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ABC news is reporting that Senator Bob Brown is today planning to introduce a Private Members Bill to require all government advertising to undergo a "public interest" test by the auditor-general.
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Rudd gives Greens the cold shoulder (ABC)
"Greens leader Bob Brown says he has not met with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for over a year, complaining that senior staff in Mr Rudd's office are "hard to get to". The last Newspoll showed unprecedented support for the Greens as voters turned off both the major parties. The likelihood of the party holding the balance of power in the Senate after the next election is high. But Senator Brown told ABC2 News Breakfast that he was frustrated with the lack of access he and his staffers have with the Prime Minister's office. "We need to be in contact with key advisers in the Prime Minister's office," he said. "I've been unable to get to talk with the Prime Minister for a year or so now. "It's very difficult to get to talk to those advisers too. "I think they make the mistake of thinking the Senate is not so important." However, Senator Brown says he has found other Government ministers very accessible. A spokesman for Mr Rudd says it is appropriate that the minister responsible leads negotiations for the Government when dealing with complex pieces of legislation. Senator Brown's comments come as he prepares to introduce a Private Members Bill to require all government advertising to undergo a "public interest" test by the auditor-general. Senator Brown says the Senate has a huge amount of legislation to deal with in the last two weeks before the winter break and will be under pressure by the Government to sit for long hours in what could be the last sitting period before the election. A spokesman for Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has confirmed he held a 45-minute meeting with Mr Rudd in the last sitting week, which was a week ago. Senator Xenophon sits on the crossbench with the Greens and Family First Senator Steve Fielding. A spokesman for Senator Fielding says he has also requested meetings with Mr Rudd and "got nowhere".
You might like to post a comment on this story in support of The Greens, their policies, and the fact that growing support for The Greens means that their policies should be debated on the national stage. Not to do so is excluding the views of up to 1 in 6 Australians, according to current polls.
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Further to yesterday's news on ETS and the ALP attack on The Greens, here is a blog where you might wish to leave a comment in support of The Greens action on an ETS.
Senator Brown said on 13 June: "Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that Labor has only itself to blame for getting into bed with the Liberals over climate change. "It was serious misjudgment. And it is no good Labor waking up the morning after being done over by the Liberals and accusing the uninvolved Greens of "purity"," Senator Brown said. "The fact is Prime Minister Rudd has refused to talk with me or fellow Greens over climate change or anything else, since April 2009. "Labor ought to have taken up the Greens proposal for a carbon tax. It is not too late to do it - We would welcome negotiations. "A 72% majority of Australians want the government to negotiate with the Greens in the Senate for climate action." Results of a national Galaxy Research telephone poll of 1,100 respondents taken in April show that 72% of Australians are in favour of the government working with the Greens, independents and other senators to introduce a levy that will ensure the biggest polluters pay for climate pollution. Only 20% were opposed to the government negotiating with the Greens. Senator Brown was responding to criticisms on morning television today by Labor Ministers Anthony Albanese and Lindsay Tanner."
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Greens begin poll blitz to save forests (Courier Mail)
"THE Greens will launch an advertising blitz today against forest logging while a key candidate urges the resurgent party to broaden its appeal. The Greens, picking up support on the back of Labor's falling fortunes, are pressuring the Federal Government to "end the conflict over forests forever" after polling showing Australians want to protect high conservation value forests. The party has several strong candidates lined up for the federal election including former Democrat Andrew Bartlett who will challenge veteran Arch Bevis in the seat of Brisbane. Mr Bartlett, writing in a recent ABC blog, noted the Newspoll results were "on par with the best Newspoll result for any third party".The former Democrats Senator said the challenge for the Greens was to counter its stereotypes as a "protest vote" or representing extremist or single issue politics. "This means much more than being prepared for more attacks from the two old parties or vested interests who feel threatened. "It means highlighting a wide-ranging and solid package of policies consistent with a progressive philosophical base."
You may wish to post a comment at CourierMail.com following the above link, agreeing with Mr Bartlett's view that The Greens do have package of policies that should be heard and included in the national debates.
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ABC local radio was this morning discussing the question "Do you think that Julia Gillard would make a better leader of the ALP?"
One Greens supporter took the opportunity to phone in and say "Well, yes, maybe - but wasn't it time that the ALP started listening to the good policies of the Greens ie... the $23 per tonne carbon pollution price."
Way to turn an issue on its head!
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Queensland's green sheen: State dominates sustainability list (Brisbane TImes)
"Five Queensland cities have made it onto a conservation group's list of the 10 most sustainable cities in Australia. Darwin finished at the top of the list, while Brisbane came third, bolstered by residents' frugal water use and a large number of Green-Star-certified building projects. Brisbane also had the lowest type-two diabetes rate, but fared poorly in the ecological footprint stakes because of the large amount of land required to feed, clothe and house each resident."
Senator Scott Ludlam says "The study released today by the Australian Conservation Foundation shows that both Federal and State governments need to urgently fund improved public transport to get people out of cars and into less-congesting, less-polluting and ultimately less expensive transport options such as light rail, cycling and walking,” Senator Ludlam said. For the full media release go to:
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