STATE ELECTION 24 MARCH 2006

Clarence Greens have preselected their local candidate for the 2007 State Election, just 4 months away. Theo Jongen, long-time CEC member, will take on sitting member for Clarence, Steve Cansdell. Theo is passionate about social justice issues, such as the institutionalised racism which led to Stolen Koori Wages. He is also passionate about the environment.

When viewed with the benefit of hindsight, The Greens policies are moderate and reasonable - just 10 years ahead of other parties. Both Iemma and Howard have now acknowledged climate change but this won't be averted by clean coal promises or even nuclear power plants. It requires a fundamental change in our use of resources and a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions.

As both parties still perpetuate the myth of never-ending economic growth and continue to remove any obstacles to developers' short-term financial gains, you can't believe they'll be serious about climate change or conserving our natural environment.

When you think about the environment, it is clear that The Greens can be regarded as the only true conservatives on the political scene. The Iemma government certainly deserves to be thrown out:

  • · The recent watering down, even further, of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to give the Minister the right to ignore all environmental impacts of a development.
  • · The bio-banking amendments to the Threatened Species Conservation Act, which allows developers to destroy threatened species habitat as long as they pay the price of conserving habitat 'somewhere else'.
  • · Approval of new coal mines and coal export facilities, making Newcastle the largest coal exporting port on the planet.
  • · Approval of a cyanide-leach goldmine next to Lake Cowal, a wetland vital to migratory birds.
  • · Approval of the Shannon Creek Dam, wiping out threatened species and importing then failing to stop the spread of Phytophthora root rot fungus.
  • · Continued running down of public transport, health and education.
  • · Paying more attention to getting elected and slagging the opposition than governing well.

But does the Coalition, led by Peter Debnam, deserve to win, given that most retrograde changes passed through parliament with their support and they want to do more of the same? Whoever gets in, we need some Greens to keep them honest!

In the Upper House, The Greens NSW ticket is headed by sitting MLC Lee Rhiannon, who should be returned. In second place on the ticket is Dr John Kaye, Climate Change campaigner. For John to be elected and get a 4th voice in the Legislative Council, The Greens will need at least 7% of the vote. The Greens NSW are currently polling 6.5%.

Next year will be a very busy year with a Federal election also due at the end of 2007. It will be an uphill battle for NSW Greens Senator Kerry Nettle to retain her place, which she only just scraped into 4 years ago.

What can I do?

  • · Enrol to vote and encourage all young people to. It's not a waste of time. Now is the time you must voice your disapproval, anger and fear at the polling booth.
  • · Handing out How-To-Vote leaflets at polling booths doubles our vote. Can you spare a few hours to help on election day?
  • · Join The Greens!

Email questions and/or offers of assistance to clarencegreens. NSW Greens website nsw.greens.org.au has all Greens policies and will also host our Clarence campaign website. Visit democracy4sale to see how much big corporate sponsors and developers pay the major parties. With recent changes to the Electoral Act raising the limits above which donations must be declared, it will become harder to track corporate influence on government.

Written and authorised by M. Purcell, 99 Mahogany Drive, Pillar Valley.