The Greens in Palerang
 

Archive for April, 2011

Time to follow in China’s footsteps

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

While watching the item on Julia Gillard’s visit to China on last night’s Lateline, I couldn’t help but feel buoyed by the following matter-of-fact response to Ali Moore’s question:

ALI MOORE: Well, I know in (Julia Gillard’s) speech tonight that she did raise the issue of the proposed carbon tax. Is that carbon tax, the idea or the plan to put a price on carbon, an issue for the Chinese?

STEPHEN MCDONELL: Well the interesting thing with global warming in China is that there’s no debate here, no public debate as to whether or not global warming is happening or that it’s man-made, because the Government just accepts the scientific evidence that both of these things are true. So, you know, you’re not gonna get people here questioning Julia Gillard about this. And the big companies here, the state-owned companies have essentially been told to get on with doing something about this. And so you’ve got the big oil companies here, they’re throwing billions of dollars at renewable energy, huge wind farms, solar energy and this sort of thing, so it’s not seen as such a conflict here in that way.

And I really think that any sort of - people questioning whether or not coal prices might go up, for example, imports, as a result of this is just a little bit at the margins. Essentially, as I said, this is - it’s recognised by the Government that these measures must be taken, and so, I s’pose in that sense, Julia Gillard is amongst friends here.

Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party, are you listening? And Big Business in Australia, and all the other detractors of the carbon tax, not to mention the climate change denialists - are you? (more…)

Greens victory brings voice for sustainable farming to NSW Parliament

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

The Greens today celebrated the victory of their number three candidate Jeremy Buckingham over former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in the NSW Upper House.

Mr Buckingham, an Orange City Councillor, stone mason and sustainable agriculture expert was declared elected along with sitting MP David Shoebridge and Byron Shire Mayor Jan Barham. They join Upper House MPs John Kaye and Cate Faehrmann who were not up for election and Jamie Parker who wrested the lower house seat of Balmain from Labor.

Mr Buckingham said: “It is a great honour to be elected and to be able to contribute to the debate over the future of this state’s food production.

“The challenges of rebuilding self-sufficiency while protecting the soils and limiting water usage will be one of the defining themes of the next thirty years. (more…)

Congratulations Jeremy Buckingham: rural Greens voice in NSW Upper House

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Australian Greens Acting Leader Senator Christine Milne today congratulated David Shoebridge, Jan Barham and Jeremy Buckingham on their election to the NSW Legislative Council following the final distribution of preferences.

“David, Jan, Jeremy, Cate, John and Jamie will be a strong Greens voice in both houses of the NSW Parliament,” Senator Milne said.

“I am particularly delighted that Jeremy Buckingham has won a close-fought tussle for one of two final seats in the Upper House.

“NSW will now hear Jeremy’s common-sense rural Green voice for the next eight years. (more…)

Greens win final Upper House spot!

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Jeremy Buckingham has been elected to the Upper House, after the button was pushed at 11am to distribute preferences, defeating Pauline Hanson for the last spot. The Greens now have five seats in the Upper House and one in the Lower House, following the election of Jamie Parker in the electorate of Balmain.

Greens still have solid chance in the race against Hanson

Monday, April 11th, 2011

The Greens’ Jeremy Buckingham has a solid prospect of beating former One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for the 21st spot in the NSW Upper House, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “Although it is now clear that our third candidate will finish behind Ms Hanson on primary votes, preferences are very likely to favour The
Greens.

“Our scrutineers are reporting a strong flow of preferences to The Greens, giving Jeremy Buckingham a solid chance of clawing back the lead.

“Despite Labor’s decision to not recommend preferences for The Greens in the Upper House in at least 34 seats, many progressive party voters expressed their desire to see a Green beat Ms Hanson. (more…)

Solvig Baas Becking

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

As well as being a weaver of national and international renown, Solvig Baas Becking was a highly valued founding member of the Braidwood Greens local group. She died on March 23 at the age of 82. Today in Braidwood her friends and colleagues will gather to remember her.

Thanks Solvig for your wonderful contributions and support.

CSIRO head confirms: We need to price pollution and support technology

Monday, April 4th, 2011

CSIRO’s Chief Executive, Dr Megan Clark, has this morning backed The Greens’ view that a carbon price needs to be teamed with policies to drive technology development in order to effectively tackle climate change.

On ABC radio this morning, Dr Clark said:

“Clearly we need in a price on carbon and policy response but we also need sustainable technologies that will take us into a low carbon future and also our change in behaviours.”

“Putting a price on pollution is a vital step, but to really put Australia on track in tackling the climate crisis, we also need to invest in making clean, renewable energy cheaper, protect our forests and much more,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader Senator Christine Milne said. (more…)

O’Farrell puts environment last

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Responding to reports that the Department of Environment will be abolished and its responsibilities given to the Premier’s Department (see today’s Sydney Morning Herald), Greens MP Cate Faehrmann says the move is a grim indication of what is to come for environmental protection in New South Wales.

“The Department of Environment is one of the largest and most important public service organisations. Its responsibilities are complex and vital for the protection of our precious natural resources and biodiversity.

“The paint has barely dried on Mr O’Farrell’s cabinet and already he’s done away with the Department of Environment.

“We don’t see Transport or Health being swallowed up by Premier’s. The argument that the move “elevated” environment issues is laughable. (more…)

Bob Brown replies

Friday, April 1st, 2011

The centre point of Prime Minister Gillard’s tirade against The Greens, who enabled her to form government, is falsely branding 1.5 million Australian voters as not being driven by their love of family, doing the right thing, or their delight in Australian values.

“Julia has made a second, gratuitous attack on the supporters of her minority government with a demonstrably wrong line of argument that shows divisive rather than uniting leadership,” Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

“The Greens are the third mainstream party. We are backed by growing numbers of thoughtful Australians who see that the core problem with the
old political parties is their similarity. (more…)

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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.

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