— Australian Greens Victoria

Document Actions

Cathy Oke

City Council adopts a Green vision for Swanston Street

01-07-09 Melbourne City Council voted this week to redevelop Swanston Street by decreasing car traffic and creating a space that is tram, cyclist and people-friendly.

By voting to create a design and costing plan in line with 'option 6' (one of seven different options for redevelopment put to the community for consultation), the Council has endorsed the policy taken to the 2008 Council election by The Greens. Councillor Cathy Oke, the City of Melbourne's Greens Councillor, noted that whilst many candidates stood on a platform of increasing car traffic, The Greens were determined to see Swanston Street become a safe, green transport corridor free of (non-emergency) vehicular traffic.

Cr Oke welcomed the overwhelmingly strong community support for option 6 as well as the unanimous support from Councillors of the community's call for a greener Swanston Street.

"It's exciting to be part of a Council that has at long last decided to provide leadership on Swanston Street", she said. "We are getting closer to the day when Swanston Street will be a safe, welcoming space, prioritising sustainable transport, that the city can be proud of."

The Australian Greens Victoria Extend Warm Wishes for the Birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

22-6-09 The Victorian Greens extend our warmest wishes for the 64th birthday celebration of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.It is heartbreaking that on an occasion upon which Daw Suu Kyi should have been celebrating with her family and friends, she still languished in prison. As the most prominent victim of the brutal regime in Burma, Daw Suu Kyi represents the hopes and wishes of an entire nation. Her sacrifices over these many years have been frustrating and torturous but the fact that she still prevails and is loved the world over symbolises the solidarity the rest of the world shares with the plight of the Burmese people in their struggle for peace and democracy.

Daw Suu Kyi's selflessness and devotion to bring the people of Burma out of the darkness of oppression remains a beacon to all of those who struggle alongside her especially those who remain political prisoners of the regime and are subjected to unspeakable treatment and deprivations. The Australian Greens Victoria call for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma and the resumption of a process by which free and fair elections are held. We remain in solidarity with those individuals and groups who struggle for the democratisation of Burma.

Photo Competition Highlights Need for Deposit Legislation

18-6-09 Colleen Hartland has invited people to take part in a photo competition to document the rubbish that would be recycled if Victoria had a Container Deposit system. Photos are already flooding in. It turns out many frustrated people already have photos stored in their cameras of litter, waiting for the opportunity to express how much we need a 10c deposit.

If you see bottles, cans and cartons littered anywhere, whip out your camera (or camera-phone) and take a photo. Post it on the Wall of the "10c Can Change the World" Facebook Page and you could win a great prize from Upcycled, as well as showing the need for a 10c deposit.

In Victoria, some have stopped noticing drink container litter. Maybe these shocking photos might help. We need to raise awareness of drink container litter, to show the difference a 10c deposit would make.
How to enter:
* Entry is by posting a photo to the wall of the "10c Can Change the World" Facebook page.
* Photos should show drink bottles, cans and cartons littered "in the wild" - that is, your street, your park, your creek, or anywhere else they shouldn't be.
* Photos don't have to be works of art (camera photos welcome).
* Write a description about your photo.
* Competition closes: 10:00am Tuesday 30 June

Click here to find out more

Coming Up - Christine Milne at the National Press Club

15-06-2009 Senator Milne will set out the Greens' vision for responsible and ambitious action to address the climate crisis and build a happier, healthier and safer Australia.

WHO: Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne

WHEN: 12.30 pm Wednesday 17 June

WHERE: National Press Club and televised on ABC1

For further information on Christine's current campaigns click here

Help keep Bob in the Senate - Wielangta Forest Case

09-06-09 Bob Brown won his original court case to stop Forestry Tasmania logging the magnificent Wielangta forest, but the win was overturned on a technicality in the High Court after the Howard Government joined forces with the Lennon Government to change the law.
You may have seen in the news that Forestry Tasmania is threatening to bankrupt Bob if he does not pay their court costs by June 29. That would disqualify him from the Senate.
To help keep Bob in the Senate,the most helpful thing you can do is to send a cheque payable to Bob Brown Forest Account to GPO Box 404, Hobart, 7001, or deposit funds online:

Name of account: Bob Brown Forest Account
BSB No. 633 000
A/C No. 125 133 793
Please ensure you put your name in the reference line as we can not accept anonymous donations. Donations may need to be individually identified in the Register of Senator’s Interests and are not tax deductible.

Greens' Recycle Plans Go National

28-5-09 Senator Scott Ludlam has introduced a plan to create 2,600 new green jobs, while boosting Government funds by up to $90 million through recycling 740,000 tonnes of waste.

The Australian Greens' Environmental Protection (Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme) Bill will create a national scheme for recycling the 10 billion drinks containers Australians throw away each year through a 10c returnable deposit on all drink bottles, cans and cartons. This is a fully costed plan to save taxpayer money, create new jobs and save the environment. Some of the key benefits of the scheme include; savings to rate payers of over $59.8 million a year, creating hundreds of green jobs and diverting more than 740,000 tonnes from landfill.

