Why voting Green is vitally important

With climate change, drought, energy and a sustainable future now high on the political agenda, there has never been a more important time to vote for the Greens so that we get real action rather than rhetoric.

In the House of Representatives

Some residents I have spoken to recently have said they support the Greens by putting them as number 2 on their ballot after either Labor or Liberal.

They are surprised when I tell them that 2 for the Greens does nothing if you have a Liberal or Labor as number 1.

Nobody ever notices your number 2. Unfortunately, this doesn't help the Greens or show your support at all. Your vote just goes directly to the Labor or Liberal party and stays there.

However, if you like the Greens policies and would like me to represent you in Canberra, you can vote 1 Greens, then for the other parties of your choice.

This is really effective because you actually get double the value for your vote. Here is how it works:

Select 1 Greens. You make a really strong statement that you support the environment, open and fair government and a sustainable future. If I get enough votes, I will be elected and will be privileged to represent your views in parliament so I can work for a better future.

Select 2. This is your second preference, it is your choice. If I don't get elected, your vote is distributed to this choice on your ballet paper. The vote is counted again, at full value.

• So if you would like to John Howard returned, you can give your second choice to Petro Georgiou, the Liberal candidate.
  
• If you prefer Kevin Rudd, you can give your second choice to Ken Harvey, the Labor candidate.

If you prefer other parties (such as the Democrats) above either Labor or Liberal, you can give them your second preference. What really matters in the end is where you put Labor with respect to the Liberals. Whichever has the lower number will invariably get your vote. So if you vote 1 Green, 2 Democrat, 3 Liberal, 4 Labor then the Liberals will end up with your vote.

Need to know more? See the Australian Electoral Commission notes for more details.

Make no mistake: I’m serious about getting elected to represent you in Kooyong, but given that that is a big, BIG task, it is good to be able to reassure supporters that their vote will STILL BE COUNTED (twice, in fact.)

In the Senate
Even if Labor win enough lower house seats to form government, the polls and analysts indicate they will not win control of the Senate. It is important that more Greens are elected to the Senate so that it can act as a real house of review. The Greens will ensure there is balance in the Senate so that no major party will hold sway pushing their own agendas.

Either Vote 1 Green (above the line) in the Senate (the big ballot paper) or number the Greens candidates 1 to 6 then number every other square below the line in the order of your choice (also known as voting "below the line"). If you make a mistake or miss a number then your vote will be invalid and not be counted. Ask for another ballot paper if you have made a mistake!

Gunns pulp mill will not be clean

Both Kevin Rudd and John Howard support the proposed Gunns pulpmill in the Tasmania’s Tamar valley. Peter Garrett supports it too. This is in spite of polls showing that two out of three locals in the valley oppose the mill due to serious concerns about the air and water pollution it will produce and the native forest it will consume.

Once again we see major party politics let down the people of Australia. Why not have a local plebiscite on this divisive issue?

The Lennon government has abandoned its own environmental assessment and public consultation to fast track the mill. Malcolm Turnbull is keeping his options open with a huge majority of voters in his marginal seat of Wentworth also opposing the mill.

If it were truly a world-class, best environment standards pulp mill then I think it would proceed. But this would mean a plantation-based, chlorine-free, closed-loop pulp mill that doesn't use a Kraft (sulphur-based) pulping process.

This would enhance Tasmania’s growing green image and ecotourism appeal that the Government has spent millions promoting. This is where Tasmania’s long term future, employment and prosperity should be.

See also: Greens Kooyong website

Kooyong climate change forum

I spoke at the Kooyong climate change forum on the evening of Monday 3 September 2007.


It was encouraging to see about 350 people turn up to hear the candidates for Kooyong talk about climate change. Greens policies on climate change are fairly close to the Democrats (David Collyer) in that we both specify short term emission reduction targets. However, Labor (Ken Harvey) is still refusing to specify any targets earlier than 2050, with the Liberals (Petro Georgiou) are still refusing to set any targets at all.

Interestingly, all candidates set their "temperature arrow" to 2 degrees, even though both Labor and Liberal voted against the Greens motion for this in the Senate in April, and John Howard has stated that "Australia can adapt to climate change of up to 5 degrees", a statement which is bordering on lunacy.


It really is a case of separating what politicians say from how they or their party votes in parliament. There is often a world of difference. So now we can hold John Howard to the two degrees rise maximum, courtesty of Petro Georgiou. But maybe this is just another "non-core promise".

Below are my presentation slides. Click on any to enlarge them.

Why the Gunns pulp mill proposal for the Tamar valley should not be approved

There are serious concerns about Gunns proposed pulp mill for the Tamar valley in Tasmania.

