Street stalls around Kooyong

We have been out in the community visiting strip shopping centres such as Balwyn, Glenferrie Road and Camberwell. We hand out the Green Times newspaper which has some excellent articles on the problems with WorkChoices, setting climate targets, how to improve public education, forest conservation and West Papua.

Many people have told me they are greatly concerned about climate change, and that the old parties are not doing enough about it.

I think it is becoming increasingly apparent that if you want real action on climate change, both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, your best option is to vote 1 Green.

Jenny handing out the popular Green Times newspaper in Camberwell

ABC TV Difference of Opinion on climate change

I was in the studio audience of the ABC Difference of Opinion TV program on climate change on Thursday 8 November.

I was lucky enough to be able to make the statement that Australia really should ratify the Kyoto protocol and participate in good faith with international efforts to tackle climate change, then ask Guy Pearce whether we should have shorter term emission reduction targets for 2020. Guy's emphatic answer was "yes, these are essential" You can read the transcript and watch the program on the Internet here

AUDIENCE MEMBER (me): On the issue of Australia's leadership position, I have a question for Guy. If Malcolm Turnbull can lead the world on light globes by saying, let's move to the compact fluorescent light globes and the rest of the world follows California and Europe, surely we can do the same thing, by developing our clean energy and getting it 25% renewable target. And short-term energy targets in place.

GUY PEARSE: I couldn't agree more. APPLAUSE I think what we've seen is a very deliberate attempt to steer clear of the fact that really counts, and that is, that Australia' emissions are on track to rise 70% by mid century. That's the trajectory we're currently on. But, instead we're snowed with a series of press releases about how we're banning the bulb, we need 800 steps of that scale in order to cut our emissions by 60% by mid century. We hear all about our $3.5 billion climate change budget. But, you know, on day one of this election campaign, John Howard gave away 10 times as much in one tax cut, the sixth tax cut in a row. APPLAUSE What really matters is whether we're pursuing those deep cuts in emissions. Right now we're headed in exactly the opposition direction.

Links

• Should Australia ratify the Kyoto protocol and push for binding global emissions?

We need real action on climate change

It is disappointing that both Labor and Liberal party election policies on climate change announced so far do not provide any immediate action to reduce our carbon emissions.

The scientific evidence on climate change clearly indicates that immediate action is required, yet the Howard government has only committed to an emission trading scheme in 2012 after a decade of denial. No details of their proposed scheme are available yet. There is considerable risk that it may not result in any emission reductions.

The Howard Government is also promoting nuclear power as part of their solution, which will be too expensive, too late, produce toxic waste and not be renewable.

On the other hand, Labor has committed to 2050 emission reduction targets, but not too any shorter term 2020 targets that are essential for achieving the longer term ones. However, Labor’s 20% renewable energy target by 2020 is a step in the right direction.

Neither the Labor or Liberal party will commit to the essential policy goal of limiting global temperature increase to 2 degrees, yet science tells us even this temperature rise will have widespread deleterious effects on global ecosystems.

I encourage the many people in our community concerned about climate change to attend the Walk Against Warming rally on Sunday 7/11 to show their support for immediate bipartisan action to address climate change.

Setting energy efficiency targets and increasing our utilisation of renewable energy is achievable immediately, but we need the political will to do so.

Vote 1 Green for real action on climate change, rather than a load of hot air

This video succinctly explains why we really must take immediate action.




Peter Campbell
Greens candidate for Kooyong

On the campaign trail at railway stations

One of my aims in the campaign in Kooyong is to reach as many residents and provide information and get feedback on issues that matter to them.

Visiting railway stations and handing out our free Green Times newspaper is a good opportunity to do this. Public transport users are doing the right thing by not taking their cars into a the city and thereby reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Green Times is an informative read which provides some details on our policies and approaches for this election and for the future, which the mainstream media very rarely mentions.

Hawthorn railway station

Chatham railway station

I have visited may stations in Kooyong this week. This year it is evident that many more people are catching trains and the system is now overloaded past its capacity. Currently, no federal funding is provided to the states for public tranport. However, the federal governement provides several $billion to the states for road funding, which of course encourages more road and freeway construction, which in turn encourages more people to use their cars more often.

