2023-10-13
By Nick McKim
Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania and Greens Federal Parliament Senate Whip
It’s been a busy and challenging year. We’ve used our balance of power in the Senate to push Labor to more progressive outcomes, and to hold the line for Greens values when necessary.
It’s so obvious that in so many areas we are not just dealing with Labor. The ALP are the parliamentary arm of corporate Australia, and in particular the fossil fuel corporations. Political donations have allowed them a massively outsized say in the laws that govern this country, and we see it every day in the Senate.
Economic Justice
As the cost of living crisis has continued to bite, we’ve been on the frontline, calling out the corporations who were driving it, and demanding an alternative approach to neoliberal business as usual.
We have held the Reserve Bank to account for their persistent and needless rate rises, which have put so much pressure on renters and mortgage holders. We’ve led the charge to ensure that the RBA is no longer seen as an unchallengeable institution, and that its independence no longer means a lack of accountability.
We have demanded corporate super profits taxes so that the corporations who are using inflation as an excuse to gouge people actually pay their fair share of taxes.
We have also pushed strongly for the Government to start taxing fossil fuel corporations properly, instead of simply allowing them to effectively set their own rates of tax.
It is becoming increasingly clear that people are sick of the same-old approach from the major parties to let the economy rip, no matter the cost to people or the environment.
As inequality continues to rise and people keep getting smashed into needless poverty, the Greens will be arguing for proactive and positive solutions that make our society fairer and more equal.
Immigration and Citizenship
There have been some small wins but more obstinacy in the field of immigration and citizenship, with Labor finally ending temporary protection visas, which will bring massive relief to about 19,000 people living in Australia.
However, there are still another 12,000 people who were either rejected or are still waiting for a final outcome on their applications for protection under the deeply flawed “fast track” process that deserve another chance to have their claims heard. The Greens will not forget about these people.
There are also many hundreds of people in Australia who were transferred here from offshore detention and who still have no permanent protection. We have continued to offer to work with Labor to find a solution so that they can finally start to resume their shattered lives.
We are also fighting to end the ableism that exists within Australia’s migration system, specifically the deeply discriminatory provisions that allow people to be deported because of their disabilities.
There is a deep rot at the heart of Australia’s immigration system, and that is the way that detention is used as a punishment and a warning to others.
With the recent revelation of serious corruption and bribery allegations, and the many years of documented human rights abuses in both offshore and onshore detention, the case has never been stronger for a Royal Commission into immigration detention. We have prosecuted that argument for years, and will continue to do so.
And finally, with unacceptable wait times for family reunion visas and a system that is completely broken, the Greens will continue to work for a family reunion visa system that is fairer, faster and more affordable.
lutruwita/Tasmania
Our party’s priorities have included fighting to save forests from logging, for real action on the rental crisis, and against the massive waste of the proposed new AFL stadium at Macquarie Point.
We had a great local government election in October, which delivered our second highest ever number of Greens councilors in Tasmania.. There are plenty of new Greens faces on councils across the state, including in some municipalities we have never been successful in.
After 16 years of inspirational service in the House of Assembly, Cassy O’Connor stepped down as Leader and Member for Clark, ably replaced by the fantastic Vica Bayley. Vica is a long standing successful forest and environment campaigner who has hit the ground running.
But Cassy isn’t done yet and has put her hand up for preselection for the Legislative Council seat of Hobart next year. This is a winnable seat for us and we are gearing up to make history in Hobart and win our first ever single member seat in Tasmania.
We have a massive couple of years coming up, with the opportunity to really bolster our party and get ready for a new wave of Greens MPs in state Parliament.
Go Greens!
– Nick