Victorian Green MLC Colleen Hartland has also introduced a Private Members Bill to implement such a scheme at a state level and South Australia has had a similar scheme in place for some time.

Read Scott's speech on the Bill here.

View a pdf of the Bill here

Victorian Greens preselect lead Senate candidate

23-05-2009 Dr Richard Di Natale is set to be the first Greens Senator for Victoria.

A ballot of all Victorian Greens members has preselected Dr Di Natale to lead the Greens campaign to win an historic Victorian seat in the Australian Senate.

Winning a Victorian Senate seat would see Dr Di Natale joining a Greens senate team which could hold the balance of power in their own right.

The spectacular win by Greens candidate Adele Carles in Fremantle, WA demonstrates the increasing influence of the Greens in Australian politics. If elected Richard would join 26 other Greens in Australian parliaments and over 100 local government Councillors.

“Green parliamentarians are capable and honest. Voters are increasingly turning to us as the old parties let them down" said Dr Di Natale at the announcement of his preselection.

“I look forward to joining the strong and respected Senate team of Bob Brown, Christine Milne, Rachel Siewert, Scott Ludlum and Sarah Hanson-Young.”

“Thanks to these Greens Senators the stimulus package contained initiatives to create thousands of green jobs in communities across Australia, and provided greater financial assistance and support for unemployed and low-income Australians."

Announcing the preselection of Dr Di Natale, Sue Plowright, Convenor of the Australian Greens Victoria, said that the postal ballot of all Victorian Greens members demonstrates the party’s strong commitment to grassroots democracy.

Adele Carles - Stunning Result in Fremantle By-Election

18-05-2009 The Victorian Greens congratulate The Greens (WA) and candidate Adele Carles (pictured) who has won an historic by-election in Fremantle.

Adele made history on the evening of Saturday 16 May 2009, becoming the first ever Greens candidate to win a Lower House seat in any State Parliament in Australia.

It is the first time the Greens have ever beaten the ALP on primary votes.

“The people of Fremantle have put the port city on the map, giving the Greens their first seat in the WA Legislative Assembly,” Adele said at the election night party.

“This is a victory for democracy. We have forever shattered the two-party myth in Australia. The voice of the community has finally come through in Fremantle. People have dared to look beyond the old parties which have continually let us down. It has shaken the dominance of the old parties and sends a strong message around the country that people are ready for change. What we have seen tonight makes history, but it is also the shape of the future. Fremantle is going to be Australia’s first truly green city.”

Click here for more information on her campaign for a Green Fremantle. ABC,The West Australian

Support the Greens' campaign for effective climate change action!

05-05-2009 The Rudd government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is deeply flawed.

The Government has announced that it will delay the scheme by one year and deliver another $2.2 billion in compensation to Australia’s biggest polluters—in addition to $7.4 billion the polluters are already getting.

The Greens are prepared to support a minimum unconditional 25% target – the bare minimum required by science and the global community – to end 12 years of climate inaction. And Treasury modelling shows it is affordable; by 2020 Australia’s GDP will be roughly three times the size it is today whether we have a ‘worse than useless’ 5% target or the minimum effective 25% target. To view the latest message from the Australian Green Senators regarding the CPRS click here.

You can support the Greens by showing the Prime Minister that Australians support an emissions trading scheme that protects the environment, not polluters.

10c Deposit Legislation Campaign Hits the Streets!

30-04-2009 A public rally will be held on Sunday 17 May at Parliament House, 2pm in support of a proposal by Colleen Hartland MLC for a Statewide container deposit system. Colleen Hartland is also taking her 10c deposit campaign to the people by running a series of public meetings in her electorate of Western Metropolitan Region in May.

"The first meeting in Werribee this week was a tremendous success. There were representatives of different community groups who see container deposits as a great fundraiser, and environment groups who see it as part of the solution to the waste problem", said Colleen Hartland.

"We know that 94% of Victorians support a container deposit system. They're frustrated that the government won't take action - and especially frustrated that the Environment Minister has already said that he will vote against my Bill, when he hasn't even seen it. So I'm focusing on telling the public what they can do to change the government's mind."

"As well as my own public meetings, I'm encouraging groups all across the state to invite me to speak at meetings in their area. The message of container deposits is spreading across the state."

Click here to find out where the next meetings are.

Click here to see the information displays from the meetings that have been held already.

Stamp Book Mary

A Great Night Gets Green Stamp of Approval

09-04-09 Melanie Coombs, and Adam Elliot (creator of Academy Award winning film Harvie Krumpet), recently gave the Victorian Greens a free showing of their new claymation film 'Mary and Max' to help raise funds for the upcoming elections in 2010.

The many Greens and supporters in attendance were delighted to receive such a generous and wonderful treat. This film is one of life's treasures. Rich, endearing in detail, wonderfully poignant and absolutely absorbing. Adam and Melanie stayed after the film to speak and take questions. This was a wonderful opportunity to get an insight into the creative process and a unique, as well as painstaking style of animation. More

10c deposit report challenges government on recycling

31-3-09 Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has released a report that details the financial, social and environmental benefits of a 10c deposit on drink bottles, challenging the Victorian government position on the scheme.

