Tony Abbott - ignorant on climate, Greens confident in election, Beware The Greens, UCG fails safety test and more..

This afternoon, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott commented that China and
India would not introduce a carbon price so Australia would not have to do
so. This comment clearly shows that the Opposition has little
understanding of what action is actually being taken against climate
change by our regional neighbours. A full press release from Senator
Christine Milne is below. Please consider writing a Letter to the Editor
of the national papers on this issue - Australia is being left behind, and
the would-be governing party doesn't seem to know it. 


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Greens confident as election underway (SBS World News)


The Australian Greens are confident they will steal votes from both major
parties, as the federal election campaign kicks off. Greens leader Bob
Brown says people are disenfranchised from the major parties due to their
lack of action on climate change. "Somebody said last week that the Greens
are more Labor than Labor, more Liberal than the Liberals and
unsurprisingly greener than both," Mr Brown told Sky News. "That's a
pretty good accolade, I think it sums it up," he said, referring to voter
sentiment. The party is hoping to pick up seats in both the upper and
lower house, to add to its current representation of five senators. 


You can add a comment online in support.


***
Beware the Greens (Daily Telegraph)


Paul Howes, National Secretary of The Australian Workers' Union, writes
"This election won't just be a Labor/Liberal contest. It is clear the
Greens will play a large role in the campaign. A role that could be
incredibly dangerous for our future. I've got a lot of respect for Brown.
I disagree with many of his positions, but I admire him for his lifelong
commitment to the principles that he holds close to his heart. Brown is a
Green in the true sense of the word. From the campaign to save the
Franklin River through to his time in the Tasmanian Parliament, and now in
the federal arena, no one can question his commitment to the environment
and his passion to build a party on that platform. Unfortunately for Brown
and likeminded environmentalists, such as NSW MP Ian Cohen, his party is
being infiltrated by many whose commitment to the environment is
questionable, and who are more focused on turning the Greens into a
left-wing, socialist-style party. Some people call these Greens
"watermelons" - green on the outside, red on the inside..."


You might like to post a comment on this story supporting The Greens
commitment to achieving better outcomes for Australians in all areas of
national policy, their respected work in the Senate, and their recent
achievements including better outcomes in the stimulus package, raising
the pension and childcare rebates (a full list of achievements is below
under Greens Releases). You can also comment that in contrast to the two
major parties, The Greens enjoy experienced and stable leadership in
Senator Brown, progressive policies grown from consultations and
engagement with the community, and a clear vision for Australia's future.
The Greens should be a part of the leaders debates.




***
No back door deal on preferences: Greens (7 Yahoo News)


The Greens will arrange preferences ahead of the impending federal
election but won't do any "back door" deals with major parties, says
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. The South Australian senator, in Brisbane to
support the party's Queensland candidate Larissa Waters, said the Greens
had tried to outlaw preference deals, but recognised preferences had to be
arranged.


You can post a comment online reaffirming that a vote for The Greens is a
credible and valuable vote, and each individual can direct their
preferences as they choose.




***
Underground coal gasification fails safety test and should be banned (Qld Greens)


Reports that Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification (UCG) pilot
plant at Kingaroy has polluted local bores with carcinogenic chemicals
shows the experimental technology has failed and should be banned, say the
Greens. “Reports of pollution of local bores with carcinogens or
contamination of creeks from all three UCG operators on the Downs must
spell the end of this experimental industry,” said Australian Greens lead
Senate candidate for Queensland, environmental lawyer Larissa Waters. “It
is totally unacceptable to risk the health of local residents and the
quality of groundwater on which farming in the Darling Downs depends.


You could write a Letter to the Editor of the Courier Mail on this issue.






*** OTHER NEWS ***
Greens push to join election debates dismissed by leading constitutional lawyer (The Australian/National Affairs)


INCLUDING Bob Brown in election debates would be as valid as putting
Humphrey Bear up against Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, says a
constitutional expert. The Greens leader is waging a campaign to be
represented in campaign TV debates involving the Prime Minister and
Opposition Leader. “I think the Greens leader, I think I should be
involved in that,” Senator Brown said today. “It would give a much broader
range of issues into the leaders' debate and a much wider set of opinions
for the public to look at. “It's a democracy. This isn't just about
presidential-style election campaigns. It's got to be about involving
people.” Mr Brown said he had not made a formal approach to either Ms
Gillard or the Opposition Leader, despite claiming it was something “she
and Mr Abbott should be welcoming”. Leading constitutional lawyer Greg
Craven, who is vice chancellor of the Australian Catholic University ,
told The Australian Online that because Senator Brown had no chance of
becoming prime minister, he should not be present in the debates. “If the
debate is about a potential prime minister you may as well have Humphrey
Bear there because he'll have as much chance as Bob Brown of being prime
minister,” he said. “So if that's the issue, there's a problem.” “You have
to keep it simple. It's a two-horse race.”...




