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Andrew Bartlett for Brisbane
The Greens have announced that former Senator Andrew Bartlett will run for The Australian Greens in the seat of Brisbane.
Mr Bartlett said: “The Greens are a genuine threat in a number of House of Representative seats at next year’s election. We need to take the fight up to the major parties in as many seats as possible to force better policies and genuine debate on vital issues like climate change, underemployment, housing affordability, human rights, accountability and sensible economic management.”
Since the 2007 election, Queenslanders have been left without a voice from outside the two major parties for the first time since 1981.
“It is crucial for Queenslanders to have a direct voice on balance of power issues in the Senate, and the Greens are best placed to provide that,” said Mr Bartlett.
Read more in Andrew Bartlett's Blog.
Larissa Waters for the Senate
The Greens have announced that environmental lawyer Larissa Waters will again lead the Queensland Senate ticket for the 2010 federal election.
Ms Waters said: “As a Greens Senator for Queensland, I would bring a long term view which is beholden to the planet not the big end of town. I’ll stand up for the Reef, our rivers, our forests and coastal areas, and will represent Queenslanders who want real action on climate change and a just and sustainable future.”
Larissa Waters leads an all-female Senate ticket with candidates Libby Connors from regional Queensland and Jenny Stirling from North Queensland.
Ms Waters narrowly missed out on being elected in 2007, and recent polls suggest she is well placed to pick up the sixth Senate seat in the 2010 election.
“Our Senate team will campaign to create green jobs all across Queensland by tackling climate change and transitioning to a low carbon economy. The Greens would see our state become a world leader in generating solar thermal and geothermal baseload power,” said Ms Waters.
“In regional areas, we will continue our campaign to protect good quality farmland from mining, industrial and urban development, and to save our rivers from new dams which will destroy species and communities without providing water security,” concluded Ms Waters..
Northern Australia biodiversity in decline
The Federal Government is ignoring the plight of native mammals in northern Australia by failing to fund important work investigating the alarming declines of native mammals in the region, say the Australian Greens.
"Despite research showing a 70% decline in species numbers and an 82% decline in animal numbers in Northern Australia, there was no funding allocated for further research into this in the Caring for Our Country grants announced last week," said Senator Rachel Siewert.
"Many scientists are extremely alarmed by this rapid decline. I find the Government's response very concerning. They listed northern and remote Australia as one of the six priority areas in Caring for Our Country, yet didn't allocate any funding to what is likely to be Australia's next wave of extinctions."
Greens vote up in Queensland: Brown predicts Senate seat next year
While Greens MP Ronan Lee is in a very tough position to win Indooroopilly, the State-wide vote of 8.23% is a record high, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Brisbane today.
"These are tough numbers for Ronan, but it will go down to the wire," Senator Brown said.
"He is ahead of his times in Queensland politics. In an age of climate change, most voters have backed burning more coal. That's democracy.
"State-wide, this is hugely encouraging vote. It bodes well for the Greens winning a first Senate seat next year in the Federal election," Senator Brown said.
Queensland Election
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Ronan Lee is Queensland's first Greens MP
Ronan Lee is Queensland's first Greens MP
The Member for Indooroopilly, Ronan Lee, is Queensland's first Greens MP. Mr Lee resigned from the Labor Party today.
Mr Lee, who won Indooroopilly from the Liberals in 2001 and then retained the seat in 2004 and 2006, says he will provide a strong, sensible response to the climate crisis for Queensland.
Bligh's choice: Coal wins over the Reef
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has bought into Professor Garnaut's climate change defeatism and chosen to prioritise coal over the Great Barrier Reef, Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne said today.
Govt failed to consult CSIRO on water audit
"It's clear why Penny Wong didn't want this inquiry" - Greens
The Greens initiated Senate inquiry into the Coorong has already shown its value, after it immediately discovered that the federal government has failed to consult with leading agencies like CSIRO about the water audit and modelling for getting emergency water to the Coorong.
"It is clear now why Minister Penny Wong didn't want this Senate inquiry," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens water spokesperson, said in Canberra today.
Greens ‘New Century’ Australia Senate Agenda
The Australian Greens today outlined their vision for Australia in the new century ahead of the opening of the Balance-of-Power Senate.
Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown, said a record 1.17 million people voted Greens at the last election, and the five Greens Senators were ready to work constructively with all parties to respond to the challenges of the new century.
"Pollution, poverty, discrimination and the destruction of Australia's forests and precious environments are the legacy of the last century and decades of greed and inaction."
"The Greens' role, beginning with this new Parliament, is to begin delivering an Australia that was cleaner, fairer and saner."
