A global learning experience down under

2019-02-22

Every two years, Green parties from more than a dozen countries come together to share ideas, learn about campaigning and discuss pressing issues. So what did they get out of it this time around?

By Michelle Sheather
 

Twenty-one international delegates from parties across Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East recently visited Australia in an exchange program to learn from the experiences of the Australian Greens and from their own parties.

Organised by the Australian Greens International Development Committee (IDC), the tour was held in Brisbane and Lennox Head in north-east NSW. Twenty-one delegates arrived in Brisbane from November 30 to December 7. This was followed by an Asia Pacific Greens Federation Council meeting in Brisbane on December 8 and 9.

Such tours strengthen the Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) as an organisation both in terms of building skills and also in forming and communicating as a group that meets only once every two years. This became evident throughout the tour and at the APGF Council meeting immediately following the tour as well as feedback from participants. Delegates from the following Green Parties were represented: Aceh, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, PNG, Solomon Islands, South Korea and Taiwan, as well as two interns from the Asia Pacific Greens Federation.

The work of the IDC supports projects in-country for new and emerging Green parties. Over the past two years, this has included projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Aceh (Indonesia), India, Nepal, and the Solomon Islands.

Representatives from these parties gave presentations and workshops on their own work, policies, and campaign plans. In a number of countries the political system or registration process makes it particularly difficult for new and smaller parties to be able to stand candidates and in some cases even to register as a party.

The study tour

In this study tour we spotlighted established IDC projects including green schools in Nepal and visits to remote regions in the Solomon Islands and Indonesia to establish party branches that could then be practical case studies for all participants. Last year we assisted the Mongolian Greens in a digital campaign training which was also presented to the group.

A focus for the tour was on the regional women’s network project in which we initiated a mentoring program for women throughout the region. This included an online toolkit and a webinar series addressing issues such as women and water, women and climate change, women’s health in the developing world, and women’s leadership in parliament. A series of gender equity (GE) measures including reporting mechanisms were passed at the APGF Council meeting for implementation across all parties. In many of these countries there is much ground to cover as a society on GE and it is important for the Greens to lead the field.

The first day started at Jagara Aboriginal Community Centre in Musgrave Park in Brisbane, with a welcome to country by Aboriginal dancers. We workshopped policy, campaign and planning issues between parties. Our final day in Brisbane was at the state parliament as guest of Michael Berkman MP for Maiwar, hearing what it is like to be the first Greens MP in a state parliament – which is relevant to most of the parties on the tour.

In NSW, delegates appreciated a visit to a rural electorate such as Lennox Head and undertaking field visits to Terania Creek to meet with MLC state candidate Sue Higginson and the first state NSW MP Ian Cohen. Another highlight was an early morning visit to Broken Head with a welcome to country from Aboriginal ranger and senior woman, Delta Kay. A key focus in Lennox was on local government politics and campaigning.

At the conclusion of the tour, four internships were held with the support of state parties. Two representatives from the Nepali Greens interned in WA, a delegate from the Solomon Islands in NSW, and a delegate from the Mongolian Greens in Qld.

The Australian Greens were represented on the tour by Scott Ludlam in Brisbane; Vivienne Glance (International Secretary) and Stewart Jackson in Lennox Head; and Claire Ogden (Queensland Greens) and Michelle Sheather (Australian Greens International Development Coordinator) throughout.

Thank you to all those who were involved in the many facets of the tour – much was learnt by the delegates and by the Australian Greens of the challenges and work of our partner parties.

Michelle Sheather is the Australian Greens’ International Development Coordinator.

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