FICTION: The Greens just block things, they don't offer anything constructive.
FACT: The Greens have built a record of being constructive in the Senate, willing to negotiate and balance strong principles with savvy pragmatism.
We often face hard choices: we always choose a step forward over a step backward.
When we voted against the CPRS [and find out why we did here], we put on the table the Safe Climate Bill and the Interim Carbon Tax as alternative pieces of legislation that would have an actual effect on addressing climate change.
We worked with the Government to ensure the passing of the alcopops levy, while ensuring $50 million per annum for alcohol harm reduction programs and services for young Australians.
We supported the Rudd government’s removal of discrimination against same-sex couples from federal law. The notable exception, insisted on by both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, is in marriage. We supported the removal of the discrimination, while still campaigning for same-sex marriage.
We protected thousands of wind and solar jobs by insisting that the government fix the renewable energy target legislation.
We supported Labor’s Fair Work Australia, and managed to win flexible working hours for carers of children with disabilities. This was an outcome of very worthwhile negotiations between then minister Julia Gillard and our Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.
KEY POINTS:
- The Greens break the deadlock between the Government and the Opposition
- The Greens often face hard choices: our record demonstrates that we always pick improvements over no effect.
- The Greens are always prepared to negotiate and put up alternative legislation: the old parties aren't always prepared to negotiate.
- The CPRS wasn't "just a small step", it was a step in the wrong direction: that's why we voted against it.
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