A contingent of Young Greens will tie large green ribbons on light and power poles from the Bourke Street Mall all the way to State Parliament House on the Spring Street corner.

Starting at 2.30pm this afternoon, at the Greens Office (377 Little Bourke Street Melbourne), the Young Greens will move down Little Bourke Street, turn right into Elizabeth and then left into the Bourke Street Mall.

There are 280 poles and 200 metres of green ribbon to be tied on when the Young Greens create the Greens' ribbon corridor to Spring Street.

Emma Henley, the Greens candidate for Kew District, and member of the Victorian Young Greens, says the ribbon corridor will symbolically represent the Greens Party goal in the state election.

"There's less than two weeks to go to the poll and we're looking forward to a number of young Greens candidates in State Parliament," said Emma Henley. "Young people are taken for granted by the Bracks Government and don't seem to exist as far as the Liberals are concerned."

"The Greens will change that after November 25, when we will work to introduce optional voting for people between 16 and 18 years old," said Emma Henley.

Other initiatives in the Greens Youth Policy include:
- the establishment of a Children and Young Person's Commission,
- strengthening the anti-discrimination laws to improve access for youth to the private rental market,
- improved support and services for Victoria's homeless youth,
- expanded programs to promote mental health, wellbeing and the suicide prevention among the young,
- greater support for Legal Aid Services for youth.

The Young Greens will be on the steps of Parliament House at approx 3.15pm for media interviews - or along the route from 2.30pm

For more information, please contact:
Emma Henley on (mob) 0406 540 550 or
Justin-Paul Sammons on (mob) 0432849105

Background:
1. The Greens Youth Policy can be found at http://www.vic.greens.org.au/about-the-greens/policy/policy-documents/061025_policy_youth.pdf
2. Message to Melbourne City Council: The Young Greens will remove the ribbons overnight to avoid additional work for MCC staff.
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