good for the environment." For more click here.
The CPRS 'locks in failure'.
5-1-09 The CPRS that was presented to the Senate in November 2009 was not a ‘first step’ or even a weak attempt at reducing emissions. The Rudd Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) will be re-introduced to the Senate next month. We the Greens have been trying to persuade the Labor government to negotiate with us to achieve an outcome that effectively stops and reverses climate change, instead of a scheme that locks in failure. But Minister Wong and the Rudd government have rebuffed our offer numerous times.
Can the CPRS achieve a 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2020?
The Greens opposed the CPRS in the Senate in December 2009 because the emissions reduction target was determined by political manoeuvrings and not what science says is necessary to effectively tackle global warming. Scientific research has shown that countries like Australia should aim to reduce emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 to stop the adverse effects of climate change. However, the Rudd government’s CPRS proposes to reduce emissions by 4 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Click here for more.
Why the Greens cannot support the CPRS as it stands.
LATEST: Greens propose Garnaut's interim solution to break CPRS deadlock
An outstanding result for the Greens in Higgins!
7-12-09 Thanks to everyone who contributed to our outstanding result in the Higgins by-election. It was a massive effort, and was the result of an extraordinary commitment by hundreds of Greens members and supporters
The Greens primary vote of 33% is by far our highest primary vote in a federal election– the previous highest was 28% in the Kooyong by-election in 1994.
This is a 22% swing to the Greens – the biggest swing to the Greens ever also, with The Greens vote increasing from 10% at the 2007 general election.
This strong vote sends a powerful message to both the Government and the opposition that people want real action for a safe climate – not political posturing.
The percentage of people voting Liberal pretty much stayed the same. Given Labor weren’t standing this is not a good result for them – they effectively didn’t manage to pick up any Labor votes.
In contrast many many people voted Green for the first time – and if they have done it once they can do it again
The low turnout also means that far fewer people voted Liberal this time compared to the federal election. In the 2007 federal election 43,761 people voted for Peter Costello. On Saturday only 75.33 % of the electorate voted, and only 34,726 people voted for O’Dwyer.
This vote is an inspiring lead in for The Greens to next year’s federal election. It’s another significant step towards Greens winning seats in the House of Representatives.
We gratefully thank all those who assisted the Higgins campaign.
"Polluters' pay day in Parliament House" - Bob Brown
It is a disappointing day for Australia. The Prime Minister has adopted Coalition policy cloaked in Greens language. Australians will see through that and feel betrayed by a man they elected to tackle the climate crisis. The Rudd Government's emissions trading bill (CPRS) is a polluter's pact that gives another $5 billion to coal polluters and more to other polluters. Under this scheme families will pay more so that polluters can pay less. The CPRS is bound to trigger new investment in coal. How can that be a step forward? The Greens oppose the CPRS because it is an emissions trading scheme that locks in failure. Against the Liberals’ climate denial and Labor’s pathetic CPRS, the Greens are responding to climate change by aiming to cut Australia’s emissions by at least 40 percent by 2020 and get to zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. The Greens’ Safe Climate Bill is the first genuine legislative attempt to transform Australia as swiftly as possible into a carbon neutral nation.
It is important for all Australians to stand up and say that we will not accept an emissions trading scheme that locks in failure! If you want to send a powerful message to the Rudd Government and the Liberal Party that climate change jeopardises our future and that of our children join the protest rally against the Rudd Government's CPRS!
Better funding for State Community Services Workers is overdue says Hartland
09-11-2009 Last Monday, Greens MP Colleen Hartland joined the Respect Rally in Parliament Gardens, organised by the Australian Services Union (ASU) as part of their campaign to increase the wages of employees in the community and services sector.
“Non-government community workers in Victoria are paid $10,000 to $15,000 a year less than those in similar government organisations. The Respect Rally represents an important opportunity for employees, their families and the wider community to demand recognition and pay equity for workers” said Colleen Hartland.
"Currently, the wages are lousy and the Government needs to address this by allocating sufficient funding in the next State Budget.”
“These are skilled people, specialists, who encounter difficult and stressful circumstances often on a daily basis. Financial hardship cases have escalated due to the economic downturn and this translates to ballooning workloads. Many have postgraduate qualifications and their pay doesn’t come close to respecting their dedication and commitment” Ms Hartland said.
“This is not just about the value we put on community work and service users but the value we put on women workers. The social and community sector employs more than 200,000 people, of whom 87 per cent are women. If this was a male dominated sector, they wouldn't be getting such crap pay.”
