(councillor contribution for November 22 edition of Bungendore Bulletin; shorter version sent to local papers in Eden-Monaro and the Canberra Times)

The election is only days away and like most campaigns before it, this one has been dominated by the major parties, as if there were only two voting options. It would be good if we could release ourselves from the ALP/Coalition stronghold and let them know that their policies are not good enough for a just and environmentally sustainable future. Every time there’s an election, The Greens are vilified by one group or another, including the major parties. (more…)

(letter to the editor, some local papers in Eden-Monaro)
One of the most common election time questions from both voters and the media is “where are your preferences going?”. Such has been the neglect by the major parties in adequately explaining the preferential voting system that people often forget that they are the ones who have the final say, especially in the Lower House, and that what parties show on their how-to-votes (HTVs) is only a recommendation. (more…)

The Greens are calling on the major parties to show they are serious about raising the health status of  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

While both Liberal and Labor parties are throwing big spending promises and money around as if they are going out of fashion, neither party has so far promised a single extra dollar to improve indigenous health.
“I suggest that step one is a significant boost to funding for community controlled health services to realistic levels,” says Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro, Keith Hughes. (more…)

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today launched the Queanbeyan Greens campaign for the seat of Eden-Monaro. The Greens used the event to highlight the issue of climate change and how good public transport systems can help combat it.

Speaking at the Queanbeyan Railway Station, Senator Nettle said that Australia must face the looming realities of oil depletion and global warming, which make our present dependence on the car and lack of public transport unsustainable.

Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro, Keith Hughes said that of all the greenhouse gas emissions created by Australian transport, 90% are attributable to road transport, compared to only 2% by rail transport. (more…)

I just want to make sure everyone understands how fortunate we are in having Senator Kerry Nettle with us today.

More to the point, how fortunate Australia has been and we, as Greens have been, in having Kerry in the Senate.

And how important it is that we have her re-elected to the Senate on 24th November. (more…)

The Greens want a clear definition of the roles of all spheres of government and realistic financing for local government to end cost shifting.

Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro, Keith Hughes, who is also a Bega Valley Shire Councillor says that local Government is not even mentioned in the Australian Constitution.

“Its role at any time is subject to the changing whims of politicians. (more…)

The Greens are the only party fully committed to scrapping the Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation.

There are good reasons for this across all regions and in most occupations, but they are especially strong in rural and regional areas.

We also believe Work Choices will damage regional economies.

Rural and regional workers are often hardest hit as they have fewer jobs available and so often feel forced to accept worse conditions, including casual and part time work. (more…)

Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Keith Hughes fears “me-too”ism will mean even more taxpayer subsidies for the destructive woodchipping industry.

“During this election we have seen the reckless and tragic spectacle of Liberal and Labor parties trying to out bid each other in their willingness to throw public money and legislative protection at the region’s biggest greenhouse polluter,” he says.

“On current scores, the Labor Party is actually worse than the Liberals. It has promised “me-too”, plus an extra $20 million in cash for the industry.”

“Mike Kelly has been to the chipmill on a number of occasions for photo opportunities and Gary Nairn has spent his whole career promoting the industry.” (more…)

Two local candidates for Eden-Monaro have used YouTube to highlight youth issues ahead of the federal election. Independent candidate Acacia Rose and Greens candidate Keith Hughes have used the video sharing website to reach young people in Eden-Monaro as part of a statewide campaign by the peak body for young people in NSW, the Youth Action and Policy Association (YAPA). (more…)

The Tassie pulp mill is not just a tragedy for Tasmania and its forests, according to Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro, Keith Hughes.

Mr Hughes says that it could also become the graveyard for trees from south east NSW and East Gippsland forests, providing a continuing demand for cheap native forest chips as other markets dry up.

“The economics of the Gunns pulp mill are finely balanced and without the cheapest possible woodchips it will not be viable. Only the highly subsidised native forest chips will be cheap enough for it. (more…)