GreensBlog
Stop scare-mongering and show some leadership
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 15th March 2011, 10:46am
by RobertSimms in
It's time the two main parties told us what they really stand for.
The idea of a carbon tax has Tony Abbott's speedos in a knot. The Opposition Leader has been rabidly calling for a people's revolution to bring down the Government.
But as the flop of Mr Abbott's dismal 200-person-strong "People's Revolt" in Melbourne on Saturday starkly demonstrated (when compared with the 8000 people rallying on the other side of town in support of the tax), hysteria and mouth-frothing doesn't always muster the troops.
Thanks for saving Solar Flagships
Blog Post | Blog of Adam Bandt MP
Thursday 10th March 2011, 11:59am
by DavidParis in
Dear Friend,
I am emailing you because you recently contacted my office about the threat to funding for solar power in Australia.
I want to thank you for your support and let you know more about the important gains the Greens were able to achieve from of our negotiations with the government. As you are probably aware, our discussions with the government resulted in $100 million being restored to the Solar Flagships Program and a proper consultation process to develop long term policy for large-scale solar power.
Lots to celebrate, still a long way to go
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 8th March 2011, 11:48am
by RobertSimms in
Women have made some pretty incredible gains in the 21 years since Carmen Lawrence became the first woman premier in Australia.
Since then there have been women premiers in every state except South Australia (it seems that, for Mike Rann, no women are eligible for promotion in his boys-club cabinet) and we have women leading Queensland, NSW and Tasmania, along with women as Prime Minister and Governor-General.
There is, however, a pattern emerging when it comes to the promotion of women in politics. It seems in Australia when governments are facing electoral oblivion, they turn to women to lead them from the abyss (perhaps in politics, like the household, it still takes a woman to clean up the mess the boys have left behind).
Food law updates needed
Blog Post | Blog of Christine Milne
Monday 7th March 2011, 10:56am
by JeffDonne in
Sydney Morning Herald columnist, Elizabeth Farrelly recently hit the nail on the head when asking why we are happy to play gastronomic Russian Roulette by eating without question any morsel offered us on a plate.
She was questioning why many of us blissfully indulge in healthy looking meals without any thought for the chemistry set that lies within, and was dismayed that a recent government-commissioned review of food labelling was happy for this to continue unabated.
In his much-anticipated report on food labelling, former Federal Health Minister, Neil Blewett, made 61 recommendations, including improved country of origin labelling, and the adoption of a Greens' traffic light labelling system, meaning shoppers will know immediately if their food is healthy, or not.
But hidden among the recommendations is a gaping black hole giving a green light for genetic modification and extraneous chemical additives without a requirement to fully disclose this on the label.
You are currently paying polluters to pollute – they should be paying you.
Blog Post | Blog of Christine Milne
Friday 4th March 2011, 12:43pm
by ChristineMilne in
Did you know that your tax dollars are currently paying polluters to pollute?
A carbon price is part of a vitally important process of turning that around - making sure that the big polluters pay for their pollution and some of that money comes back to you to help build a cleaner, healthier, happier community. A carbon price, teamed with policies like a feed-in tariff, means we can drive investment towards the solar future while making sure that governments have the funds to help people struggling to make ends meet.
This summer we've seen a terrible warning of what climate change-fuelled disruption will look like.
With scientific projections of more frequent and severe droughts, floods, fires and storms already coming true, climate change will not only drive prices for food, water and insurance through the roof, but it will risk the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the globe including here in Australia. We cannot simply sit back and let that happen.
To prevent the climate crisis, we need
Senator Bob Brown on the 7:30 Report
Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown
Tuesday 1st March 2011, 10:41am
by DavidParis in
It's Time To Say 'I Do' On Same-Sex Marriage
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 1st March 2011, 8:34am
by RobertSimms in
I receive hundreds emails every week but this weekend, one in particular caught my attention. It was from a catholic priest who wrote in support of marriage equality. He wrote that many "Catholics are in support of equality for same-sex couples to marry the person they love... because they realise the point is not about gender but about love, commitment and equality."