“If the State Government is serious about gender pay disparity then it should support the sectors request for a pay rise. Making equal pay for women a condition of all funding and services agreements would also assist in better outcomes for qualified women working in the social and community sector. I have a motion before parliament on equal pay for women” said Ms Hartland.
“The disparity between the pay packets of government and non-government workers needs to be addressed"
Further Comment: Colleen Hartland – 9689 6373
City of Yarra public drinking law
02-11-2009 Most municipalities in Victoria have a local law banning public drinking, but the City of Yarra's had been allowed to lapse, mainly because of concerns about it being used in a discriminatory way against disadvantaged groups, such as Aboriginal and low-income people.
Yarra has alarmingly high rates of alcohol-related assaults and hospitalisations, plus major evening alcohol-related amenity problems - noise, broken glass, vomit and property damage in residential streets near pubs and clubs. Banning public drinking would allow police to ask street drinkers to seal their containers or tip their drinks out, or with the Council CEO's permission, fine them $100.
The three Yarra Greens Councillors argued that a ban on night-time drinking would tackle the main problem, but not affect the group of Aboriginal people who gather and drink in Smith St Collingwood during the day. However, the ALP and conservative independent Councillors were determined to impose a 24-hour ban, and had the numbers, so the Greens proposed an amendment to increase monitoring of its effects, which was accepted. The law will come into effect in December but can be amended at any Council meeting.
You can see a discussion on this issue at the Yarra Councillors' blog .
Stop discrimination says Sue Pennicuik
28-09-2009 "Attorney General Rob Hulls' announcement on the weekend that the government plans to continue to allow religious schools to discriminate against job applicants on the grounds of sex, sexuality, marital and/or parental status is an extreme disappointment," Greens MLC Sue Pennicuik said today.
"These questions shouldn't even arise in a job interview as they are irrelevant to a person's capacity to do a particular job. It means that employees in small businesses and religious schools will continue to have fewer rights than the rest of the community. Appropriate qualifications and experience should be the sole determinants of job suitability.
"Discrimination is discrimination is discrimination," she said.
City Council adopts a Green vision for Swanston Street
01-07-09 Melbourne City Council voted this week to redevelop Swanston Street by decreasing car traffic and creating a space that is tram, cyclist and people-friendly.
By voting to create a design and costing plan in line with 'option 6' (one of seven different options for redevelopment put to the community for consultation), the Council has endorsed the policy taken to the 2008 Council election by The Greens. Councillor Cathy Oke, the City of Melbourne's Greens Councillor, noted that whilst many candidates stood on a platform of increasing car traffic, The Greens were determined to see Swanston Street become a safe, green transport corridor free of (non-emergency) vehicular traffic.
Cr Oke welcomed the overwhelmingly strong community support for option 6 as well as the unanimous support from Councillors of the community's call for a greener Swanston Street.
"It's exciting to be part of a Council that has at long last decided to provide leadership on Swanston Street", she said. "We are getting closer to the day when Swanston Street will be a safe, welcoming space, prioritising sustainable transport, that the city can be proud of."
Victorian Greens preselect lead Senate candidate
23-05-2009 Dr Richard Di Natale is set to be the first Greens Senator for Victoria.
A ballot of all Victorian Greens members has preselected Dr Di Natale to lead the Greens campaign to win an historic Victorian seat in the Australian Senate.
Winning a Victorian Senate seat would see Dr Di Natale joining a Greens senate team which could hold the balance of power in their own right.
The spectacular win by Greens candidate Adele Carles in Fremantle, WA demonstrates the increasing influence of the Greens in Australian politics. If elected Richard would join 26 other Greens in Australian parliaments and over 100 local government Councillors.
“Green parliamentarians are capable and honest. Voters are increasingly turning to us as the old parties let them down" said Dr Di Natale at the announcement of his preselection.
“I look forward to joining the strong and respected Senate team of Bob Brown, Christine Milne, Rachel Siewert, Scott Ludlum and Sarah Hanson-Young.”
“Thanks to these Greens Senators the stimulus package contained initiatives to create thousands of green jobs in communities across Australia, and provided greater financial assistance and support for unemployed and low-income Australians."
Announcing the preselection of Dr Di Natale, Sue Plowright, Convenor of the Australian Greens Victoria, said that the postal ballot of all Victorian Greens members demonstrates the party’s strong commitment to grassroots democracy.
Click here to sign the Greens Senators' "5% emission target is not enough" petition
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