Resources Minister Ferguson shows contempt for Bob Brown and democracy

Resource Minister Martin Ferguson vows not to make Greens deal (AAP / Herald Sun / The Epoch Times)

"FEDERAL Resource Minister Martin Ferguson has vowed not to do a Senate deal with the Greens on the mining tax, assuring miners that the government will stick by its agreement with the industry. Mr Ferguson assured Queensland miners that the Greens would not be tinkering with the agreement should they gain the balance of power in the Senate at the next election. "In two and a half years I've never had a meeting with (Greens Leader) Bob Brown."

You might wish to write a Letter to the Editor or post online suggesting that Minister Ferguson's blatant disregard for not only Senator Brown but the essential role of the Senate in Australia's federalist system of government seems typical of Labor's recent demonstrations to the Australian people that democracy is no longer theirs. Whilst the Minister represents the view of the three big mining companies he conducted closed-door negotiations with, the Greens represent the view of a significant proportion of Australian voters and Senator Brown was right to question the true cost of the government's backdown on the mining tax.

Mining Tax: Bob Brown will pursue better outcome for Australians

Senator Brown has said The Greens will work hard for a better outcome for small business when the mining tax comes to be reviewed in the Senate. This includes a push to return the tax rate to the promised 28%.

You might want to write a Letter to the Editor today in support of this action by the Greens, noting that unlike the Opposition The Greens do not want to block the tax, but they do want to work together with the Government for a better outcome for Australians - just like they did with the stimulus package last year.

You may also choose to point out that the front page of The Australian today notes that "..the government had given up about $4.5bn in potential revenue when it renegotiated the tax... which is three times more than the government claimed last week." 

This vindicates Senator Brown's position that the full cost of the backdown needed to be explained to Australians.

Abbott Point coal hub: environment must not come second to coal exports

Queensland jobs at risk - Greens (Bigpond News) "The Greens say billions in revenue and thousands of jobs are at risk if the environment comes second to coal exports. Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says any expansion of the Abbot Point coal hub near Bowen in north Queensland could see world heritage waters off the Great Barrier Reef affected. Dr Brown says such an expansion would see more coal ships travelling through the area putting Australia's 60 billion dollar tourism hub at risk."

The Mining Tax

In a race to the last, the Mining Tax has overtaken Climate Change Action

as the weeks biggest story. The Greens view on the revised tax is highlighted below in

two press releases from Senator Brown and Greens MPs. You may consider

taking action by expressing how this revised tax package (and the process

undertaken to get here) affects you.

Coal seam gas expansion & carbon tax

Two key impact points today. Firstly, as you'll see below, Senator Bob

Brown has said he will support Qld farmers against the State Government's

coal seam gas expansion. It would be worthwhile commending Bob Brown's

commitment whilst at the same time spreading the message that QLD would do

well to have its own representative in the Senate.

On the carbon tax, well now even Tony Abbott is saying the PM should sit

down with The Greens and talk climate change action! Does it get more

impressive than that? Unfortunately not with Qld Premier Bligh dismissing

the tax and attacking the Greens.

Greens say to new PM "take some action on climate change!"

Thanks to the Greens, climate change action has been a big issue in the

media since the new PM took office. We have plenty of opportunity for

reinforcing Greens messages of real action, right now.

The Greens aren't to blame for the failed ETS (it was bad policy) and the Wild Rivers Bill

"Why you shouldn't vote for The Greens" (Q&A Discussion Board)

A follow on from Monday night's Q&A with Sarah Hanson-Young, this

discussion board has some positive but largely negative views about the

Greens. It would be great if you could post a comment on here in support

of Greens messages and policies. Some points to consider:

SHY on Q&A tonight

Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young is a

panellist on Q&A on ABC, tonight 9.35pm. Other panellists are Malcolm

Turnbull, Craig Emerson, Graham Richardson and Jessica Brown.

The Greens gain ground

Greens gain ground (The Australian - opinion)

"A DOUBLE dissolution would very likely give the Greens more Senate seats.

I suspect this is the real reason why we will not have a

double-dissolution election. In Queensland, for example, at the last

election the Greens had just over half a quota before preferences and

hence would have a senator in a double dissolution even on those numbers,

let along the swing predicted by current polls. With a stronger Greens

presence in the Senate, a Labor government has two options to get

legislation through if it's not widely supported: make it more

conservative to appeal to the Coalition, or more progressive to appeal to

the Greens. Does Labor want such clear options? I doubt it. As it stands,

the ALP can make a big deal of trying to push through legislation that

isn't very good, and blame whoever it likes for failing."

ALP attack Greens over failed ETS

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From Friday, the Do you support the Greens' push for a dramatic rethink on drug policy? poll in The Age finished up at 67% yes, 33% no.

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Join the Facebook Group: Include Greens Leader Bob Brown in Federal Election Leaders Debates

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126048277427050

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Major news today is the ALP attack on The Greens for the failure of the ETS. See specifically 2 stories below which are online. This story is in print and online but doesn't appear to be being discussed on talkback so far. You may wish to write to a Letter to Editors on this issue.