Vote for Tomorrow, Today!

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon and Senator Bob Brown yesterday launched their party's election campaign, putting the challenge of climate change centre stage for their vision for NSW.

They announced a series of programs that will deliver for the environment and the economy, as well as open and accountable government.

Ms Rhiannon said: "The Greens election launch is our opportunity to showcase our plans for NSW – how we can meet the climate change challenge and reinvigorate democracy in this state.

"Our campaign slogan, 'vote for tomorrow, today', is resonating with voters. People are looking for real change and a real alternative.

"With more Greens in parliament we can better hold the Government and the Opposition to account and we can introduce innovative and effective solutions to the key challenges facing the community.

"We will establish a Wind and Jobs Transition fund to kick-start wind technology manufacturing industries near coal-mining dependent communities in the Illawarra and Hunter. Revenue from carbon taxes will finance retraining for coal workers and interest free loans for companies to manufacture wind farm components.

"Our Greens Roofs project will make water tanks and solar hot water systems affordable for all households.

"In the next parliament Greens MPs will introduce legislation to establish a government-run finance scheme to provide households with interest free loans to buy and install solar hot water systems and water tanks connected to the washing machine and toilet.

"Our target is rainwater tanks on half a million homes by 2015 and solar hot water systems on million roofs in NSW by 2022.

"These financing packages will enable every household to participate in slashing greenhouse gas emissions and deliver massive jobs growth.

"The Greens don't want NSW to miss out on the thousands of new jobs in renewable energy and clean, green manufacturing," Ms Rhiannon said.

Senator Brown said: "From the Hunter to Balmain and Marrickville this election campaign has put the coal industry on notice.

"We Greens helped win the argument that climate change is real. Now we are fighting for real solutions. Moving towards a clean, green and renewable future is just common sense.

"Whatever party is elected on March 24 I know the Greens MPs will keep it on its toes taking the debate on critical issues, like coal, onto the floor of the Parliament," Senator Brown said.

Newcastle Greens Preferences

Following consultation with its members and supporters, the Newcastle Greens have agreed on the following recommendations to Greens’ voters in the electoral divisions of Charlestown, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Swansea and Wallsend.

The Newcastle Greens emphasise that these are only recommendations, and that every voter has the right and ability to cast their vote in the order of their choice.

Unlike the compulsory preferential system used in Federal elections, the optional preferential system used to elect members to the NSW Legislative Assembly does not require voters to number every box. Consequentially, voters often will not fill in all the squares, and, similarly, Newcastle Greens have not recommended preferences for all candidates.

However, we encourage individual voters (Green or otherwise) to indicate preferences on their ballots where they do prefer one or more candidates, over others.

The Greens’ organisational structure is different to other political parties. We are a party committed to grassroots democracy. There is no centralised control - no Sussex St equivalent - a fact often not understood by some in the media. Newcastle Greens are an autonomous Local Group with the constitutional right to pre-select its local candidates, and to determine its own preference recommendations.

Newcastle Greens have cooperated with The Greens NSW in achieving an agreement – a collective bargaining agreement - with NSW Labor that delivers upper house preferences and significantly improves the possibility of Greens being elected to Upper House seats.

Historically, The Greens have recommended preferences for progressive independents before Labor, and have not recommended preferences for the Coalition.

Deciding preference recommendations for the upcoming state election has been very difficult, as the ALP has performed so poorly. The Coalition has shown it would be even worse.

Newcastle Greens have various criteria for determining preferences. Only after a candidate or political party has satisfied us that they warrant being recommended to receive a preference, will we discuss mutually beneficial preference recommendations.

In some instances, if there is sufficient trust in a competing candidate, we will recommend a preference without receiving any reciprocal benefit. This is the case in a number of the preference decisions we have made with the six electorates we are dealing with here.

The issues we investigated with other candidates and considered in determining whether to recommend preference to them were:

* Policy or position on climate change;
* Policy or position on the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park (Port Stephens);
* Policy or position on Catherine Hill Bay (Swansea);
* Opposition to handing over industrial relations to the Howard government;
* Support to revoke Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act;
* Support for legislation banning developer donations;
* The position the candidates would take in the case of a hung parliament.

