The Greens in Palerang
 

Greens in Monaro preferences statement

March 16, 2015

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…)


100 days, 40 failures: a preview of secretive, cruel and chaotic government

December 16, 2013

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…)


An uncertain future for Eden-Monaro

September 8, 2013

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…)


The future lies in your hands

September 1, 2013

Voters face a serious choice on September 7 and the choice they make will determine the direction this country follows, not just for the next three years but for a long time after, says Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro Catherine Moore.

“On the one hand we have an Opposition that has set itself up to take control, but whose policies are largely unknown and whose actions are all about making the rich richer. It is an Opposition that denies the need to act decisively on climate change and perpetuates fear and loathing of some of the most vulnerable people, including asylum seekers,” says Catherine.

“On the other hand we have  government that seems to be trying to match the Opposition’s position in a number of areas, including refugees, and that also lacks the courage to ask the wealthiest to pay a fairer share.

“Both are determined to hold onto power at any cost, and have lost sight of the need to make decisions for the greater good of the whole community, into the future.

“But it doesn’t have to be simply an “either… or” situation. (more…)


Greens in Eden-Monaro suggest preferences

August 19, 2013

Following the close of nominations and ballot paper draw, The Greens are making the following recommendations on our how-to-vote leaflet being distributed at pre-polling and on Election Day, September 7.

The order reflects the priorities of each of the parties/candidates compared with our own, and we have based our decision on the policies and/or statements of each of the candidates. Of course in the end it is up to the voter to decide, but remember to number all the squares so your vote is formal.

A statement on the principle of our decision in regard to the ALP and Coalition can be found here:

braidwood.nsw.greens.org.au/2013/08/10/greens-preference-decision/

6 HENDY, Peter (Liberal)

2 TYE, Martin (Stable Population Party)

3 Kelly, Mike (Labor)

4 LYNCH, Dean (Palmer United Party)

1 MOORE, Catherine (The Greens)

7 GOUMAS, Costas (Citizens Electoral Council)

5 THALER, Andrew (Independent)

8 CATTON, Warren (Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group))

Filed under: Democracy, Elections, Eden-Monaro 2013, Preferences — Braidwood Greens @ 12:12 pm

Warming such a bad thing?

August 12, 2013

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.


Greens’ preference decision

August 10, 2013

The Greens in Eden-Monaro have decided ahead of the final list of candidates to announce our preference recommendation decision. We have taken this course of action to end the speculation about this issue and allow us to get on with the important task of campaigning on real issues.

The four groups in Eden-Monaro have determined that, after a recommendation for voters to vote 1 Green, they number the ballot paper in favour of any like-minded independents. We will also be suggesting they number the ALP ahead of the Liberal Party candidate, but the final order of all other candidates will not be determined until after the draw, according to our usual practice.

The decision has been made independently by the four groups, based on an assessment of the current political situation. It has not been a straightforward decision, with Green voter opinions polarised. Some people say they will not vote Green unless we preference the ALP, others say they will not vote Green if we do. None of them wants to see us suggest a recommendation for the Liberal Party. Many Greens would prefer that we do not recommend a preference to anyone, so that the voter makes their own decision, and while many of us support this, we also acknowledge that we do not want to risk an Abbott-led Coalition government if there is a likelihood of informal votes resulting from that.

The rationale for our decision is based on the following:

  • The Coalition’s ongoing refusal to act on climate change, beginning in 1996 at the start of the Howard era. This has set us back decades, especially now that the impacts of climate change have accelerated. Despite this, members of the current Coalition are still in denial.
  • The Greens’ support for the National Broadband Network, particularly in relation to the benefits that will be felt in many rural and regional parts of Eden-Monaro.
  • Introduction by the ALP of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
  • The Coalition’s regressive tax proposals.
  • WorkChoices, and the Liberal candidate’s involvement in its development and implementation during the Howard era.
  • While we acknowledge that the ALP has shown itself to be at least as bad as the Coalition on the issue of asylum seekers, we also acknowledge that it was the Howard government who first created the climate of “fear and loathing” around some of the world’s most vulnerable people. It was also the Howard Government which took us to war with Iraq, which helped to create many of the problems we are now seeing and which are causing people to flee in the first place.

We would reiterate that as always, it is up to voters to make up their own minds, and numbering all squares on the small ballot paper will ensure that they cast a formal vote.


Standing up for what matters - contribution for August Snowy River Echo

August 1, 2013

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…)


Australian Greens invest in refugee safety

July 31, 2013

The Australian Greens have launched a new plan to give refugees a safer pathway to protection. The plan includes increasing the government’s humanitarian intake to 30,000 a year, providing an extra $70 million per annum in emergency funding to help fast track the processing of refugee claims in Indonesia and shutting down all detention camps in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

It comes on top of a Galaxy poll, commissioned by the Australian Greens, which shows that 48 per cent of Australians don’t trust Labor or the Coalition to care for refugees ahead of political interests, while 20 per cent remain undecided.

“The majority of Australians recognise that Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott cannot be trusted to care for refugees,” Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.

“They are locked in a race to the bottom to see who can adopt the cruellest approach to refugees, including dumping them on our poorest neighbours. (more…)

Filed under: Media releases, Social justice, Justice, Asylum seekers — Braidwood Greens @ 10:39 am

Greens’ food plan great news for local producers

July 29, 2013

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…)


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Authorised by Catherine Moore, 1149 Charleys Forest Road, Charleys Forest NSW 2622 for the Braidwood Greens
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Welcome to the website for the Greens in Palerang, who comprise the Braidwood Greens and some members of the Queanbeyan-Monaro Greens local groups. These groups run joint campaigns in the state seat of Monaro, and together with the Eurobodalla and Bega Greens groups, in the federal seat of Eden-Monaro.

Green policies are based on the four green principles of: These principles are at the foundation of everything we do, from our local activities and the way we operate in our local group to our representation at the local government level.

The Greens