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.

Asylum Seekers, Mining Tax, Abbot Point coal facility, coal seam gas moratorium

Major issues for Australians seem to be having limited focus in the media

over this past week.

The Asylum Seeker issue is a key topic of discussion on the radio, in

print and online today. The issue is expected to be the key media

topic in the coming days and we'll keep you in the loop on specific

stories. In short, The Greens support a compassionate and human 

response to asylum seekers and on-shore processing.

Some new media stories are below on the Mining Tax. The Greens 

support the tax in principle but Senator Brown believes that the

full cost of the backdown needs to be explained to Australians. Senator

Brown also states small businesses who employ up to 5 million Australians

will be worse off and jobs will now be 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.

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 Mining Tax row

THE MINING TAX is still leading national news with the BHP chief saying he can see no end to the row. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/bhp-chief-sees-no-end-to-tax-row-20100610-y0j2.html

The Greens believe that Australia's rich mineral resources and the wealth they generate should be shared by all Australians, and therefore support the government in the proposed mining tax. However The Greens believe that the large section of Australians who will benefit from it are not getting the right message. For more, read here: http://greensmps.org.au/content/opinion-editorial/tax-resources-profits-would-benefit-all-us