2024-10-04
By Nick McKim
Senator for Tasmania
2024 has been a year of advocacy, action, and unwavering commitment to economic justice and environmental protection. In a landscape dominated by corporate interests and political inertia, we’ve pushed bold reforms that place people and the planet at the heart of decision-making.
Economic Justice
This year, the Greens launched a landmark Senate inquiry into the supermarket duopoly. For the first time there was real heat on Coles and Woolworths, and their price-gouging practices were laid bare. These two corporate giants have exploited their overwhelming market dominance to squeeze Australian suppliers and consumers. Farmers are going to the wall and shoppers are paying inflated prices for basic necessities.
The inquiry revealed the full extent of this exploitation, and the pain people are facing just to survive. We heard heart-rending stories of single parents skipping meals to feed their children, and people dumpster diving to make ends meet.
We didn’t hesitate to demand serious consequences for those at the top. There were even moments of high drama when Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci was threatened with jail time for refusing to answer simple questions about his company’s profits.
To tackle the problem of price gouging head on, the Greens introduced the Divestiture Powers Bill, a groundbreaking piece of legislation designed to dismantle the duopoly and restore genuine competition to the market. With the Coalition now supporting divestiture powers for the supermarket sector, this bill represents a crucial step towards fairer prices and a more equitable market.
However, Labor has stubbornly resisted these necessary reforms, leaving them isolated as the only party standing with the corporate supermarket giants and their obscene profits. In the coming months we’ll take the next step towards corporate accountability by introducing laws to make price gouging illegal.
In addition to tackling the supermarket duopoly, we’ve worked to hold the Labor Government accountable for consistently siding with corporations over everyday Australians who are struggling to make ends meet.
It is unacceptable that, in a time of widespread financial hardship, the government continues to protect the interests of its corporate donors at the expense of ordinary people.
The Greens have been at the forefront of the push for a corporate super-profits tax, a measure that would ensure that companies benefiting from Australia’s resources and infrastructure contribute fairly to our society.
Maintaining the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) accountability has also been a key focus this year. With interest rate rises hitting so many Australians hard, we’ve pressured both the RBA and Labor to ensure that monetary policy decisions are made with the best interests of the people in mind.
Through parliamentary debates, inquiries, and Estimates hearings, we’ve highlighted the increasing economic inequality and the erosion of the social contract that these rate rises exacerbate. The Greens remain committed to ensuring that economic policy works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.
Forests
Our long-standing campaign to end native forestry logging has been a cornerstone of the Greens’ environmental advocacy. This year, thanks to relentless pressure and a growing recognition of the importance of our forests, we are closer than ever to achieving an end to this destructive practice. Native forests are critical to our biodiversity, carbon storage, and cultural heritage, and their continued logging is an affront to the values we hold dear.
This ongoing work underscores our belief that our forests are worth more standing than cut down, both for their ecological value and their role in the fight against climate change. The Greens have led the charge in pushing for an end to native forest logging, and we’re proud of the progress that has been made.
A big shout out to Janet Rice for her work in the forests portfolio. Janet’s tireless efforts over the years have laid the foundation for the significant advances we’ve seen this year. Her dedication has been instrumental in building the momentum needed to bring about real change in forest protection.
lutruwita/Tasmania
Following Lower and Upper House elections this year, we have our largest ever Party Room of six state MPs, including our first ever Upper House MP.
This underscores growing support for our vision of economic fairness, environmental stewardship and social justice, and is evidence that Tasmanians are ready for a future that prioritises people and the planet over profit.
In addition to our electoral achievements, my office has taken direct action to support our community by establishing a food pantry. We’ve been overwhelmed by the demand, and gratified by the support we’ve received from people and local small businesses to keep the pantry stocked up.
Finally, this year saw a significant transition within our team as the Immigration portfolio was handed over to David Shoebridge. His work in the portfolio promises continued strong advocacy for fair and just immigration policies that reflect the Greens’ commitment to human rights and social justice.
As we look to the future, we extend our deepest gratitude to all who have supported our efforts throughout the year. Together, we’ll continue to fight for a fairer, greener, and more just Australia. Go Greens!
- Nick