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?