Will Richard Di Natale be elected to the Senate?

The Greens polled a record 10.1% of the primary vote in Victoria, but preferences are required to make up the required quota of 14.3%.

Counting of Senate votes is still in progress, and Richard is still very much in the race against the 3rd Liberal Senate candidate Scott Ryan. Scott believes the Howard Government had the right policies on climate change, so let us hope that Richard wins.

Some factors are:

• Postal votes tend to favour the Liberals
  
• Absentee votes ("the bushwalker vote") tend to favour the Greens
• Below the line votes are likely to favour the Greens and Labor

You can help boost Richard's chances by scrutineering - which means checking Senate votes as they are assessed and counted in electorate offices - this is still in progress.

If you can help with scrutineering of senate votes for Kooyong (2 hour blocks during the day), please contact Jenny on 0415 821 554

The address is Level 2, 695 Burke Road Camberwell (just south of the Junction).

You don't have to be an expert. Things to look for include:

• All informal votes are sent to Hawthorn for double checking and data entry
• Votes go into the right piles
• Numbers of votes in a batch that go to various parties

Information on statewide scrutineering is available here.

Please contact me via email or mobile if you need further information.

Walk against Warming on 11 November 2007

John Howard's and Kevin Rudd's policies on climate change both fall well short of what is required to take real action on climate change.

Howard has not committed to any targets, while Rudd says Labor will ratify the Kyoto Protocol and set emission reduction targets for 2050.

We don't need more reports, we need short term targets for 2010, 2015 and 2020. In particular, we need to set a firm target of 30% emissions reductions by 2020.

You have the opportunity to attend Australia's biggest day of community action on climate change.

Date: Sunday, November 11, 2007
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: State Library, Swanton Street, Melbourne

I encourage you to "walk against warming" to highlight the need for action on climate change. I will be there.

See http://www.walkagainstwarming.org for walk locations in your capital city.

This advertisement from Getup summarises the Howard Government's position well. Demand real action on climate change: I can do that!

MEDIA RELEASE: Climate change, public transport and cycling

Date: 27 May 2007

Peter Campbell has been preselected by the Greens to run against Petro Georgiou again for the seat of Kooyong. Campbell has previously stood in Kooyong in both the 2001 and 2004 Federal elections with the Green vote rising dramatically on both occasions.

“I am proud to run again for the Greens in Kooyong at a time that is vitally important for our future. I make a commitment to Kooyong residents that, if elected, I will vote in parliament for real and effective targets for dealing with climate change” Mr Campbell said.

“The science and economic impacts of climate change are now agreed, what we need now is urgent and effective measures to bring down our carbon emissions.” said Mr Campbell.

“Many people in the community are seriously concerned about climate change, the drought and living sustainably. I think these will be among the key issues for the upcoming election this year.” said Mr Campbell.

“It is most unfortunate that the Howard Government has refused to set targets for reducing carbon emissions, has only recently acknowledged climate change is real and is only supporting the coal industry rather than renewable energy.” Mr Campbell said.

“Labor's 2050 carbon emission targets are not much better. We need to introduce a target of reducing Australia’s greenhouse emissions to 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80% below by 2050.” said Mr Campbell.

Kooyong residents are also concerned about our inadequate public tranport with trains overcrowded and late and trams travelling at 15km due to our roads being choked by cars. I will work to ensure Federal funds are provided for improving our public transport. Giving people the option of reducing their car trips is also climate friendly.” Mr Campbell said.

“Cycling more often is also a great way we can reduce carbon emissions and get healthy, but we have a chronic shortage of funds for cycle trails and routes in Kooyong and across the country. I will address this issue as a priority” Mr Campbell said.

For more information and comment please contact Peter Campbell 0409 417 504

-ends-

Authorised by Peter Campbell, 377 Little Bourke St Melbourne 3000
Phone: 0419 417 504 email: kooyong@greens.org.au
www.greens.org.au