2021-10-31
By The Green Issue Editors
Much has been happening over the last two months and we include commentary on some of those events. Dorinda Cox was confirmed as a WA Senator, to replace the retiring Rachel Siewert, and she gave her inaugural speech in the Senate. Former MLC Alison Xamon provides a welcoming introduction to Dorinda.
In the lead up to the Glasgow climate meeting the federal government seems to be doing all it can to slow the pace of emissions reduction. With appropriate government incentives there is much scope for promoting emissions reduction at the household level. We include an article comparing existing incentives for household emissions reduction among federal, state and territory governments.
In September the WA government announced a ban on native forest logging, which prompted an article about changing perceptions of trees and forests over a lifetime. Also in September the federal government announced that it was going to procure nuclear submarines, which has opened up the entire nuclear debate, to include nuclear power and nuclear weapons. We include an article on how this announcement impacts on the long-standing anti-nuclear movement in WA. This announcement, as part of the AUKUS defence pact, implies ever deeper ties to the USA. We thus examine some of the basic philosophies guiding the USA as exemplified in its anthems, as they are likely to have ever-increasing influence on us if indeed this AUKUS agreement proceeds.
In her first MP report for Green Issue, Senator Dorinda Cox presents her impressions on entering the Senate. Senator Jordon Steele-John reports that with the departure of Rachel Siewert he has become the Green’s spokesperson for Health and Mental Health. He also strongly objects to AUKUS. Brad Pettitt reports on his introduction of a climate action bill into the upper house, and the less than enthusiastic reaction of the WA government to this.
Header photo: Ceremonies at the Yooreel Bidi walk to WA Parliament House on 14th September where Dorinda Cox was confirmed by the WA Parliament as a Senator for WA. Tashi Hall