This email stood out because it shows just how far the marriage equality debate has come. This is no longer simply a gay rights issue, it's a human rights issue and it's mobilising a broad section of the community. From church leaders to ordinary Mums and Dads who just want their gay son or daughter to have the same rights as everybody else; many Australians are joining the fight for equality.
Christine's comments on transport in carbon pricing
Blog Post | Blog of Christine Milne
Monday 28th February 2011, 4:21pm
by TimHollo in
Senator Milne's press conference on Friday lasted a 30 mins, covered a great deal of detail on the carbon price statement, how the process works, the level of a carbon price, the level and design of compensation, offsets, green carbon, nuclear power, how agriculture will be counted, what Christine might personally do to change her behaviour after a carbon price is introduced and more.
21 minutes and 14 seconds into the press conference, transport is first mentioned in response to a direct question from a journalist.
Bob Brown on Meet the Press - 27-2-2011
Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown
Sunday 27th February 2011, 1:04pm
by DavidParis in
Greens Leader Bob Brown discusses the carbon tax, mining tax and constitutional issues with Paul Bongiorno on Meet the Press.
Click the more link for the transcript.
Letter to the Editor – Australian Financial Review
Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown
Tuesday 22nd February 2011, 10:10am
by DavidParis in
Dear Editor,
Laura Tingle writes (19 February 2011) that “the Greens were quick to say the tax rate should be higher after publicity was given to the scale of the government's concession to the miners”.
Wrong.
The Australian Greens have opposed the government's concessions on the Treasury-proposed 40 percent mining super profits tax since it was negotiated, behind closed doors, last year. Treasury figures now reveal the concession will deprive government of $60 billion in the coming decade.
These figures vindicate the Greens’ consistent call to government to restore the 40 percent proposal.
This nation should have a sovereign fund - like Norway's - to ensure its current wealth is not frittered away but instead is available to finance education, health, housing and transport much further into the 21st century.
Yours sincerely
Senator Bob Brown
Leader of the Australian Greens
Unseemly Politics
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 22nd February 2011, 8:26am
by RobertSimms in
Last week was a low point in our nation's politics.
On one hand, we had the opposition quibbling over the cost of funerals for the victims of the Christmas Island boat tragedy. On the other, we had the government stubbornly refusing to relocate the survivors to the mainland, citing bureaucratic process over common sense and compassion.
Caught in the middle were those vulnerable people who came to our country seeking our protection and support.
A Revolution For The Ages
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 15th February 2011, 11:10am
by RobertSimms in
History was made last week. Not because Prime Minister Julia Gillard broke down in Parliament or because Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was struck dumb by a Channel 7 reporter, but because the people of Egypt brought about a peaceful revolution.
It's a revolution that dramatically changes the course of their nation's future and potentially that of their region.
Time for the government to come clean on Suleiman
Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown
Monday 14th February 2011, 1:08pm
by DavidParis in
“No Australian official ever saw Mr Habib in Egypt,” the Australian government says. What do you think?
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, speaking in the Senate, last week asked the Government if it was aware of Egypt’s General Omar Suleiman’s reputation as a torturer and a murderer. He also asked whether the Australian Government or members of its intelligence service had met General Suleiman and whether there was involvement in the illegal detention of Australian Mr Mamdouh Habib in Egypt.
In the Senate, the next day, Senator Conroy replied:
“In his question, he asked : Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. It is known by the government that Mr Habib was detained in Egypt. Has any member of the government or its intelligence services met Mr Suleiman? Were they involved in the detention and torture of Mr Habib in Egypt?”
“I can now furnish further information: Mr Habib’s allegations are not new. In 2005 the Australian Government asked Egypt to investigate Mr Habib’s claims of mistreatment.”
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised that during 2001-2002 Department officials made several attempts at senior levels to confirm Mr Habib’s detention in Egypt and to obtain consular access.”
“Egypt never confirmed that Mr Habib was in custody and consular access was never granted. No Australian official ever saw Mr Habib in Egypt,” Senator Conroy said.
“Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials have met Mr Suleiman, in particular in his capacity as a lead negotiator on Middle East peace process issues.”