"I commissioned this report to show that a 10c deposit system is not only good for the environment, but also makes sound financial sense. It takes the packaging industry spin, and unspins it". Find out how to join the deposit legislation campaign here!

'The' Nessie Hardy (1936 - 2007) Honoured

26-3-09 Long time Altona resident and environmental activist Nessie Hardy was recently recognised for her services to the Victorian community. The Nessie Hardy, as she was often known, was one of twenty women inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for 2009, during a ceremony held at the Victorian Arts Centre on the 5th of March with her daughters in attendance.

She was honoured for her instrumental role in reforming the environmental practices of the petrochemical industry at the Altona Chemical Complex and helping to establish the Truganina Explosives reserve as a park within the City of Hobson's Bay. Passionate on many issues, Nessie always sought to bring people together, whether it was residents and the petrochemical industry or members from different religious traditions.

Join the campaign to save Brown Mountain

19-03-2009 Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik visited the Brown Mountain area in East Gippsland over the Australia Day weekend and described the destruction of part of the old growth forest at Brown Mountain as 'heartbreaking'. In 2006, the government promised to protect all remaining old growth forest in East Gippsland, but it has already allowed old growth forest in Brown Mountain to be logged and VicForests is planning to destroy more of it. The Greens MPs have launched a website called theprotectionplan devoted to saving Brown Mountain and to stop all logging of old growth forests in Victoria. Click here to join the Greens campaign to save Brown Mountain and to stop all logging of old growth forests in Victoria.

Clean Up Australia with a 10c refund system

03-03-2009 Colleen Hartland plans to introduce legislation for a 10c returnable deposit on all disposable drink containers in Victoria.

This would lift recycling rates to 80%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate 25% of all litter and offer councils and community groups a valuable new source of income.

The legislation will give Victoria a similar - but more comprehensive - system of recycling to South Australia.

People can choose whether to return their empty container to a nearby depot, or donate it to their local council via the existing kerbside recycling system. Community groups, scout groups and sport clubs can raise funds by collecting empties and returning them for the deposit. Or they could even run a depot at a profit.

Depots can be as small as a "reverse vending machine" (put in an empty container, collect 10c), so it will be possible to have a depot near you.

Imagine how much cleaner our streets and creeks will be, when we put a price on rubbish!

Get involved and join the campaign today!

Read more about the proposed legislationhere.

Time for a Green jobs target

28-02-2009 With Australians losing their jobs thanks to the global financial meltdown, and with so much work to be done top prevent the global climate meltdown, it's time for Kevin Rudd to set a green jobs target and get to work creating the jobs that will deliver the new zero emissions economy.

President Obama is already pointing the way in America, making renewable energy and energy efficiency key parts of his economic stimulus package. Kevin Rudd should do the same for Australia.

To read more about Greens Senator Christine Milne's call for a Green Jobs target, click here

Bushfire Tragedy

18-2-09 The State Executive and the Victorian Greens MPs, on behalf of the Australian Greens Victoria send sincere condolences to all Victorians who have lost family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. And to those who have lost pets and loved animals, homes and property, schools and community places, whole communities and livelihoods. We know our words cannot assuage the intense grief and despair, nor reduce the pain of burns victims or restore any sense of normality. They are offered though, with heartfelt, and overwhelming, sadness.

The fires have been an extra-ordinary series of events and an unimaginable tragedy. Much information is yet to be fully known. We do know that a dear friend of many Greens, Jenny Barnett (pictured at left) and her husband John, lost their lives. Jenny was a wonderful, vibrant and committed person whose work will continue to benefit us all. Vale Jenny. A tributes page has been set up where you can leave a message in honour of her life. Click here to visit it

We know that like so many Victorians, members have lost homes and are grieving the loss of cherished friends and neighbours. We know many have had very close shaves and many are still and will be on high alert in the coming days. We know that members are among the brave and tireless CFA and other fire-fighting teams who have valiantly fought to the point of exhaustion. Our thoughts are with you all.

We support and encourage the local actions many Branches have already initiated and encourage branches in unaffected areas to adopt an area to help rebuild in due course. In the meantime, we continue to urge anyone who is able, from Victoria, interstate or overseas, to contribute to the major appeals and initiatives underway. We urge Victorians to access the professional support and advice that is available for those affected in any way by this immense tragedy.

Click on the links to:

For more information:

New VLGA President

06-02-2009 The Victorian Local Governance Association has its first Green President. Moonee Valley Greens Councillor Rose Iser was last night elected by the smallest of possible margins - it was a dead heat, and her name was pulled out of a box.

Greens Cr Samantha Dunn of Yarra Ranges Shire was also elected unopposed as Treasurer.

The elections also mark the end of former Greens Cr Janet Rice's highly successful term as VLGA Vice President. Congratulations to Rose, Samantha and Janet.

Click here to sign the Greens Senators' "5% emission target is not enough" petition

Privacy statement

Australian Greens Victoria

Sections

Personal tools