The preference recommendations for the Newcastle Greens are as follows:

Charlestown
Jane Smith – The Greens 1 Matthew Morris – Labor 2
• There is no progressive independent candidate in Charlestown.
• Matthew Morris is a locally pre-selected incumbent Labor member who survived an earlier parachute raid from Sydney ALP power-brokers.
• Charlestown was included in the broader agreement between the ALP and The Greens NSW.

Wallsend
Keith Parsons – The Greens 1 Sonia Hornery – Labor 2
• There is no progressive independent candidate in Wallsend.
• Sonia Hornery has been locally pre-selected.
• Ms Hornery has a strong record on industrial relations.
• Wallsend was included in the agreement between ALP and The Greens NSW.

Port Stephens
Charmian Eckersley – The Greens 1 Jim Arneman – Labor 2
• Newcastle Greens welcome the establishment of the Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park but do not believe it goes far enough. Whilst we consider Labor’s Marine Park inadequate, we are horrified that the Coalition and other candidates in this marginal seat have been prepared to play politics with this against the interests of both Port Stephens voters and the environment. Any reduction in size or level of protection is viewed with great concern.
• The ALP candidate, Jim Arneman appears to us to have the potential to be a progressive voice in the Port Stephens community.
• Port Stephens is included in the agreement between the ALP and The Greens NSW.

Swansea
Sue Wynn – The Greens 1 Peter Lee – Democrats 2 Laurie Coughlan – Independent 3
Robert Coombs – Labor 4
• The Democrats have historically had a position on many issues in line with those of The Greens.
• The Independent candidate, Laurie Coghlan, supports the local community’s opposition to a) the ruinous planning proposal for Catherine Hill Bay; b) Federal industrial relations takeover; and c) developer donations.
• Swansea is included in the agreement between ALP and The Greens NSW.

Lake Macquarie
Suzanne Pritchard – The Greens 1 Greg Piper – Independent 2Jeff Hunter – Labor 3
• We regard Greg Piper as a progressive independent. During his political career, Cr Piper has generally taken a progressive approach on social and environmental issues.
• Cr Piper has stated he would support legislation in relation to developer donations so there is a level playing field.
• He has also assured us that he would not support the referral of the state’s industrial relations power to Howard's Work Choices.
• Lake Macquarie was NOT included in the agreement between ALP and The Greens.

Newcastle
Michael Osborne – The Greens 1 Bryce Gaudry 2
Newcastle Greens acknowledge the role of the ALP for giving Newcastle its most interesting election in history. Newcastle Greens have decided to recommend a preference for Bryce Gaudry only. We are making no preference recommendation for either John Tate or Jodie McKay. Our how-to-vote cards for Newcastle will urge Greens voters to follow our recommendation up to number 2, and then to preference other candidates according to their individual preferences.
• Bryce Gaudry:
a) has consistently supported the retention of rail through to Newcastle; b) led opposition to the privatisation of electricity generators; c) will support legislation to ban developer donations to candidates and political parties; d) is well respected locally - local ALP members were not given a chance to say whether they wanted him or not; e) has called for the repeal of Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act; and f) has effectively adopted our policy on establishing a renewable energy industry in Newcastle.
• As a party committed to grassroots democracy, Newcastle Greens share the concern of many ALP members that Mr Gaudry’s removal by Sydney ALP powerbrokers is the thin end of the wedge and the selection of celebrity candidates in this manner is an affront to democracy.• Newcastle Greens believe Mr Gaudry is the candidate most likely to support Greens' positions and policies. • John Tate has constantly opposed Greens' initiatives, policies and positions during his time as Lord Mayor.
• Jodie McKay was parachuted in by ALP power brokers against the will of the majority of local branches. • Ms McKay has an untenable position on the continued expansion of the coal industry.
• There was significant opposition from members of Newcastle Greens to recommending preferences to either John Tate or Jodie McKay.
• The preference framework agreement between the ALP and The Greens recognises the position adopted by Newcastle Greens in relation to the seat of Newcastle.

