Thanks to all supporters and campaign workers for your fantastic efforts for the Greens in the 2007 Federal election. Politics with integrity and transparency is what we are all working for. Hopefully the change in government will remove some of the shame caused by the political decisions of the Howard government over the past 11.5 years.
Howard is gone! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!
In the last few days to the elections I'm asking voters to turn to Greens if you want a party with a difference.
The Greens’ policies are clearly different than those of the big parties, whose policies are more similar now than ever before.
This has been an election campaign of ‘me too-ism’. It’s like an auction, with Labor and the Coalition vying for the same voters, and trying to out-bid one another with promises of tax cuts. Their policies on climate change and industrial relations are almost indistinguishable.
The Final Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released on Sunday demonstrates that neither of the big parties is facing up to threat of global warming. Only the Greens have policies that will reduce greenhouse gases that threaten the survival of the planet. The Greens will use their influence in the Senate to convince the Government to phase out coal and support alternative technologies.
....read full Media Release
“Labor and Liberal appear bereft of policy with regard to cycling. The Greens policy initiative is a fabulous one, and if Labor and Liberal want to emulate it, it will make a significant contribution to reduction of greenhouse gases, cleaner air, less cars on the roads, and healthier citizens,” Ms Eckersley said.
Senator Nettle announced that The Greens will be pushing for a Commonwealth commitment of $750 million dollars over ten years to support cycling infrastructure and promotion.
“The Greens believe that all transport funding should be based on principles of equity, fairness and sustainability. Cycling, walking and public transport make a huge positive contribution to the environment and to communities, yet the federal government is not doing enough to promote and support cycling," Senator Nettle said.
...read full media release
The Greens have welcomed the latest review of Newcastle Buses but are concerned it may be too little too late without the State Government providing adequate funding to ensure that all routes can be made viable.
Newcastle Greens councillor, Ian McKenzie commended the efforts of Newcastle Buses to provide services that better meet the needs of Novocastrians but warns that State Government constraints may inhibit their ability to provide a cost-effective service that meets the needs of Greater Newcastle.
“With the existing budget and limited allowance of kilometres, it will be like drawing blood from a stone to provide the level of service that is needed to comprehensively meet Newcastle’s needs and address Climate Change imperatives by reducing fuel consumption and the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases,” Cr McKenzie said.
Greens federal election candidate for Newcastle, Charmian Eckersley, says the Greens propose a National Transport Policy, which would re-direct federal funds from the more than $5 billion dedicated to road development each year into sustainable transport options.
“We don’t need to wait until our road system is choked like Sydney’s before we take positive steps to encourage people to use public transport. In fact, in the face of indisputable threats from Climate Change, we should take all possible steps to provide accessible, people-friendly, and affordable public transport options for virtually everyone within the Lower Hunter,” Ms Eckersley said. ...read more
The Regional Partnerships fund rorting by the Howard government as exposed by the Auditor-General's publication explains how Newcastle has been missing out on federal funds that could have helped our region. Interestingly, neither Labor nor Liberal is particularly interested in the Newcastle electorate during this election. Labor because we're a "dead cert." and Liberal because they don't think they've got a hope!
But how fair is it for the leaders of the big parties to be pork barrelling ANYWHERE with our public money? We expect well-considered strategic planning to determine the expenditure of public funds especially in a context when our public services of health and education have been rundown. We are also desperate for govt funding in our region to seed alternative energy industries as Australians are the highest per capita emitters of greenhouse gases which are warming our planet and threatening its future.
If it weren't for a Committee of Senate triggering the investigation into the grants allocated to the Liberal/National Party held electorates by the Auditor-General, then this sort of corrupt behaviour would not be exposed. It is essential that the Greens Senator Kerry Nettle is re-elected in NSW - and more Greens senators elected - to ensure that the Senate becomes once again the effective House of review exposing the errors of the incumbent government.
Greens say Preferences make for Double Value Voting
As the countdown to the Federal Election draws to a close, it's crucial people remember their vote carries on at full value if their number one preference doesn't receive enough votes to get elected.
It is very empowering to understand how preferences work. It means you can vote for your preferred party in the number one position, even if it is a smaller party, knowing you are sending a clear message about the policies and principles you think are better.
People say to me - "I'm going to vote for The Greens, I'm going to put you after Labor". Actually, a vote to The Greens 2nd after Labor will not be counted at all! If the Greens candidate has less votes than the Labor candidate (as we invariably will), the Greens candidate is excluded and the votes are distributed to remaining candidates according to the order on each ballot. Consequently Greens preferences will always be distributed but as long as Labor remains in the race, which they virtually always are, their preferences will mean nothing. Read more....
