2024-10-04
By Jason Kennedy
Australian Greens Policy Coordinator
AGPCC continue to meet regularly on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 7.00pm Eastern time, supplemented with intensive weekend sessions to allow completion of the policy review within the deadlines set by the electoral cycle. Despite the very heavy workload required to achieve these goals the team over the last couple of years have been incredible - I hope delegates of AGPCC are receiving significant accolades from their member bodies for the incredible work to achieve the full substantive review by June this year, almost a full year ahead of the next federal election.
Member bodies are generally well represented with the usual number of new/alternating representatives coming and sadly going this term. AGPCC would like to thank members who are no longer on the committee for their incredible work and commitment to policy work - special mentions to Anne Picot from NSW, and Tim Liersch ACT who have both been policy stalwarts. Their input is to be applauded and will be missed. The policy team also welcomes all the new members starting with the committee.
We have a strong core of member bodies who are at every meeting and carry the burden of the substantial work that is policy formulation and review. As a grassroots democratic party participation is key and we urge all member bodies to ensure that their elected delegates have the capacity and do attend, to represent their member bodies at AGPCC meetings. Only through regular participation can we be sure that the policy positions taken are representative of the member bodies and the broader membership.
It is incumbent on us all as members to honour the pillar of participatory democracy and contribute to the review and submissions stages of the policy reviews. The majority of submissions for the last cycle have been provided by the party room and two other member bodies, Engagement by the broader membership to ensure our pillar of grassroots participatory democracy is upheld can only be done through memberbody representation and participation.
The preparation of policy is so fundamental to the foundation of our party that member bodies should fill the two vacancies and select reserves and monitor the participation in the APGCC process.
2022-2024 Australian Greens policy review
The substantive policy review is complete within the dates and timing announced at the Victorian national conference that seems so long ago now. Our current policy positions as updated are published on the Australian Greens web pages ready for the federal election.
AGPCC did not transact either of the First Nations policies this term awaiting guidance from the first nations network - the committee looks forward to working with the AGFNN to update these texts as and when they are required.
AGPCC has identified opportunities in the GMO, Nuclear and Uranium, and the Economic policy areas which will be included in early tranches of the next review calendar, hopefully commencing no sooner than the second half of 2025.
Again, I would like to thank the regular contributors to the party's policy platform, the AGPCC team does an incredible amount of work that doesn't get done without their commitment, passion, patience, and tolerance. - for those of you who made this all possible THANK YOU!
- Jason