Following the ballot draw last week and the absence of any progressive small party or independent candidates, The Greens in Monaro, comprising the Braidwood and Queanbeyan-Monaro Greens local groups, have determined that, after a recommendation for voters to vote 1 Green in the March 28 State Election, voters number the ballot paper 2 ALP, 3 Nationals, 4 No Land Tax and 5 CDP.

This decision has been made independently by The Greens in Monaro, following the distribution of a questionnaire to John Barilaro, sitting National Party member, and Steve Whan, ALP candidate.

Unfortunately and despite follow-up attempts, no response was received from the office of John Barilaro, but even so, it has not been an entirely straightforward decision, as some of the ALP responses continue to differ widely from the policies and priorities of The Greens and Green voters. (more…)

Releasing a list of the Abbott government’s top failures, the Australian Greens say the first 100 days have been a secretive, cruel and chaotic preview of what is to come.

“During the election campaign the Abbott government’s true agenda was hidden behind cheap rhetoric, but you can’t run a country with a slogan,” said Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne.

“The Abbott government has tried to claim a so-called mandate to take Australia back to the last century, but he doesn’t have one. The longer Prime Minister Abbott and his big business mates run the show, the less the public knows about what’s going on behind the scenes. The Abbott government is a secretive, cruel and chaotic government.

“The Australian people didn’t sign up to this, and the Greens will stand against it. (more…)

If honesty and accountability had been a compulsory part of election campaigning we may have ended up with a different result after Saturday’s election, says Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore.

“The Greens ran a positive campaign, but without the backing of Australia’s biggest media magnate and millions of campaign dollars to use on advertising and leaflets, it was always going to be hard to get our message across,” says Catherine.

“This was compounded by the commonly expressed view of media commentators that there was no point in talking to other parties because only the ALP or Coalition would win the election, and the misinformation that was perpetuated, particularly by the Coalition, about The Greens.

“But the success of Adam Bandt has shown that where Greens are elected, they enjoy enormous support and are likely to be re-elected, no matter what preference deals are done by others in an attempt to keep them out. (more…)

Letter to the editor, Bungendore Mirror
It’s good as always to have an opportunity to talk more about Greens policy and what matters, in this case in response to correspondent Kerry Bos “Warming such a bad thing?”, Mirror, August 7. I have not reverted to calling global warming climate change – the latter is just what is happening because of the former. There is neither the space nor the need to explain it here. With the vast majority of scientists in agreement about it, and given that it is “science” not “hypothesis”, it is not something to be arguing about, a bit like gravity. Anyone who has kept up with the facts would have noticed that extreme weather events of all kinds have been happening and again, scientists agree that they are caused by global warming. We are heading towards a level of warming that even the most conservative scientists had not foreseen – witness the recent Arctic melt for example – and it’s down to us and our insatiable lust for fossil fuels. That is why there are so many people and organisations working on the issue, trying to find out more and bring about desperately needed change in government policy, with not nearly enough success. It’s way beyond the time to stop arguing about whether or not global warming is happening; we need to recognise our mistakes and do our best to rectify them.

Yes, The Greens have said that $42.7 billion of revenue can be raised. This has been calculated on available information and is part of the raft of our proposals costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office. In regard to the bank levy, the policy specifically talks about a 0.2% levy on bank assets over $100 billion. No, it does not go without saying that the customers would suffer, as it is only the big four four banks who have assets like that. Economic commentators have observed that it is unlikely that these banks would pass on the cost because it would not be in their interests to do so if they wanted to keep their customers.

What matters? Ensuring that people’s basic needs such as food and housing are met (and, for that matter, fair indexation of super for all public servants, not just the military – ALP announcement p. 2), providing quality education to maximise opportunity for work and vocation, looking after the people who are vulnerable and/or at risk, creating a compassionate and peaceful world that is fit for habitation.

Who decides what matters? Doctors, scientists, teachers, social justice and environment groups, people in the community who are concerned about more than what directly affects them personally, recognise the need for change and who would like to see a world worth living in passed on to future generations. These are the people from whom The Greens take their advice in order to develop a policy framework that reflects the issues that most affect us and the planet, and that offers a range of solutions to address them.

Our comprehensive election platform “Standing up for what matters” has been fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and makes The Greens the obvious choice for all who want to see a change of focus in politics. If implemented, it would ensure a healthy, just and sustainable future for the people of Eden-Monaro.

Simple measures like a 0.2% levy on bank assets above $100 billion, the abolition of fossil fuel subsidies, an effective mining tax and 50% tax on all incomes in excess of $1,000,000 would raise $42.7 billion.