***
Greens offer an alternative, says Brown (AAP/SMH/Nine MSN)


The Australian Greens are an alternative to the major parties which are
ignoring progressive policies and a clear vision for Australia’s future,
its leader Bob Brown says. Senator Brown adopted Prime Minister Julia
Gillard’s ‘‘moving forward’’ mantra. ‘‘Moving forward will mean a carbon
tax on polluters; bringing home safely Australia’s troops from
Afghanistan; a universal dental care scheme; humane treatment of asylum
seekers in Australia; protecting our forests and wildlife,’’ he said in
Canberra. The election was also about the Senate, in which a strong Greens
crossbench would deliver better outcomes for Australians, Senator Brown
said. ‘‘The Greens are the responsible alternative to a deadlocked
Abbott-controlled Senate,’’ he said. Climate change action, the creation
of marine national parks, protecting native forests and saving the Darling
Downs farmlands from 40,000 coal seam gas drill holes and open cut coal
mines would be the key focus of the Greens campaign.




***
The Rise of The Greens? - video (702 ABC Sydney)
Chris Uhlmann talks to Greens leader Bob Brown, and analyses their role in
the upcoming election with Antony Green and Barrie Cassidy.




***
PM special: Bob Brown anticipates extra seats for Greens - radio interview (ABC Radio)




***
Greens demand spot in leadership debate (News.com.au & Bigpond News)


AUSTRALIAN Greens leader Bob Brown again has called for his party to be
included in the leaders' debates ahead of the federal election. The
Opposition has proposed three debates between Prime Minister Julia Gillard
and Coalition leader Tony Abbott, but the details, including the format
and dates, are yet to be worked out. Senator Brown said that the Greens'
mounting popularity meant he should also be included in the debates...




***
Climate could hurt or help Gillard (AAP/SMH)


Climate change is set to be a big issue at the 2010 poll - but it's not
clear whether it will hurt or help Prime Minister Julia Gillard's chances.
The issue was central to the 2007 election and helped deliver a win to
Labor. Times have changed. Global warming has been one of the toughest
issues for Labor in its first term, and it could cost the government
votes. Polls show voters think climate change is real and want action but
are less concerned about the issue than they were a few years ago. The
Greens have a plan to slash emissions and will campaign hard on the issue;
they will try to make the election about climate change. If the climate is
weighing on voters' minds, it could help the Greens take a historic
lower-house seat - Melbourne is a chance - and win the balance of power in
the Senate. That would give them real power for three years and change the
landscape of climate politics.




***
Voters may look to Greens (AAP/SMH)


The candidate most likely to win the Greens a lower house seat says the
retirement of Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner will open the door for many
traditional Labor voters to take their first look at the party. Lawyer
Adam Bandt will campaign hard in the seat of Melbourne against ALP
unionist Cath Bowtell to secure the Greens their first ever place in the
House of Representatives. Labor holds Melbourne by nine per cent but the
Greens' primary vote has moved from about 15 per cent to 23 per cent in
the last two elections...




***
Gillard, Greens discuss climate policy (ABC)


Julia Gillard has spoken with Greens leader Bob Brown face-to-face for the
first time since becoming Prime Minister. The two leaders met in Canberra
yesterday after Ms Gillard laid out her economic credentials and promised
to conduct a "lean" election campaign. But Senator Brown was focused on
climate change policy. He says he pressed his case for her to introduce a
carbon tax if she wins office. "We didn't talk about policy details but I
did explain to the Prime Minister that a carbon tax was important," he
said.




***
Frustration led Greens candidate to politics (ABC)


A Central Australian country musician says he would be better able to
represent Aboriginal issues in the Northern Territory than other
Indigenous politicians. Singer-songwriter Warren H. Williams has been
endorsed as the Greens' Northern Territory Senate candidate. He says his
frustration with the major parties has led him to put down his guitar and
turn to politics. "If I'm going to look after the Territory well my music
comes after what I have to do," he said...