By contrast, no new train lines have been built in Melbourne since the Glen Waverly line in 1937, and several have been decommissioned.

It is time that this inequity was addressed. Rather then $34b in tax cuts that both old parties are offering to try and win the election, the Greens say that this money should be invested in services such as public transport, which can then be matched by State funding.

This could double the funds available to greatly improve the coverage, frequency and integration of public transport. Only the Greens have this policy and commitment. Improved public transport can also enable use to reduce our carbon emissions.

Greens TV ad and the 3 parties video

Here is the new Greens TV ad. I think it is well worth a look.



Another excellent video produced by the campaign group GetUp is below. 3 Senators from 3 parties (Labor, Greens and Democrats) supporting each other in the interests of a balanced Senate:



And Who on Else Cares is an interesting site that allows you to register your concern about climate change, send a letter to your local federal MP and see who else cares about climate change is on the map too.

Disability and carers forum in Kooyong, they need a fair go

I attended a forum held in Hawthorn Town Hall by the Australian Association for Families of Children with a Disability (AAFCD). Greens Senator Rachel Siewert spoke along with Annette Ellis MP (ALP), Minister for Family & Community Services Mal Brough (Liberal Party), Senator Lynn Allison (Democrats) and Junelle Rhodes (Carers Alliance party).

It was a great opportunity to hear from people who are making huge comitments and efforts caring for disabled people, and from disabled people too. It was evident that resources and funding for both carers and disabled people are far too low.

Rachel, elected in 2004, has an enviable track record both chairing and working on numerous Senate committees. Rachel played an active role in the Disabilities CSTDA Inquiry in Feb 2007 and contributed to the recommendations in the report. Rachel also has good relationships with a range of disabilities groups and community and is co-convenor and founder of the Parliamentary Friends of People with a Disability. Rachel also has national responsibility in the Australian Greens for the disabilities portfolio.

Rachel stated in answer to a question that the Greens recognise that funding for people living with a disability and their carers is urgently needed and that neither the Government nor the ALP would commit to increasing funding to the level needed. Yet both are offering a massive $34 billion tax package - tax cuts which could fund community services and resources.

Michael Gourlay, the CEO of AAFCD joked that when he heard about the $34 billion tax cuts he thought about calling John Howard and asking for about $4 billion.

Unfortunately the Commonwealth and the States (and Territories) process (CSTDA) that is supposed to be managing the framework and funding for people with disabilities has been has been marred by a continuing blame-game between the Commonwealth and the States (and Territories).

In this very meeting, Mal Brough attempted to shift the blame for lack of progress on provision of much-needed disabilities services onto the States.

On the other side, Labor hasn’t even bothered releasing a policy yet. It’s clear that carers and the disabled are being ignored by both major parties, and are being forced into a great mobilisation towards democracy.

The Australian Greens continue to:

• advocate for giving people living with a disability, their families and carers a greater opportunity to actively participate in policy development, service planning and delivery.
• support whole of life planning covering activities and services that should be accessible to children, adolescents and adults with a disability
• increasing funding for supporting people with a disability and their carers
• stopping the "race to the bottom" where only the person with the worst case wins funding

You can read Rachel's full report on the forum on the Greensblog here.

More kindergarten places are needed for Kooyong

The local Progress Leader newspaper (31/10 edition) covers of concerns about funding for the Manresa kindergarten and increased childcare costs in Boroondara.

I am hearing from many people in the Kooyong electorate that there is a real shortage of local kindergarten places. Many parents are forced to place their children at kindergartens some distance from where they live which is inconvenient and often requires car transport. I share this problem as I have a young daughter who may well miss out on a place at the local kinder.

Many couples are now starting families or have moved into the Kooyong electorate with children. The planning and provision of kindergarten services has just not kept up with this increased demand. In addition, successive interest rate rises have put more pressure on families with mortgages covering childcare costs.

Rather than dishing out $34b tax cuts during the election, I support federal subsidies for child care places and increased federal funding for more kindergarten places in Kooyong, and for the continued operation of the Manresa and other local kindergartens.

Links

• Kinder makes last attempt at funding
• Struggle over childcare costs