Posted by Jim McDonald on August 22, 2011
Good luck on Thursday, Drew.
There is no doubt about the immorality of CSG extraction and coalmining on productive land and in people’s homes, but the laws are not geared towards what is best for Australia’s food security, nor what is best for the aquifers and the Great Artesian Basin, nor for the atmosphere as methane leaks, nor for the destruction of family lives and the peace of communities. On these grounds alone you have an absolute reasonable excuse.
The work you have done for the farmers and communities of the Darling Downs is sowing seeds across the country sustained by your’s and the farmers courage to stand up against multi-nationals and Australian companies out for a fast buck whatever the damage they do.
Drew, you should be proud of what you have achieved for all of us in bringing the pernicious industrialisation of our land and its resources to the public consciousness. I am!
Jim McDonald
Posted by Steve on June 21, 2011
Greens Leader Bob Brown has welcomed the announcement of an expert panel to guide Australia to a referendum to recognise and protect local government in the Constitution, delivering on the Greens’ initiative in the agreement signed with the Government.
The Agreement signed on 1 September 2010 included the following goal:
f) Hold referenda during the 43rd Parliament or at the next election on Indigenous constitutional recognition and recognition of local government in the Constitution.
“The Greens will have a representative on the panel,” Senator Brown said.
“Local governments deliver for communities and need to be able to call on federal government support, as we saw during the financial crisis.”
“Without recognition in the Constitution direct grants from the Commonwealth to local government face massive legal uncertainty.”
“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. This time, the process will be supported by an expert panel,” Senator Brown said.
Posted by Steve on May 26, 2011
The Australian Greens will move to amend electoral laws to ban donations to political parties by tobacco companies, Greens Leader Bob Brown said.
“We hope the Government’s proposed plain-packaging legislation, which the Greens support, gets through soon. The Greens will also move to ban donations to political parties from tobacco companies,” Senator Brown said.
“The few brave Liberals, who are about to cross the floor if necessary to stop the end of glossy advertising on cigarettes, should be applauded. But it doesn’t need to stop there. All parties should also stop taking donations from Big Tobacco.”
“The Australian Greens don’t accept donations from tobacco companies and Mark Latham should be applauded for putting a stop to the ALP’s acceptance of donations from tobacco companies back in 2004.”
Posted by Steve on May 14, 2011
The Australian Greens are concerned by reports a ministry in Victoria may have breached federal guidelines covering the chaplaincy programme in public schools.
Access Ministries has been accused of trying to convert students into “disciples”, contrary to federal regulations.
“We await the review of Access Ministries by the Federal Education Department, something Peter Garrett has indicated will happen because the federal guidelines as ‘crystal clear’ on proselytising in schools,” stated the Greens’ education spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young.
The government announced in the budget this week that the National Schools Chaplaincy programme will cost $222m over the forward estimates and be extended to cover as many as 1,000 more schools.
“We argue it should be up to schools to decide how they want to use that money, not the department,” Sen. Hanson-Young said.
“Schools should be getting qualified counsellors to properly assess the various needs of students. What are chaplains qualified in? “Different schools have different needs. There should be two main criteria for counsellors – an ability to service the needs of a particular student community, and that their qualifications are relevant to the position.
“$74 million a year has already been allocated in the budget for the chaplaincy programme. The government could replace the chaplains with a student support programme to give students the services they need, and that counsellors are qualified for.
“A school may decide they want to retain their chaplain or instead hire a qualified counsellor or youth coordinator or someone who has experience liaising with different service groups. Ultimately, it should be a school’s decision.”
Posted by Jim McDonald on March 23, 2011
Noosa Greens are on an election footing following the leadership coup in the LNP and Premier Bligh’s refusal to rule out an early election. The Greens candidate has already been pre-selected and approved by the Queensland Greens State Council. The Noosa and Hinterland Branch has a campaign team in place.
The Noosa Greens candidate is Dr Jim McDonald who stood for the Greens in Wide Bay during last year’s Federal election.
Jim McDonald, Noosa Greens candidate, addressing a Greens function during the Federal election campaign 2010
Dr McDonald said that the Greens have a good chance of knocking off Labor in Noosa whenever the State election is held.
“Labor continues to disappoint Queenslanders despite the Premier doing a good job during the flood crises and Cyclone Yasi. But no-one has forgotten that Labor sold off some of our most important assets and infrastructure for short term profit.
“The Labor Government has allowed mining and gas interests to run amok in the State at the expense of farmers and productive land. The Sunshine Coast and the Mary Valley face a real threat of coalmining and coal seam gas destroying the region’s environment.
“Labor is encouraging coalmining throughout the Mary Valley and drilling for coal and gas is occurring just outside the Noosa electorate borders at Wolvi. What hope has Noosa got in stopping environmental vandalism if this is the mindset of both Labor and the LNP?
“The Greens are the only Party to stand against the expansion of the coal and gas industry into our region. The LNP has been silent and ineffectual because they support, and are supported by, the mining industry. They have failed rural communities and farmers.”
He said that there were a number of other issues for the election whenever it is called. “The so-called health revolution will pass by our region when the age demographic in the Noosa electorate suggests that pressures will only increase on health services.
“Where is the evidence of planning for a rapid transport system in our region when fuel prices are frequently hitting $1.50 a litre and will certainly increase towards $2.00 a litre?
“I have been pushing for some time for a strategic approach to food production in the region. There is no evidence that the State has any strategy for dealing with food security as the climate changes. Nor is there any evidence of local or state-wide planning for the inevitable transformation into a global post-carbon economy.
“If I am elected as The Greens MP for Noosa, I will work to improve the contribution of the Queensland Government towards making the Noosa electorate a better place to live, to work, to visit, for recreation and the arts, and in which to invest sustainably.”
Jim McDonald is a widower and has lived in Sunshine Beach for 15 years. He was formerly an academic, a union official and high school teacher. His PhD is on management in small and medium sized businesses.
Media release, Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Posted by Steve on July 17, 2010
“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.
Posted by Steve on July 14, 2010
A two-to-one majority of Australians approve of the role the Australian Greens play in the Senate according to a Galaxy research poll.
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.”
Posted by Steve on June 18, 2010
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.”
Posted by Steve on April 12, 2010
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.
Posted by Steve on March 15, 2010
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.”
We acknowledge and respect the traditional owners of this country and the land on which we stand