The Greens on International Women's Day

It was great to have the opportunity yesterday to represent the Greens at the International Women's Day celebrations at Newcastle University.

The Greens are certainly putting their affirmative action policies into practise in this state election, as 53%, or 49 out of 93 lower house candidates, are women.Labor's representation is 40% (37 women from 93 candidates), the Liberals 19% (16 women from 83 candidates) and the Nationals 14% (3out of 21 seats).

Greens MP and lead upper house candidate Lee Rhiannon said, "Labor hands women like Jodi McKay a parachute, while the Greens give them a springboard. The Greens outdo Labor by 13 percent."You have to bush bash to find a female National candidate and the Liberals' figure of 19% is truly disturbing.

"It's time the Coalition parties took a look at the road blocks they've placed in front of women.

"The Carr and Iemma governments have not delivered for women. In the entire 182 pages of Labor's State Plan the word 'women' is only mentioned once.

"Labor abolished the Department for Women and has reduced funding for women's services to a trickle. Peter Debnam has offered no sign his party will do any better," Ms Rhiannon said.

Federal Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said, "The Greens' historic figure reflects the success of our policies that value women and encourage them to stand. We hope the major parties follow our lead.

"The Greens have always had strong female representation in Parliament and have been at the forefront of women's campaigns for decades,"Senator Nettle said.

Women in the Greens Elected
2 out of 3 NSW Upper House Greens women
3 out of 4 Federal senators women
62 % of local Greens councillors are women
First Greens MP was a women – Jo Valentine, WA Federal Senator (elected 1985)
First 'out' lesbian MP in any Australian parliament, WA MLC Giz Watson
Candidates
49 out of 93 NSW Lower House candidates women
11 out of 21 NSW Upper House candidates women

Campaign Launch

Newcastle Greens yesterday launched their State Election Campaigns for the lower house seats of Port Stephens, Wallsend, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Swansea and Charlestown.

Candidates used the launch to speak on a range of Green policy areas including education, planning and development, water, health, the environment and climate change.

I spoke about education, highlighting several important aspects of NSW Greens education policy.

Here is what I had to say:

I joined the Greens, and I am standing as the Greens candidate for Charlestown, because I uphold the ideals contained in the four Green principles:

Ø Social and economic justice
Ø Peace and non-violence
Ø Ecological sustainability
Ø Grassroots democracy

If we are to have a just, peaceful, sustainable and democratic future, then we must have a dynamic and well resourced public education system.

The NSW Greens education policy is designed to deliver that outcome, and it is great, but not surprising, to see that Greens policy follows very closely the demands of the NSW Teachers Federation in their ongoing campaign to support public education in NSW.

Research shows that by the time children begin the 'compulsory' years of schooling many of the factors contributing to future inequality are already evident.

The Greens NSW are committed to 2 years of free universal public preschool for all children in this state. We believe the implementation of universal public pre-schooling should begin with communities with high concentrations of socio-economic disadvantage, where it will have a significant impact on the progress of children through school and into later life.

The Greens are committed to increasing the funding of public schools to address the identified needs of all students.

In NSW the ALP government continues to give $59.6 million to the 63 wealthiest private schools each year. It has increased its annual funding of private schools over the past 10 years. The Minister cannot argue that the government does not have the money to address the needs of children in public education.

The Greens education policy sees resources directed into programs which support

Ø Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Ø NESB Migrant Students.
Ø Students with disabilities.
Ø All students through increases to School Counsellor/student ratios – with the goal of one counsellor for every 500 students.

The Carr/Iemma government has failed to plan for the rejuvenation of the public education teaching service. Large numbers of teachers are planning to retire in the next 5 years and one third of beginning teachers do not expect to be in the profession in the next 10 years. Public education is facing a teacher shortage and a depletion of experienced teachers.

To address these identified problems, the Greens will work for:
increased Commonwealth investment in teacher education in universities;
programs in hard-to-staff schools, including an additional leadership allowance;
incentives to recruit and retain teachers;
a massive increase in the resources for teacher mentoring, so that more experienced teachers can engage in this process and beginning teachers are well supported

As a matter of priority, The Greens would fund programs that increase the number of teachers to reduce class sizes and face to face teaching times to relieve the pressure on teachers and enable them to remain in active service longer.

