June 15, 2004

The Greens have registered no less than 15 variations of How-To-Vote (HTV) tickets with the State Electoral Office, due to a ruling by the State Electoral Commissioner that candidates and groups standing in Local Government Elections must direct voters to give preferences to particular candidates, rather than give general directions about how to ensure their vote is valid. (more…)

June 6, 2004

The Greens are very concerned about a number of aspects of the draft Budget and Management Plan, which has gone on exhibition and which is to be finalised on June 22, four days before the Eastern Capital City Regional Council (ECCRC) elections. (more…)

John Mitchell raises some important points in his article “The Council and its Councillors” (BM, May 19). No, local government is not recognised in the Australian Constitution, which is why the State Government has been able to attack it in the way that it has recently. Constitutional recognition of local government has long been a policy of The Greens and we will continue to work towards constitutional reform generally.

The statement that “decision should be taken on their merits by all nine councillors” is to be applauded. If only decision-making in all spheres of government were guided by co-operation rather than conflict. Imagine how different our parliaments and council chambers would be if people were actually committed to sitting down and trying to solve problems instead of merely trying to score points by name-calling and personality attacks. (more…)