There is an urgent need to act on climate change. If we don’t, there is every likelihood we will see an end to snow this century, and farming will be even more difficult than it is now. The Greens want a swift transition to renewable energy, for which there is huge potential here, and which would create thousands of jobs. Imagine if Eden-Monaro became home to Australia’s first solar thermal energy plant!

Farmers are essential to our country’s future prosperity and a sustainable economy. We propose actions to strengthen the viability of farming and farming communities, and increase support for small business and local employment in general. (more…)

The Australian Greens’ food plan announced today is great news for food producers in the region, says Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore.

“Farmers’ markets and community gardens have been springing up across Eden-Monaro for years, in Bega, Moruya, Braidwood, Cooma and Queanbeyan, to name a few places.

“This is happening for a number of reasons, ranging from concern about where our food is coming from and what is going into its production in the way of chemicals to recognition of the need to reduce ‘food miles’.

“It is about time farmers received a fair price for the food they are producing, but with the current supermarket duopoly, many can barely scratch a living from the low prices they are being paid.”

The Greens plan would boost local food production with an $85 million dollar injection of funds so producers can set up or strengthen farmers markets, food box sales, farmers’ co-operatives, regional marketing and food hubs. (more…)

Next in the Conversations series being run by The Greens as part of their Eden-Monaro campaign is “Water is gold”, to be held on Saturday, July 27 in Moruya.

Starting at 3pm, Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore will talk to Dr Su Wild River about mining and forestry threats to the Eurobodalla water supply, the new “water trigger” amendment to federal legislation and local impacts of climate change. There have been a number of challenges identified with the Dargues Reef gold mine and Su will give an update as we approach two years since the mine’s approval.

“I am really pleased to have the opportunity to talk to Su about these important issues. I had the pleasure of working with her during my time as councillor when we served together on the Palerang Council Climate Change Committee, and she brings a wealth of information, energy and enthusiasm to any task she undertakes,” said Catherine.

“If time permits, Su will also give a rundown on lessons from Palerang Council’s research into water futures - including local impacts of climate change and connections between local development and the protection of environmental flows.”

Everyone is welcome, and there will be an opportunity for questions and contributions from those attending. Afternoon tea will be provided.

The event is free. (more…)

In the wake of the launch of The Australian Greens’ policy platform “Standing up for what matters”, Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore says that The Greens are the obvious party of choice for all those who want to see a change of focus in politics, and positive and meaningful proposals to take us into the future.

“If they were implemented, the policy initiatives that we have released for this election would ensure a healthy, just and sustainable future for the people of Eden-Monaro.

“By introducing simple measures like a 0.2% levy on bank assets in excess of $100 billion, the abolition of tax-payer funded fossil fuel subsidies, an effective mining tax and 50% tax on incomes in excess of $1,000,000, we could raise $42.7 billion over three years.

“These funds could then be directed into social and environmental policy actions that benefited all Australians. (more…)

North Coast Greens MP, Jan Barham, has called for the Government to act on photographs that show the logging of Old Growth Forest in Koreelah State Forest on the Far North Coast.

“During question time in Parliament today, I tabled photographs showing the devastation that has happened to six hectares of Koreelah’s Old Growth Forest. These trees are irreplaceable and their destruction is a travesty,” Ms Barham said.

“I’ve asked whether the Environment Minister is aware that this logging has taken place, and that a further 17 hectares is at risk from planned operations. The Government must investigate and announce what action it will take to protect the biodiversity and heritage of our Old Growth Forests from any further planned destruction.”

The photographs, which were taken during a recent inspection by the North East Forest Alliance, show the aftermath of intensive logging that has felled trees approaching 2.5m in diameter. The forest provides habitat for threatened species and its destruction creates a risk of invasive species such as Lantana taking hold.

“I’m utterly shocked to see evidence that the destruction of Old Growth Forests is still happening. The public puts its trust in government to preserve and protect our natural environment. The loss of these great forests is like stealing from future generations,” Ms Barham said.

(Photographs taken at compartment 27 of Kareelah State Forest available from Jan Barham’s office on request)

The Senate has backed an Australian Greens motion recognising the start of legal action in the International Court of Justice against Japanese whaling and urging the Government to ensure any resources needed to enforce a positive ruling are provided.

“The start of this case is an important day for the decades-old fight against whaling,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

“The Senate recognised this, supporting the Greens motion and noting that this case will be keenly followed by all those Australians who oppose the continuation of whaling.

“It is also significant that the Senate backed our calls for the Government to consider what resources will be provided to enforce a positive result.

“This court case is an important marker in this long campaign, but it is important to remember that the Japanese Government have a track record of ignoring or bypassing international treaties, regulations and requests. The Government therefore needs a plan to enforce the findings. (more…)