NSW Treasurer Michael Costa’s budget hides underspending on the environment and education.  Forward estimates show that power privatisation will increase future taxes and slash front line services, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “The Treasurer’s third budget is a statement of his disdain for teachers, public transport, and climate change.

“He has clearly won the cabinet battles to keep expenditure on services down. (more…)

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey said that the ACT majority Government is not using its generous budget, handed down today, to provide the leadership needed to address the challenges of climate change and growing inequity in the ACT.

“Of course the Greens are pleased to see a few of our climate change and environment ideas picked up in this budget, but we still lag behind other cities of our size and income across the western world,” Dr Foskey said today.

“The challenge of climate change should see this government commit to a sustainable rapid transit scheme that will allow people across Canberra to enjoy life without a car, and energy efficient buildings - whether they are old or new - which will be good for our planet and cheaper to run.”

“This is an infrastructure-rich budget that will provide a boon to the development industry for years to come. Given the expected drop in Federal Government activity in the ACT, that might be a deliberate strategy. It looks like there are going to be new buildings and refurbishments and roads all over the town. With the exception of Woden and Weston Creek.” (more…)

A new report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has highlighted grave concerns about the housing conditions affecting Indigenous Australians.

“The inequality experienced by Indigenous Australians is a national disgrace, and adequate housing should be top of the list of priorities,” said Greens spokesperson on Indigenous Issues, Senator Rachel Siewert today.

The report indicates the Indigenous impact of the housing crisis, with over a quarter of Australia’s Indigenous population living in overcrowded conditions. The highest rates of overcrowding among Indigenous households were in the Northern Territory (38%) followed by Western Australia (16%). (more…)

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey today questioned ACTEW’s week by week approach to water restrictions, following announcements today that sprinklers for lawns might be allowed throughout January.

“It was only a few weeks ago that we were considering the impact of Stage Four water restrictions here in Canberra,” Dr Foskey said today.

“If we do move to Stage Four, Canberra people will see will bear the loss of many loved trees and shrubs, in addition to their vegetable gardens, lawns and flowers.” (more…)

(councillor contribution for December 6 edition of Bungendore Bulletin)

The last meeting for the year of the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Co-ordinating Committee (UMCCC) took place at Billabong Aboriginal Corporation, tucked away along Stockdill Drive, near the western fringe of Holt in the ACT. This meeting was the AGM, and it was the last meeting with Val Wiseman in the chair. She has now stepped down after 11 years in the job and there were glowing tributes for her and the work she has done and continues to do in the area of Natural Resource Management (NRM). The meeting was unanimous in thanking her for her dedication and wisdom over the years. (more…)

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has described today’s announcement of a $1.1 billion desalination plant at Port Stanvac as a massive missed opportunity.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: desalination is such a poor option.  It’s a very expensive, energy guzzling way to artificially manufacture new water, when we waste so much of the water we’ve got now.

“We estimate a combination of rainwater, water efficiency assistance for households and better use of stormwater could deliver the same amount of water as the desal plant, in the same time frame, but for only 2/3 the cost, and with better outcomes for households, job creation and for the environment (see next page for details). (more…)

The Greens have welcomed Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd’s cabinet.

“I look forward to having the minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong, in the Senate, along with 7 other ministers or secretaries and to working with Peter Garrett in environment and all other ministers,” Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart this afternoon.

“After the Bali world conference on climate change, the first big challenge is getting rid of the pulp mill in the Tamar Valley.  For the ministers involved - Garrett (Environment), Wong (Climate Change and Water) and Tony Burke (Forestry) - this will make or break the Rudd government’s credentials for new leadership and a change of climate in Australian politics,” Senator Brown said.

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is calling on the Labor government to crack down on mining companies causing water, air and noise pollution and to force them to abide by their pollution licences.

“Many people in coal communities are living in unhealthy conditions because the NSW government is not forcing coal companies to abide by the rules,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Data collected by the NSW government’s own Environmental Protection Authority reveals that coal companies are increasingly breaching their licence conditions and that fines are rarely imposed. (more…)

The Greens in Victorian Parliament voted to let regional areas determine whether they want fluoride in their water supply.  Greens amendments strengthening the legislation were passed by all opposition parties.

“Our policy supports the right of communities to determine the introduction of fluoride into local water supplies. I put the emphasis on ‘determine’ rather than on being consulted with or being given information. They should have the right to determine whether fluoride goes into their supply, and that is a very important point,” said Colleen Hartland MLC.

“I found in speaking to a number of country people and also in attending a forum at Ballarat, was that it is not so much about whether your water is fluoridated; how good your teeth are depends on your family’s income and whether your family can afford ongoing expensive dental treatment.” (more…)

(councillor column for November 22 edition of Bungendore Bulletin; shorter version sent to local papers in Eden-Monaro and the Canberra Times)

The election is only days away and like most campaigns before it, this one has been dominated by the major parties, as if there were only two voting options. It would be good if we could release ourselves from the ALP/Coalition stronghold and let them know that their policies are not good enough for a just and environmentally sustainable future. Every time there’s an election, The Greens are vilified by one group or another, including the major parties. (more…)