At a state-wide level, two Greens Senate tickets have been selected. One will be used for a double dissolution (in which case sitting senator Kerry Nettle will be standing again at the head of the ticket). The other will be used for a standard half-senate election, headed by John Kaye (Greens education spokesperson, and university lecturer in electrical engineering)
This election will make or break The Greens – will we be able to convince our supporters to still give their primary vote to us? Or will previously disaffected Labor voters drift back to the ALP?
Certainly Mark Latham has started his leadership with announcements and publicity stunts indicating that he cares about many significant greens issues (schools, forests, refugees, climate change, etc). Bitter experience however should teach us that opposition leaders might say one thing when they think it’s worth courting the progressive vote but do something totally different when they’re elected.
The Greens Senators (and the Greens in the NSW upper house) have a good history of raising issues, improving legislation and making a stand on things that matter – like human rights, Medicare and education. The Greens are the only opposition to Howard’s cosy relationship with America’s interests, typified by his support of missile defense (sic) and the not-so-free trade agreement.
The federal election campaign will be about convincing voters that the preference system can actually work, not only to remove the Howard Government but also to send a clear message to the ALP that a more just, sustainable, peaceful and democratic Australia is needed.
Locally, we’ll be coping with the ridiculous electoral boundaries established in 2001, which effectively split the Clarence Valley down its heart. There are two electorates: Page and Cowper, both of which are currently held by The Nationals (Ian Causley and Luke Hartsuyker, respectively)*. The Clarence Valley Greens will be working closely with The Summerland Greens on the Page campaign and with The Mid North Coast Greens on the Cowper campaign.
But first we need some candidates and campaign ideas! The Greens meetings will be held on the fourth Friday of each month, * (footnote) You are in Page: if you live in the former council areas of Nymboida, Grafton, Copmanhurst or in those parts of Maclean north and west of the Clarence River. You are in Cowper: if you live in the former council area of Ulmarra or east of the river in the former Maclean Shire.
starting at 12:30pm at the Clarence Environment Centre.