“I offer the electorate experienced and stable leadership, and the progressive policies and clear vision for Australia’s future which the big parties are ignoring,” Australian Greens Leader Senator Brown said in Canberra today.

“Moving forward will mean a carbon tax on polluters; bringing home safely Australia’s troops from Afghanistan; a universal dental care scheme; humane treatment of asylum seekers in Australia; protecting our forests and wildlife.”

“This election is also about the Senate and a strong cross-bench delivering better outcomes for Australians. The Greens are the responsible alternative to a deadlocked Abbott controlled Senate.”

“The Greens will campaign strongly on environmental issues including climate change action, the creation of marine national parks, protecting native forests and wildlife and saving the Darling Downs farmlands from 40,000 coal seam gas drill holes and open cut coal mines,” Senator Brown said.

The national poll of 1009 voters taken last weekend found 55% approved of the role the Greens played and only 28% disapproved.

Ahead of an address to the National Press Club in Canberra today, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said the Greens had shown the judgment and ability to negotiate and compromise in the interests of the Australian community.

“Without the Greens there would be oppositional deadlock in Parliament.

“Unlike the Coalition, the Greens negotiated with the Government to pass the economic stimulus package last year which saved Australia from recession.

“Raising the pension, fortnightly childcare rebates and fixing the renewable energy target are all results delivered by the Greens.

“We will continue to represent Australians on issues we know are important to them – For example, a carbon prices, getting our troops safely out of Afghanistan, decent treatment for asylum seekers and an end to native forest logging.”

The Australian Greens will move for an amendment to section 96 of the Constitution – the section which sets out that the Commonwealth may grant financial assistance to the states on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit – to add the words ‘and local government’.

Addressing the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly today Senator Brown said that recognising local government in the Constitution is ALP policy and was a promise made by Mr. Rudd in the 2007 election campaign.

“But there’s been no action,” said Senator Brown.

“At the start of the next period of Government, the Greens will present a bill to the Senate for this referendum.

“Previous attempts, in 1974 and 1988, to have the status of local government recognised through a referendum failed because of the confusing nature of the questions put to the Australian voters.”

The Federal Government has no alternative but to scrap the nomination of Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek, as a site for Australia’s first ever radioactive waste dump following evidence heard at a Senate inquiry in Darwin, according to the Australian Greens.

“Today we heard first hand accounts of just how flawed the process was that led to Muckaty’s nomination,” said Senate Committee Member Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

“Numerous Traditional Owners outlined how they and their people were completely excluded from the shared decision making process which is the norm in Aboriginal custom on issues to do with kinship of land.

“Despite claims to the contrary, it is clear they were not properly consulted and have never given consent – a fact human rights lawyers recently confirmed as they assess avenues for a possible legal challenge.

“From all I have heard and read in this inquiry from over 230 submissions, the only outcome is for Muckaty to be scrapped and a fresh process begun that is truly consultative, transparent, scientific, and accountable, as this government promised.

“Labor must now do the right thing by the people of the Northern Territory, not to mention avoid the possibility of an embarrassing, protracted legal battle,” Senator Ludlam said.

Jim McDonald

Dr Jim McDonald is your Greens candidate for Wide Bay.

Jim has lived in Noosa for 14 years . He was married for almost 34 years and is now widowed. He has a son and two granddaughters who live in Europe. Jim is involved in a number of community organisations, and is also active in the cultural life of the Sunshine Coast, singing in local choirs, writing plays, and acting in theatre companies.

Jim spent much of his working life representing employees on two Victorian teachers’ union councils, working as a full-time union official in the 1980s, and elected by academic staff to his university’s Council. At university, he taught industrial relations and negotiation. His area of specialisation was research on management in small and medium sized businesses. After retiring he ran a free industrial relations policy website, used throughout Australia by students, academics, unions and business.

In 2003 Jim stood for Noosa Council on an environmental platform, supporting the population cap.

Jim is especially interested in Federal policies about our health and education for our children, industrial relations, climate change, the protection of prime food production areas such as the Mary Valley and South Burnett, regional arts and culture policy, seniors’ issues, and the provision of efficient local public transport and rapid transit rail to Brisbane.

Jim decided to stand for Wide Bay because “My strongest political belief is that individuals can make a difference. It’s what democracy is about. That’s why I spent so much of my life working for a fair go. I would also like to give something back to my community.”

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown has backed in calls for a modernisation of the Australian flag today.

“I congratulate Ray Martin for raising this issue on Australia Day eve, and agree wholeheartedly that it is high time we replaced the union jack with a  dinkum Australian symbol on our flag,” said Senator Brown.

“I call on Kevin Rudd to give Australians the opportunity at the next federal election to vote for a new symbol for our flag that properly reflects the  country we are today.

“Australia has not been a British colony since federation in 1901 and the union jack does not represent Australians.

“It should be replaced with another symbol that conveys Australia’s ancient Indigenous or natural heritage. “Instead of delaying, Kevin Rudd should use this year’s federal election as an opportunity for Australians to vote on becoming a Republic and a new flag for our country.”

“I am proud to be part of this week-long national action – The Great Australian Internet Blackout,” said Australian Greens spokesperson for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Scott Ludlam.

“The government’s plan will not protect children, will do nothing to crack down on criminal activity online, and sets a dangerous precedent of centralised net censorship,” Senator Ludlam said. “Communications Minister Stephen Conroy should start paying attention to the almost universal condemnation of this scheme and pursue alternatives rather than pushing ahead with the mandatory filter.”

To take part visit the campaign’s website

The Australian Greens have welcomed the arrival of the Sea Shepherd vessel ‘Steve Irwin’ on a brief stopover in Hobart this morning.

“The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has again shown up the timidity of the Government, seeking to enforce international law while the Australian Government stands on the  sidelines,” said Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

“These campaigners have inspired Australians with their courage and willingness to act while notionally anti-whaling states like Australia stand by and do nothing.

“The Australian Government has a range of options, starting with official condemnation of Japanese deployment of military personnel to protect illegal whaling in the Southern Ocean and deployment of vessels to at least monitor the situation.

“We should make any future Japanese free trade agreement conditional on an end to the slaughter, and we should commence immediate legal action to enforce the law of the sea.  Instead, the Australian Government has gone silent and left it to the Sea Shepherd to uphold international law,” he concluded.

The theme of the seminar is consider how regional and rural members of the Queensland Greens can continue to contribute actively to our party’s structure and management practices. This discussion would include such topics as equitable and effective distribution of electoral public funding to regions, regional administration, and training and support for candidates.

This seminar will also provide an opportunity for members to consider effective electoral strategies for regional and rural branches as we prepare for the next federal election in 2010.

Please forward any submissions, agenda items,or comments to be included in this seminar to Bob Borsellino, Secretary, Noosa Greens or to Steve Haines, Convenor, Noosa Greens on 0421 00 1956.

Notification of venue and date will be forwarded as finalised.

Expressions of Interest may be forwarded to:

Bob Borsellino, Campaign Committee Coordinator, Noosa and Hinterland Branch bob@noosagreens.org

or

Kent Hutton, Campaign Committee Coordinator, Noosa and Hinterland Branch, kent@noosagreens.org

Nominations to be received no later than close of business Monday 4 January 2010

This call for Expressions of Interest has been authorised by Bob Borsellino, Campaign Committee Coordinator, Noosa and Hinterland Branch

If you would like any further information or would like to discuss any issues related to submitting an expression of interest please feel welcome to contact Bob, Kent or Steve Haines, Convenor, Noosa Greens directly.