I live in the Richmond electorate and am a swinging voter. To enable me to make a considered vote please will you reply to these matters. Thankyou & best wishes, <name withheld>.
A: The Greens are fully supportive of refugees and played a large role in getting Australia's immigration centres closed down.
Our public statements on immigration and humane treatement of refugees are available at http://greens.org.au/policies/care-for-people/immigration-and-refugees
Q: Carbon Tax etc. ... Relook at Nuclear, the carbon trading idea plays to the lowest common denominator
A: The Greens believe that a direct carbon tax avoids all the potholes of a carbon trading scheme and the rorts that go with it. Our statement on a carbon tax is at http://greens.org.au/policies/climate-change-and-energy/climate-change-and-energy
We our NOT in favour of nuclear energy. While the operation of nuclear power plants might be relatively safe and efficient, the mining processing and handling of waste is most definitely not. My personal view is that if human emissions of carbon dioxide are now too dangerous for the long term health of the planet, why would we start releasing plutonium instead? Our statement on nuclear energy is at http://greens.org.au/policies/climate-change-and-energy/nuclear
Q: Mining tax............ Lets look at the Norwegian system.
A: The Greens are in favour of a mining tax to prevent the two speed economy damaging Australia's long term future. I am not familiar with the Norwegian model but am interested to find out more about it. Our economic platform is available at http://greens.org.au/policies/sustainable-economy/economics
A: The Greens have announced a Denticare program that hopefully meets with your approval. The details are available at http://greens.org.au/policies/care-for-people/health
In Richmond we are not directing voters to either party but allowing them to make up their own mind.
My statement appears below.
Thanks very much for contacting our office. We look forward to representing you in Canberra. If not this time, then in the future.
Joe Ebono
Greens candidate for Richmond
02 6684 2416
joe4richmond.org
Making your vote count in Richmond
Many people from different backgrounds are voting Green in 2010 for the first time. Some of you have asked us how to use the preference system to support your traditional party.
The first thing to understand is that you have to number all nine candidates from one to nine.
If your number one choice does not win then your vote goes, at full strength, to the next candidate of your choice, if they are still in the race.
So, all you have to do is vote 1 for the Greens and then put the old party second. This way you get to vote for the Greens, without deserting your traditional party, with a message that you want them to work with the Greens to deliver long term outcomes for the economy, the environment and future generations.
We are not telling you what party to preference, but letting you make that choice yourself.
The Senate is a little more complicated.
Because of the size of the Senate paper, you have the choice of filling out every square, or simply putting a 1 next the The Greens in column AD. That is called voting above the line. If you vote above the line, your senate preferences will go to Labor ahead of the Liberals. If you want to preference the Liberal party you will need to fill out all the numbers below the line.
So, in the seat of Richmond you have the choice of voting number 1 for The Greens but still supporting the party of your choice.