However, the Lennon Labor government in Tasmania has cut short their public consultation process that was supposed to address social and environmental concerns about the pulp mill.

And Malcolm Turnbull, the Federal Environment Minister, has granted preliminary approval for the mill to proceed, despite stating his "concerns about the poor process followed by the Lennon Government"!

Turbull has now called for public submissions about the mill, with a closing date of 31st August. Please consider writing your own submission. You can send your submission via email to epbc.pulpmill@environment.gov.au

My submission to the "Invitation to comment on draft recommendation report - 2007/3385 Gunns Limited Proposed Pulp Mill, Tasmania"

To whom it may concern,

The Gunns pulp mill proposal for the Tamar valley in Tasmania should not be approved until:

• Full consideration of the impacts of the mill on Tasmania's native forests and wildlife habitat are assessed.
• An independent assessment of the flow and dispersal of effluent in Bass Strait is undertaken.
• All toxic substances are removed from the mill effluent - no output of dioxin should be allowed.
• Adequate local consultation has occurred - this was cut short when the Lennon Government abandoned their RPDC process

In its current form, the pulp mill would pollute the ocean with toxic dioxin, and have a very serious negative impact on fisheries and local tourism ventures in the Tamar valley.

The mill proposal should not be approved until these matters are resolved.

Peter Campbell

*** End of submission ***

Links

• Invitation to comment on proposed decision and conditions for the pulp mill proposal in Tasmania's Tamar Valley
• Comment sought on draft Pulp Mill decision and conditions - Malcolm Turnbull MP
• The Wilderness Society - Gunns' Proposed Pulp Mill
• PM's pal damns pulp mill proposal | The Australian
• Turnbull to clear way for pulp mill | The Australian

Videos

• Natural Tasmania brand worth more than a dirty pulp mill (Greens)
• Tasmanian scallop fisherman, John Hammond, on the pulp mill
• Pulp mill 2007... Back to the future with Christine Milne
  

Young voters: get in early, make sure you enrol to vote

Many young people in Boroondara maybe unaware that recent changes to electoral laws mean that they could lose their right to vote.

The Australian government changed the electoral act in April so that when an election is called, those eligible to vote for the first time will only have less than a day to enroll before the rolls are closed.

Previously, the law allowed between two and three weeks for young people to claim this basic democratic right. It is hard to see what good effect the new provisions are intended to have. However, this law would seem to be a very effective way of reducing the participation of first time voters, of which there may be a thousand or more in Boroondara.

Parents, teachers, youth-workers and others in our community will have a useful role to play in getting this message to the young people of Boroondara.

The most important action now for those turning 18 this year is to enroll to vote right now before an election is called. This will ensure young voters are not locked out of the democratic process.

Post offices have the enrollment forms, or you can get them from the Australian Electoral Commission website. There is also now the requirement for proof of identity and a statutory declaration. The effort is worth it though so you can have your say in the future direction for Australia.

Links

• Enrolling to vote, Australian Electoral Commission

• Use this link to check your voter enrollment status online

Kooyong electorate climate change candidate forum

When: Monday 3rd September 2007

Where: Hawthorn Town Hall, Burwood Road/Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn

Time: 7:30pm - Mon Sep 3 9:30pm

A coalition of climate change action groups across Kooyong is convening this forum to provide an opportunity to hear our House of Representatives candidates speak about what they would do to address climate change.

They are Petro Georgiou (Liberal), Ken Harvey (ALP), Peter Campbell (Greens) and possibly a Family First candidate.

The question convenor will be Michael Gorton, whose background includes being a founder of Greening Australia, a prime mover in United Nations Youth General Assemblies, an Equal Opportunities Commissioner, and chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Reconciliation Commission.

In addition, a speaker from Environment Victoria who will outline the major science findings and the immediate actions we can take. Questions will be taken from the floor. On display in the hall will be some local primary schools posters done by their children who have painted how they see reduction in greenhouse gas production, as well as some stalls with information about local climate change groups.

The Mayor of Boroondara will open this evening focused on assisting our community and our representatives to work together in playing a part to help to save our planet.

Further information/ Press interviews: enquiries@lighterfootprints.org

Carolyn Ingvarson 9836 0925

Greens for real action on climate change - videos

There has been a lot of political activity on YouTube lately in the lead up to the election. Here are a few Greens videos I find interesting and refreshing:

Rescue the Climate - Vote Green *(Senators Christine Milne and Bob Brown)

Howard and Rudd in bed with the coal industry

The Chaser's 'Backflips of the Greens'