***
MLC queries federal MP's state grants access (ABC)


A Tasmanian Legislative Councillor has questioned a federal MP's use of a
state-based discretionary fund. MLC Ivan Dean this week accused the Labor
Party of using the Premier's Sundry Grants scheme a slush fund...




***
Tassie seats vital for parties (The Mercury)


TASMANIA can expect a parade of national politicians and ministers as the
five-week federal election campaign hots up. But just as Prime Minister
Julia Gillard showed on Friday, the visits are likely to focus on the
state's two most marginal electorates, Bass and Braddon. The election is
also considered the first chance the Australian Greens, led by Tasmanian
senator Bob Brown, have to win seats in the House of Representatives. In
Braddon and Bass, the chance of Labor holding office in the face of an
expected slight swing against the Government will depend on Labor gaining
enough preferences from the Greens. Senator Brown told Prime Minister
Julie Gillard last week that if his party gained its first Lower House
seats, regained the balance of power in the Senate and helped Labor remain
in power through Greens preferences, he would expect regular meetings with
the Labor Cabinet...




***
Greens toast partnership's first 100 days (ABC)


The Tasmanian Greens say the first one hundred days of the power sharing
State Government have been successful. Acting Greens Leader Tim Morris
says the party has helped secure an independent investigation into the
energy industry...






*** GREENS RELEASES ***
Public should hear from the Greens in leaders’ debates (Greens MPs)


Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says the public should hear directly
from the Greens in any leaders' debates before the election. "The
psephologists are predicting the Greens will most likely hold the balance
of power in the Senate after the election, so we should be in the debate,"
Senator Brown said. "The Greens leaders are included in Europe and Canada,
and the public is provided with a much wider choice of ideas as well as a
livelier debate."




***
Delivering outcomes for Australia - The Greens in the Senate (Greens MPs)


The Greens have negotiated constructively in the Senate to get better
outcomes for the community, including the $42 billion economic stimulus
package to protect Australia’s economy in the global economic downturn.
The Greens have negotiated to secure better outcomes for the environment
and a fairer society. We don’t oppose ideas for the sake of political
point scoring. The work of the Greens in the Senate has delivered: 10,000
local green jobs in the economic stimulus package; Fuel efficiency
incentives for luxury cars An extra $30 a week for pensioners; Flexible
working hours for carers; Inclusion of the Exclusive Brethren businesses
in the Fair Work laws; $50 million for public health; Protection of youth
allowance payments for gap year students; Continued Medicare funded
dental treatments for patients with chronic illness; Protection for
thousands of wind and solar jobs by fixing the renewable energy target;
The Rudd government’s $42 billion stimulus package in February 2009 is
credited by business and economists with helping Australia avoid a
recession, and so saving thousands of businesses from failing and
unemployment rising to one million. The Greens backed the stimulus
package. The Coalition opposed it outright. We negotiated with Treasurer
Swan to vote it through the Senate but with $400 million redirected to the
Local Jobs Package. The Greens’ package included: $60 million for heritage
projects; $40 million for building, extending and improving bike paths;
$200 million towards local community projects to create new jobs; $10
million for new jobs to regenerate and protect the Lower Murray. That's
the Greens in action. Delivering outcomes for Australia.




***
Abbott ignorant on climate: India and China leaving Australia behind (Greens MPs)


Greens' response to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's comments at a press
conference this afternoon, that China and India would not introduce a
carbon price so Australia would not have to do so. Australian Greens
Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said: "Tony Abbott, leader of the
party of miners and deniers, clearly has no idea about what is going on
with climate action around our region. "While both Labor and Liberals dig
us deeper and deeper into coal, China and India are leaving us behind.
Cornering the market in coal while the world powers ahead with renewables
and efficiency is about as short-sighted as it gets. "India has already
introduced a tax on coal - both domestic and imported - with the revenue
to be invested in renewable energy developments. China is powering ahead
of Australia in closing polluting industry and investing in renewables and
efficiency. "As developing countries, neither China nor India should be
expected to act before Australia does, and yet they are both leaving us
far behind them. "If Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard continue saying
Australia won't act until developing countries act, they will ensure that
Australia keeps undermining moves to a global treaty. That will do none of
us any favours." "The Prime Minister's insistence on 'consensus' is
increasingly being seen as an excuse for delay and denial. She is 'Waiting
for Godot' and she knows it if she wants consensus from the deniers and
the big polluters. "Julia Gillard should sideline the deniers in the
Coalition and polluting industry and move to consensus with those who want
action. The Greens stand ready to act with a carbon tax on the biggest
polluters which can start as soon as next year."