2022-02-28
By The Green Issue Editors
This year has gotten off to a rather shaky start, even more shaky than the previous two years dominated by Covid-19. At the end of February the spectre of actual use of nuclear weapons raised its head again, in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have had record heat in the west and record flooding in the east, but not too surprising to those who chart the passage of climate change. And Covid-19 is still very much with us, even if as a mutation from the original virus.
In this issue we have a timely input from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) imploring us to step up our efforts to support the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Over recent years many have thought of nuclear weapons as being a benign means of deterrence; now we are being reminded that they can be used as a means of intimidation, that can easily get out of hand.
With a Federal election coming up, probably in May, thoughts turn to campaign issues. As referred to above, the planet faces a suite of existential threats but it is notable that few of these become major campaign issues of the major parties. We include an article indicating how the election campaign is dominated by local vs global issues. The Greens (WA) have laid out the issues most relevant to the campaign in trying to maintain out Senate representation and make inroads towards Lower House representation. A shake-up of Federal parliament is certainly needed considering the fiasco over the Religious Discrimination Bill, and its consequences for human rights in this country, at the end of February.
But, Covid is still with us, evolving and likely to go on evolving. We have reports from the pointy end of dealing with the pandemic – from practicing GPs. One report updates the current scientific understanding of the disease, and how we must also keep on evolving our reaction to it. Another report points to a disconnect between WA Government policy and the situation faced by GPs on the ground, and suggests ways forward to better harmonize efforts.
We also include two-monthly reports from our MPs. Senator Jordon Steele-John discusses the NDIS Bill, the Mitochondrial Donation Reform Bill, the Religious Discrimination Bill and the Government’s inadequate response to the covid pandemic. Senator Dorinda Cox points to the unfolding climate crisis, the failure of governments to hold the big polluters to account and The Greens' way forward. Brad Pettitt engages with biodiversity protection, the State Government on how to progress climate action and efforts to combat homelessness.
Header photo: Senator Jordon Steele-John with disability advocates Samantha Connor and Nicole Lee at Australian Parliament House on Tuesday 15th February.