2023-03-02
By The Green Issue Editors
On reflection, it should have been obvious. When the Editors suggested that our theme for the February Green Issue could be Security, we were expecting just a few contributions on policy areas such as the threats posed by climate change and war. Instead we received not only many more articles than expected, but also the theme of Security involving a much wider range of topics. It’s clear that when you invite people for their thoughts on Feeling Safe and Secure, they respond in many different ways. Pretty obvious, when you stop to think about it.
So, we’re delighted to present a February feast: nine articles, all very different in content and style and all very thought-provoking; plus of course, our three MP reports.
Beverley Dight does examine the threat of war and the likelihood that a major war involving China, the USA and Australia would destroy any chance of a secure, decent way of life. Her article Imagine Peace is inspired by JFK, the Dalai Lama and Martin Luther King. And inevitably, we do have a contribution about global heating, the greatest threat to human security. Chris Johansen discusses the use of offsets in Labor’s Safeguard Mechanism and finds it does very little to reduce that threat. He argues that we are right to be Upset about Offsets, because they’re not much more than an excuse for the big polluters to continue emitting.
Christian Mauri completed his PhD on the concept of the Precariat, especially insecurity in the world of work. His article attempts to answer the question “What will precarity do to us?” Dealing with lack of safety and security for LGBTQIA+ people is the focus of the article from Alex Wallace; he analyses the LGBTQIA+ Legislation Queued for 2023. Too many struggle to find a secure place to call home. Rob Delves analyses The Greens’ solutions to the thorny issue of ensuring Secure Affordable Homes For all.
Two contributions can be seen, at least in part, as addressing threats to good health. Juanita Doorey examines the current state of Medicare, asking the question: Does it deliver Free, Accessible Health Care. Amongst the many evils of the utterly disgraceful Robodebt was its threat to the mental health of its victims. The title of Mark Brogan’s analysis is Robodebt: A Law of Averages? Mark discusses the progress of the Royal Commission into Robodebt, but also warns about the growing reliance on algorithms, data sets and automated decision making, especially when dealing with vulnerable people – in other words, the Precariat.
Finally we welcome something very different. It’s the first Green Issue contribution from Beata Stasak ‒ a delightful recreation of her grandmother’s farm life, but also an examination of chemical-based farming, mainly as a story entitled From the diary of a farmer.
As always, we also welcome the regular reports from our wonderful Greens MPs: Dorinda, Jordon and Brad. Enjoy your Green Issue feast.
Landing page photo: by Beata Stasak