(councillor contribution for October 25 edition of Bungendore Bulletin)

The pre-election, highly predictable vote-buying announcement of tax cuts is old news now, and many including myself will be hoping that it will not be enough to seduce people on November 24.  The announcement was accompanied by the Government’s campaign slogan, “Go for Growth” which, in a climate of climate change caused by over-consumption and an obsession with growth as the answer to all our problems, I find quite repugnant.  (more…)

-    Greens plan ‘People’s Forum’

In his address to the National Press Club today, Greens Leader Bob Brown announced that the Greens will hold an event on Sunday night to respond to the leaders’ debate on Sky News.

“I haven’t had an invitation to the Leaders Debate as Leader of the Greens party. So unlike the debate John Howard has proposed, I extend an invitation to attend the Greens ‘People’s Forum’ on Sunday night,” Senator Brown said.

The Greens have booked the Theatrette in Parliament House and plan to screen the Leaders’ Debate for a live audience, after which Senator Brown will give a short address and respond to questions.

“We love the worm,” Senator Brown said.

“We will attempt to provide the audience with ‘the worm’ for the debate.”

The Theatrette holds 280 places. To book a place call: (02) 6277 3170 or email: forum07bookings@hotmail.com

The Greens are urging young voters and those who have changed address to get on the roll to vote to have their say in the 24 November federal election.

“New voters have until 8pm on 17 October 2007 to enrol to vote or they will not be able to elect the people who are meant to represent them,” said lead Senate candidate for the Greens in Queensland, Larissa Waters.

“More than a third of Australians aged 18 to 25 are not enrolled to vote. That’s a massive 410,000 young voices whose future will be decided by people they haven’t even voted for. (more…)

The Greens have never been better prepared and will run the strongest election campaign ever as Australia’s third political party, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

“Environmental security - climate change and water - will be big vote changers this time around. Besides genuinely tackling climate change and saving the forests from the Gunns pulp mill, we challenge the old parties to raise aged pensions by $30 per week, take the GST off public transport, abolish HECS fees and tear up the unfair WorkChoices legislation. We would reallocate the $3.5 billion of health funds going to private insurance companies to public health and hospitals. And we will work to reduce the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians,” Senator Brown said. (more…)

Greens Leader Bob Brown today said he was delighted that former US vice-president Al Gore and the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

“It’s one of the most richly deserved Nobel Peace Prizes because climate change threatens the world with social chaos and war based on loss of resources, shortage of water, sea-level rises and mass migrations of people. This recognises that climate change is threatening human peace and our economy in the next century,” Senator Brown said. (more…)

Matters arising, Sewerage Treatment Plant workshop, questions and statements (more…)