Australian Greens

Policies

Health

Access to quality health care is a basic human right. Australia’s health system is good and could be even better. We can do much better in provision of dental care and in mental health. A universal public health care system for all Australians should include primary dental care. Mental health services can be much better in all ways, including assessment, community support and prevention.

In the local context, our Fiona Stanley health precinct is a major project and can become much more integrated with the community.

Aged Care

Older Australians have a right to our respect. The community benefits from the past work and present skills and experience of older people. Older people have the right to participate in all aspects of our community and to maintain their independence to the degree they feel able. The Federal Government has a central role in aged care. Access to good care should be based on need, not wealth or where you live.

Where possible older Australians who chose to do so should be assisted to remain in their community and to maintain links with their family, friends and neighbourhood.

Resources

Australia’s natural resources must be managed to the benefit of present and future generations, must conserve biodiversity and must respect the traditional ownership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Resource decisions must be guided by rigorous environmental and social impact assessment. Management of climate impact must be a central consideration in the management of natural resources.

Matters of immediate concern include prohibition of exploration for, and mining and export of, uranium. We should not establish any new coal mines nor expand existing coal mines at all.

Refugees

Australia is a diverse country and benefits from the richness of that diversity. We are a nation of people who care for others. We should have an immigration system that is based on values, fairness and compassion. We should never select immigrants on the basis of nationality, ethnic origin, religion, language, gender, disability, sexuality, age or socio- economic background.

We have a wonderful history of integrating new arrivals. We will benefit from continuing to do so with respect and care.

Climate

Bringing the community together to adapt to observable changes addresses Greens objectives and philosophies of Social Justice, Participatory Democracy and Sustainability. Further objectives around Climate Change, Water and Caring for People can be very much part of the way we adapt our society to the pressures of both natural and accelerated climate change. Our community can identify local climate change issues, see the problems, develop and commit to solutions, thus become better connected, healthier and more resilient.

We can add to our current focus of a low Carbon footprint, influencing lifestyle and technology choices. We can promote our bountiful wind and solar assets. I believe that we can harness Australians' ‘can do’ attitude, with emphasis on Adapting to Climate, to bring change to society. By focusing on opportunity we can build on the optimistic nature of Australians.

We can encourage people to live mindfully, to be conscious of the implications of daily decisions, as individuals and as community leaders, to join together and to make a better society.

Public Transport

Australia deserves a transport system, including roads, railways, airways and sea-lanes, that is safe, environmentally responsible, efficient, economically sound and reliable. The community should be able to participate in transport planning. We can develop economic incentives that favour public transport systems over private car use to produce a more sustainable result.