(letter to the Weekend Australian)

Judith Ajani’s article “ALP up the wrong tree” (WA, July 7,8) indirectly highlights the problems with the two-party system. While a growing number of people would like to get rid of the Coalition, it is with a heavy heart that we will have to go to the ballot box at the next Federal Election and give our support to a party that has lost sight of the values it ought to be championing and which prefers, it would seem, to play dirty whenever it can. (more…)

(letter to the NSW Premier)

URGENT

Dear Premier,

Apparently logging has just commenced in the above-mentioned compartment.  On behalf of Braidwood Greens, I write to strongly object to this and urge you to ensure that this compartment is immediately removed from the NSW State Forests logging schedule.

The Bodalla State Forest logging and its impact on Gulaga also prompts me to write to you in relation to the continued woodchipping of our native forests.  In 1995 Bob Carr promised to end woodchipping by 2000.  Instead, this practice has expanded, with the industry recently “celebrating” an annual total of a million tonnes of chips. (more…)

At its May 10 meeting, Palerang Council joined a growing number of Councils which have declared themselves to be nuclear-free zones. The motion, put by Greens councillor Catherine Moore, stated:

that Palerang Council:
1. declares Palerang a nuclear-free zone, in that we oppose the establishment of any industry or activity involving the treatment or processing of any such mineral or nuclear material; or the transportation of any nuclear materials or weapons through the Council boundaries, with the exception of radioactive isotopes or other radioactive material used in medical treatment, testing equipment or research; and
2. resolves to erect “Nuclear Free Zone” signs at suitable entry points to the LGA as soon as possible.
The motion, which was supported by all but two of the councillors present, was Catherine’s second attempt. (more…)

The decision by the ALP to abandon its three mines policy is morally reprehensible, and will leave the huge number of Australians who recognise the danger of uranium feeling very disappointed in the new leadership of the party, says Catherine Moore, who was Greens candidate for Monaro in the recent State Election and is a councillor on Palerang Council.

“The ALP had the perfect opportunity to differentiate itself from the Coalition by coming out strongly against uranium, but instead it has chosen to open the way for a plethora of new mines.

“Apparently the ALP says that it won’t support nuclear power, just the mining and export of uranium.  This shows that all the party is interested in is supporting big business and mining jobs.  Is the ALP also going to support a nuclear waste dump in Australia?  Because it cannot on the one hand support the mining and export of this dangerous material and on the other, refuse to accept responsibility for the waste,” says Catherine.

“It is all very well to have a strong economy, but what is the point if we have poisoned the planet and all who inhabit in the process? (more…)

The Greens in Monaro are celebrating a 2 ½ % increase on their 2003 primary vote, bringing this year’s total up to what is likely to be 10%, if pre-polls and postals follow the same pattern.

Greens candidate Catherine Moore, who has now run for The Greens in Monaro in four consecutive elections, says that 10% was her goal so she is very happy.

“The vote was up to 20% at some booths, including Bungendore and Braidwood, which is very encouraging.

“I want to say thankyou to all those people who gave The Greens their number 1 vote.  It’s great to have reached double figures in Monaro, a process that has taken many campaigns, beginning in the 80’s with the dedicated efforts of the first Green independents.  (more…)

3,244 votes out of 33,244 votes - nearly 10%. The state average for The Greens at this time is 8.8%.

It is also possible that we will have a fourth Member, John Kaye, elected to the Legislative Council.

(soapbox for Bega ABC, March 23)

If you’re sick of a political system that is dominated by the old parties, with their adversarial ways, quick-fix solutions, last-minute promises and lack of female representation, perhaps you might consider voting for The Greens on Saturday.
Climate change has to be the number one issue of our era, and according to the Stern report, acting now to lessen its impact will save us 3 1/4 trillion dollars! A just transitions package, funded through carbon taxes, would create thousands of renewable energy jobs. NSW could be a leader in the manufacturing and export of renewable energy technologies. What are we waiting for?
Investment in the neglected TAFE system must start immediately. Public schools need more funding so that all NSW children can access a great education. Public land must be protected for our future needs.
How is woodchipping our native forests helping our economy, our emissions reductions, or our water quality? As for our water crisis, affordable water tanks, stormwater harvesting and industrial grey water recycling are just some of the many water-saving measures that we need. And of course, public assets including water must be kept in public hands.

It’s almost impossible to reach everyone in Monaro with public transport, but we can do a lot better. A BAT bus system, successful elsewhere, would respond to needs, rather than being based on timetables which don’t suit the people who need the transport.

One way to address our health services problem would be mobile health clinics, taking the health practitioners to the people who need them.

Safer communities won’t be achieved by simply putting more police on the streets. We need a justice system based on addressing the issues which make people commit crimes in the first place.
Corporate donations to political parties, whether those donations be from developers, tobacco corporations, the hotel industry, mining companies or the fossil fuel industry must end immediately..

We need to protect all people in NSW from discrimination and vilification, and we must abolish the WorkChoices regime and replace it with an industrial relations system that protects and enhances the rights of workers.
The Greens are visionary, energetic, and compassionate, and our broad-ranging policies, developed in consultation with the people who are involved in the issues, are looking beyond tomorrow towards a clean, just, peaceful and democratic future.

(letter to Braidwood Times)

Irene Murtagh raises some important issues in her letter about the remaining unsealed portion of Nerriga Rd (BT, March 14), acknowledging that the problem lies not just in the road but also in the driving habits of some of those who use it. I am not sure that it is true to say that the Council has no plans for sealing it, but if it seems like that, I believe this has more to do with lack of funds than lack of interest. Having said that however, I also know that there has been some suggestion that if the route of Main Road 92 goes to Braidwood instead of Oallen, then the road will be sealed anyway, and the more cynical amongst us might perhaps suggest that this is what is dampening enthusiasm… (more…)

The Greens are calling for state-of-the-art mobile medical clinics as a means of extending city-based services to rural and remote areas of NSW, as part of The Greens Election Policy for Health launched by Greens MP and Health Spokesperson, Sylvia Hale, today.

Greens candidate for Monaro, Catherine Moore, agrees whole-heartedly that the health system needs to reach out to people living in rural and remote areas.

“As with all the previous Monaro campaigns I have been involved in, health facilities, or the lack of them, have been of major concern to the people in this electorate,” said Catherine.

Sylvia Hale points to the New Zealand example, where a Mobile Surgical Services and Tele-presence Unit, which is basically a semi-trailer medical clinic, travels to rural and remote areas. (more…)

(two minutes for each candidate, Bega ABC, Friday morning March 16; also slightly modified and sent as letter to Monaro papers)

It seems like every time there’s an election, one or more of the shock jocks or print media or other political parties try to discredit The Greens. This is now the third occasion that the Daily Telegraph has done its best to misrepresent our Drugs and Harm Minimisation Policy, this time making out that we support the sale of the drug *ice* (crystal methamphetamine)!

The Greens policy does not support unlimited supply of any drug, least of all this one. What we say, quite clearly, is that the way to deal with the *ice* epidemic is to go after the big dealers. How will locking up individual users remove this deadly drug from our streets? How will it reduce the alarming prevalence of ice use and dependency? (more…)