Greens MP and transport spokesperson Cate Faehrmann says speed limits should be determined by road safety experts, not politicians.

“The Coalition says drivers are checking their speedometers too often, but road safety experts say otherwise,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“The evidence shows speed kills. With advice from leading experts suggesting that a 5 per cent increase in average speeds ends in a 20 per cent increase in deaths, the Coalition’s announcement is clearly not about safety. (more…)

The Australian Greens today joined the Gillard government in announcing an agreed pathway towards a carbon price that should commence on July 1, 2012, beginning the transformation of our economy from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy.

The agreement is a major step towards implementation of the Greens’ proposal for a fixed carbon price starting as soon as possible, rising each year, with no international offsets allowed. The fixed price could be replaced in time with a well-designed emissions trading scheme.

“This agreement is The Greens in action, delivering certainty to the Australian economy, community, investors and the environment after productive negotiations with the government,” said Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown.

“We proposed a fixed price on carbon in January last year as a way of breaking the deadlock the parliament had reached on climate action. (more…)

Green bans campaigner Jack Mundey today joined Greens MP and Lead Upper House candidate David Shoebridge and Balmain, Marrickville and Maroubra Greens candidates, all Mayors, overlooking the Barangaroo site to launch the Greens plan to overhaul planning laws (page 6, SMH today) - summary below, read detail here http://nsw.greens.org.au/greens-planning-overhaul.

Greens MP and Lead Upper House candidate David Shoebridge said “four weeks out from an election and after 16 years in opposition, the Coalition still doesn’t have a planning policy.

“The Greens have been actively campaigning to fix NSW’s broken planning laws for more than a decade.  We know what is wrong with planning in NSW and we have a clear idea of how to fix it.

“First off NSW needs an Independent State Planning Commission to replace the current system of Planning Ministers making scores of discretionary planning approvals under Part 3A of the Planning Act.

“Part 3A has delivered planning disasters around the State, from the catastrophe of over development here at Barangaroo to developments like Hearnes Lake in Port Macquarie where hundreds of houses have been approved by the Minister on a flood prone coastal wetland. (more…)

Greens Gender & Sexuality spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC is calling on the major parties to come out of the Legislative Council closet following the Opposition’s decision to vote against the Marriage Equality Bill on constitutional not moral grounds.

Speaking as lead speaker for the Opposition in the Legislative Council yesterday, shadow attorney-general Stephen Wade said: “while the issue of legal recognition of same-sex relationships is a conscience vote for our party, we will not support this bill on the ground of legislative competence”.

Ms Franks said the Opposition were trying to find an easy out and avoid debating the issue altogether. (more…)

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Cate Faehrmann says the confirmed coal seam gas leaks from two drilling wells near Casino demonstrates the urgent need for a moratorium.

“Recently released Coalition and Labor policies will fail to protect water supplies, farmlands and communities from the gas rush that is happening in NSW right now,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“What is needed is an immediate halt to all projects, not vague commitments for review over the coming years.

“The gas companies are spreading misinformation about the safety of their wells, and the government appears to be taking its advice direct from the industry. (more…)

(an edited version of this letter appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, Feb.22)

According to Duncan Gay, limits to fishing in Marine Parks is “voodoo environmentalism” and there is a lack of scientific rigour around many of the assessments (“Marine Parks up for review and promise of cash to cut fishing fleet”, Feb. 21).

The science is clear that restricted marine areas are essential to ensure fish stocks into the future. Our fish stocks are under enormous pressure, with some fish species in crisis. The science and the experience on the Great Barrier Reef demonstrates that ‘no-take’ areas covering representative ecosystems are essential to maintaining and rehabilitating fish stocks. (more…)

Launching two potential new Greens Upper House MPs at parliament today, Greens MP and lead Upper House candidate David Shoebridge warned of the damage that will be done to public services and the environment if the Coalition gains control of the Upper House by joining forces with conservative crossbenchers like Fred Nile and Shooters Party MPs.

David Shoebridge said, “The Upper House was designed as a house of review, to carefully scrutinise decisions of the Lower House. But on current polling the Coalition is set to control the Upper House by doing the bidding of Fred Nile and the Shooters Party, in exchange for their support to get  legislation through.

“The Greens offer voters a check on the bankrupt agenda of the Shooters, which could see hunting in national parks, an end to new or expanded marine parks and the further weakening of NSW gun laws, and Fred Nile’s conservative anti-muslim, anti-gay agenda.

The Greens outlined some key priorities in the Upper House post-election: returning planning laws to the community; protecting National Parks from hunting and commercialisation; campaigning for integrated public transport in city and regional areas; supporting the transition away from coal to renewable energy and ending corporate donations. (more…)

The Greens candidate for Monaro in the March State Election, Paul Cockram, had his first public meeting with the other candidates in Cooma last week hosted by the NSW Farmers Federation.

The Greens’ policies for climate change action, as explained by Paul Cockram, out-shone the avoidance of specifics by the candidates representing the old parties.

“The Greens have a clear and strong commitment to action on reducing carbon emissions by moving to alternative energy sources now. It was disappointing to hear the Labor and National candidates say that action would take some time,” said Paul. (more…)

The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts, Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt said in Canberra today.

“The Greens have taken our concerns directly to the government and have negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs,” Senator Brown said.

The Greens have ensured that $100 million will be returned to the Solar Flagships program in the forward estimates and that a proper consultation process will be undertaken to develop long term policy for large-scale solar power.

The Greens also secured agreement for continued discussions about long-term funding for disaster relief and options for a national insurance program as the nation moves toward confronting the challenges posed by climate change. (more…)

Greens NSW Senator-elect Lee Rhiannon has criticised the comments made by opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison about Muslim
immigration and has called on opposition leader Tony Abbott to publicly back a non-discriminatory immigration policy. (SMH - http://tinyurl.com/47pecm4)

“Mr Abbott is in the hot seat as much as Mr Morrison over the latest report linking the Liberal member for Cronulla with the push to publicly question multiculturalism and pursue an anti-Muslim electoral strategy,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“This divisive trend in opposition tactics has been picked up by Liberal ACT Senator Gary Humphries who has tabled a petition in the federal parliament calling for a 10-year moratorium on Muslim immigration.

“The opposition leader’s priority for today should be to state that Mr Morrison’s comments are not endorsed by the Coalition and to inform all his MPs that support for multiculturalism is party policy. (more…)