Today, The Age reveals that an Egyptian intelligence officer has supported Mr Habib's claims that Australian officials watched as he was tortured in Egypt.
Mr Habib was detained in Afghanistan in 2001 and he says he was repeatedly tortured in Egypt before being sent to the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.
He was released in 2005 without charge and returned to Australia.
Political Exchange Opportunities 2011
Blog Post
Tuesday 8th February 2011, 4:16pm
by DavidParis in
The Australian Greens are members of the Australian Political Exchange Council and this gives us the opportunity to send young political leaders on overseas exchange.
Three exchange programs are open to the Australian Greens in 2011:
- Participation in a delegation to the United States of America from 26 March to 6 April *please note the closing date for applications below*;
- Participation in a delegation to Vietnam from 27 July to 2 August; and
- An individual study tour for a delegate to travel to the United Kingdom, the United States of America or New Zealand for up to 30 nights. This visit must be completed prior to 31 December 2011.
Applications are welcomed from all Australian Greens party members, state/federal party employees and state/federal parliamentary employees who are aged between 25 and 40 years.
Milking our dairy farmers dry
Blog Post | Blog of Christine Milne
Tuesday 8th February 2011, 11:38am
A short sighted price war, or purposeful manipulation the dairy industry? You decide, but one thing for sure is that regardless of Coles and Woolworths' assurances of absorbing the costs of slashed- price milk, the farmers will eventually suffer.
Dairy farmers are right to be sceptical about a promise from the duopoly. For example, more than a year has passed since both Coles and Woolworths promised they would end restrictive covenants aimed at preventing competitors opening stores close to their own, yet in 2011 many of the covenants remain.
With this in mind, how are we to trust their word? How are we to believe they are about to place the welfare of dairy farmers above their single bottom line when they have not acted in this way previously?
Assange Deserves Our Help
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 8th February 2011, 9:15am
by AndrewMcGarry in
As we begin the parliamentary year this week, there are a lot of issues in the mix, from natural disasters to budget considerations, debate over a carbon price and the future of hospital reform.
But as difficult and sensitive as some of those debates may be, there is another issue that the federal government has been trying very hard to avoid - that is the case of Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks website.
Assange - who 12 months ago was an unknown hacker from Townsville - has now got international name recognition thanks to the work of his controversial website. Last night Australian time, the latest chapter in his story began with an extradition hearing in London over attempts to bring him to Sweden for questioning over alleged sex offences.
Monitoring essential as PTTEP continue operations
Blog Post | Blog of Rachel Siewert
Friday 4th February 2011, 4:38pm
by ChrisRedman in
The report of the Independent Review of the PTTEP Montara Action Plan makes some very strong statements on the significant and sweeping changes in governance and oil field practice that PTTEP needs to make to reach the kind of safety and risk management standards the community expects of it if it is to operate in Australian waters.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20110823223322im_/http://www.greensmps.org.au/files/imagecache/preview/images/r463016_2284497_0.jpg)
After the deluge comes the mud-slinging
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 2nd February 2011, 11:44am
by RobertSimms in
They say a week is a long time in politics. Two weeks ago, the floods were a political no-go zone, now it seems the gloves are off. Everyone from Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Warren Truss and Anthony Albanese are all warming up for the first mud-slinging session of the year, when parliament resumes next week.
Who Is The Fairest Of Us All
Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 25th January 2011, 1:46pm
by RobertSimms in
What is the purpose of the Australian of the Year award? Recognition of past achievements, recognising Australians who uphold our values? Endorsing role models for the rest of the community? Or simply rewarding hard work and determination?
Are we looking for ordinary people doing extraordinary things, or extraordinary people doing ordinary things? What measuring stick do we use to define the qualities of a person who captures the essence of our diverse and always changing Australian society?
Bob Brown in Good Weekend Magazine
Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown
Monday 24th January 2011, 1:27pm
by DavidParis in
Senator Bob Brown was interviewed in the Age and Sydney Morning Herald's Good Weekend Magazine, talking about "The Getting of Wisdom".
If you missed the weekend papers, you can read Bob's lessons learned from an extraordinary life by viewing the pdf below.