It is unfair to teachers and students in public education to expect them to use buildings and facilities that are decrepit, in poor condition and poorly maintained. It is unreasonable that public school students have to wait for an election year to see funding for maintaining adequate toilet facilities. The failure of the government to clear the maintenance backlog is driving parents away from public education as the private alternatives appear fresher and more attractive.

The Greens will work to:
clear the maintenance backlog and
invest in new facilities and buildings that meet the needs of modern public education

The Greens are committed to TAFE as the dominant, public provider of vocational education and training.

A strong and growing TAFE system is not only central to the economic success of our society but it also offers working class Australians an opportunity to participate in the economic, political, cultural and social life of this country. TAFE also plays a central role in second chance education and in the education of young adults at risk – this is especially important to me as I teach in this area at TAFE.

The Greens are opposed to the privatisation of vocational education and training funding and the growth of private providers. Private providers cannot and will not deliver the same benefits as a public TAFE system because they are focused on maximising their own profit, not benefits to society or the student.

The failure of State and Federal governments to support TAFE over the last 4 years has had disastrous consequences for both TAFE teachers and their students. Without a major reversal of the current funding situation, TAFE will continue to experience increasing teacher casualisation, exploitation of casual and full time teachers including escalating workloads, course cancellations and unit hour reductions and declining teacher morale.

The Greens have announced a 4 year, $1.6 billion package for TAFE, that would deliver an additional $400 million of state government funds each year to TAFE.

The Greens NSW are also committed to

Ø Employment Security for TAFE Staff
Ø Renewing the TAFE Workforce

Public education is part of a great Australian tradition and success story. Our public schools offer all Australians the opportunity to strive for individual excellence to build a positive future for themselves, their families and the common good. Free, secular and universally accessible public education has directly shaped Australia's past and present. Accepting all students regardless of cultural, religious, racial or economic background, geographical location or special needs, public education remains the key to a vibrant, socially-cohesive, multicultural, democratic Australia.


Over the past four years, Greens members of the NSW Upper House have worked hard to make public education a national priority. They have supported teacher’s salary claims, opposed private school funding rorts and the private schools for profit rip off, worked for more ESL teachers, smaller class sizes and increased resources for children with special needs. They campaigned for more funding for TAFE and fairer treatment of part-time casual teachers.

As the greens candidate for Charlestown I will continue to highlight these achievements, and the Greens commitment to strong, innovative and vibrant public education.

I will also be working hard to ensure Lee Rhiannon and John Kaye are both elected to the NSW Upper House. I want them to continue their great work as advocates for a public education which equips our children to meet the challenges of the future in ways that are peaceful, just, democratic and sustainable.

Let's Finish the Fernleigh Track

MEDIA RELEASE 1ST MARCH 2007

The NSW Greens are calling on the Labor and Coalition parties to make a pre-election commitment to fully fund the completion of the Fernleigh Track in their 2007/2008 budgets.

The NSW Greens Transport Policy contains a firm commitment to cycling and cyclists, including the allocation of at least 5% of the State roads budget to bicycle programs. This would see the completion of valuable community projects such as the Fernleigh Track.

“The remainder of this track, from Whitebridge to Belmont, could be completed for about $5 million,” said Jane Smith, Greens candidate for Charlestown.

“This is not much to ask to complete a facility which provides clean and healthy recreational and transport options for residents across three state electorates.”

Under the current funding arrangement, the track is unlikely to be complete until 2015, despite the fact that the original management plan includes a completion date of 2010.

The State government has shared the funding of the track to this point. State funds for early stages of the track came from the RTA and the most recent funding comes from the NSW Coastal Cycleways Project. The balance of funding has been provided jointly by Newcastle and Lake Macquarie councils.

At this stage funding has only been confirmed to complete Stage 3A of the track - from Whitebridge to Oakdale Rd in Dudley. Funding is yet to be announced to continue the track to Redhead and ultimately Belmont.

