2022-11-28
Working on everything from the Global Issues Group and the Australia Pacific Greens Federation to the International Development Committee and planning for the next Global Greens Congress, the international space has been as busy and rewarding as what’s been going on locally.
By David Feith and Andrew Morrison
In 2022 the role of the Australian Greens (AG) International Secretary has been shared by David Feith and Andrew Morrison. The work has been roughly divided into outward-facing work and inward-facing work.
The outward-facing work has involved communication internationally with the Global Greens, the Asia Pacific Greens Federation, and Greens parties internationally. This has been David’s responsibility.
The inward-facing work has been facilitating the AG Global Issues Group, and following up issues that arise. This has been Andrew’s responsibility.
Of course, there is overlap and connections between both areas, and David and Andrew both have some involvement with all.
Australian Greens Global Issues Group (GIG)
The Global Issues Group (GIG) is comprised of delegates from states and territories, and representatives of the Party Room and the Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) councillors. Others are welcome as observers. GIG was happy to grow its membership during 2021 and 2022, and we now have more than twelve active members who attend monthly meetings, including representatives from the ACT, NSW, Queensland, SA, Victoria, WA. We were also pleased to appoint a new GIG representative to IDC (International Development Committee), David Shires.
GIG presented a session on the Greens, Mining, and Activism at the Global Greens virtual conference, Connecting for Green Action, in February 2022. GIG has begun planning for Australian Greens involvement in the Global Greens Congress, to be held in South Korea in 2023.
GIG’s work with Party Room
The Global Issues Group (GIG) includes a representative from the Party Room, currently Naomi Brooks, Policy Advisor to Senator Jordon Steele-John. Naomi took over as Party Room representative from Tarek Dale, Policy Advisor to Senator Janet Rice, after portfolio allocations were changed. Senator Steele-John is now AG spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, which was formerly held by Senator Rice.
Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF)
The Australian Greens are a member of APGF, along with Green parties in Asia and the Pacific. Nick Cooper (an Australian) is the APGF General Secretary.
In 2022 Dominic Wy Kanak and Cathy Peters were Australian Greens Councillors to APGF.
APGF First Nations Group
Dominic WY Kanak has been involved in discussions regarding an APGF First Nations Group. There have also been ongoing discussions with Global Greens to hold a ‘De-Colonisation’ Session at the next Global Greens Congress, in conjunction with advocating for an Indigenous Global Greens Network.
APGF Women’s Network
APGF has a thriving Women’s Network including the IDC-funded project, mentoring program of Green women and gender equity training.
Global Greens (GG)
Bob Hale, an Australian, and Gloria Polanco, from the Dominican Republic are the Global Greens co-convenors.
APGF/GG Joint Congress 2023, South Korea
The joint Global Greens 5th Congress and Asia Pacific Greens Federation 4th Congress will be held in 2023. The last GG Congress was held in 2017 in Liverpool, UK.
International Development Committee
The International Secretary is also a member of the AG International Development Committee (IDC), which is coordinated by Michelle Sheather. GIG also has a representative on the IDC, currently David Shires.