“When the Fernleigh track is complete recreational cyclists and commuters will be able to ride from Belmont to Adamstown in safety and with ease – avoiding the major cycling challenges of steep hills and heavy traffic.” said Ms Smith.

Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday 4th March

Clean Up Australia Day is next Sunday. I'll be at the Warner's Bay Foreshore clean up site and I look forward to joining the many thousands of volunteers who will be doing their bit to clean up our communities and natural environments.

Clean Up Day is a wonderful initiativethat would be made a lot easier for those involved if we produced less waste on the other 364 days of the year.

A 10-cent deposit on drink bottles and cans would dramatically improve recycling rates in NSW and force industry to take more responsibility for the waste it creates.

Survey figures released today by Clean Up Australia show that 83% of people in NSW believe a ten cent deposit and refund scheme would encourage more people to recycle bottles and cans, and that 89% think drink manufacturers should be involved in setting up such a deposit and refund scheme.

A 10-cent deposit scheme would force industry to be more responsiblefor this waste and would also boost recycling rates enormously.

In South Australia, where they have a deposit scheme, the recycling rate is over 80 per cent.

Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) would work hand-in-hand withcouncil kerbside recycling to reduce waste going to landfill.

The current national agreement to reduce waste, the National Packaging Covenant, does not force the packaging industry and retailers to take on a fair share of the costs of recycling.

Taxpayers continue to foot the bill to prop up kerbside recycling while the companies that create the waste in the first place sidestepany responsibility for where the waste ends up.

A container deposit scheme would create a level playing field where consumers and producers shared responsibility for dealing with waste. Landfill space is fast running out and more effective ways of recycling are urgently needed.

It would also help make Clean Up Australia Day a cost effective exercise for those fantastic people that get involved in it.

Corporate Donations

At a Greens fundraiser on Saturday night each local candidate was asked to respond to a specific election issue.

My question was

"The Newcastle Greens don't accept any campaign donations from businesses or developers etc whereas both the other major parties do. How have you addressed this as an election issue and how important is it to you personally?"

My response - which has become a theme for my campaign - is as follows:

Corporate donations, and the real or perceived influence which accompany such donations, is one of the major issues I have been campaigning on in Charlestown. For me this issue fits into the broader election theme of integrity in government – something I am quite passionate about – and something that our current government demonstrates time and again is currently lacking in NSW.

Since 2003 property developers have donated over $7.7 million to the ALP and the coalition in NSW.

In the words of Terence Cole QC:
“People in business are not normally accustomed to making substantial donations to anyone unless they perceive there is some advantage in it”

The Rose Corp development at Catherine Hill Bay will more than likely go ahead with the approval of the planning minister, ignoring the protests of the local community, Wyong and Lake Macquarie councils - and a decision of the Land and Environment Court.

Many other developments have been or will be “called in” by the planning minister, giving the public more reason to question the state governments’ priorities – is it communities or developers that come first?

The Greens have the solution to this problem of percieved (or real) influence. In 2003 Lee Rhiannon introduced a private members bill to ban developer donations to political parties. The Labor, Liberal and National parties all voted against the Bill. The Greens do not accept donations from developers. In fact all donations over $200 are now continuously disclosed on our website.

Last week at a candidates forum in Dudley I took the opportunity to challenge my fellow candidates to adopt a similar policy of continuous disclosure - from now until the election. I don’t believe they took my challenge seriously. But this is a serious issue!

How can local communities feel that their interests come first when

Ø developers donate millions of dollars to the government, the opposition, and as I now know, at least one of the independent candidates
Ø secret clauses in public private partnerships put corporate profit ahead of the best interests of the community (cross city tunnel, Mater hospital)
Ø public assets are sold off and privatised (Dudley, Singleton)
Ø there is a revolving door between the corporate sector and senior politicans (Bob Carr and Macquarie Bank)

As the greens candidate for Charlestown I will continue to highlight the Greens commitment to integrity in government.

I am also working hard to increase our Green presence in parliament - giving us a loud, clear and ethical voice in state parliament – a voice that will not be compromised by the influence of developer donations