June 2014 yes, we can - Greens NSW · 2019-05-29 · 2 nsw.greens.org.au June 2014 hoW to stop the aBBott BuDget By DaViD shoeBriDge greens nsW Mp Much of the public debate on the

hall greenlanDConVenor of the nsW greens

We can beat this federal

budget – and even terminate

the Abbott government.

It depends on the Senate where the Abbott government does not command an automatic majority. Until July 1, Labor and the Greens have a majority. After that date, the combined Greens, Labor, and the Palmer United Party senators have the majority.The non-government senators could combine and refuse to pass the budget. This is constitutional and has been done before – in 1975 when it was used to bring down the Whitlam government.The technical details are explained in the article on Page 2 by David Shoebridge, a NSW Greens MP. Essentially the Senate majority can send the budget back to the House of Representatives with amendments that change it fundamentally. The Abbott government would

then have to either accept all the amendments, or accept some and try to do deals with non-government Senators to pass an amended budget, or refuse to compromise and be willing to go to an election.Whatever scenario plays out, there is every reason for this budget to be blocked. It is no ordinary budget. It seeks to fundamentally change Australian society. It abandons any attempt to check climate change. And it reveals more utter contempt for genuine democracy.Most of us believe that it is the right of every kid to have the best education possible and for every patient to have the best treatment available. We also agree that these things should not depend on what class or area you were born into, or the income of your family.These principles form the basis for our public schools, TAFE colleges and universities and of Medicare – but this budget wants to abolish that fair-go tradition.

Australia has the highest greenhouse emissions per unit GDP of any rich country. Yet the budget de-funds anything that takes us to a cleaner, safer future – whether it’s the carbon tax or the $2.3 billion funding of ARENA, Australia’s renewable energy agency. Then there are the medieval cuts to the CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology and its environmental science programs.What else is at stake in this budget is whether we have any semblance of democracy left. This is a budget built on lies and broken promises which inevitably gives rise to the question: What is the point of weighing up policies and voting if elected politicians are going to turn around and do the opposite. By blocking the budget, we will be saying that democracy cannot be treated with such contempt.Yes, admittedly, convincing the Opposition senators to agree to strike down this appalling budget _QTT�JM�LQٻ��K]T\�JMKI][M�UIVa�Senators will want to do their own

separate deals. However, without ruling out backroom deals, public opinion could move the Senate majority to do the right thing. The opinion polls have moved sharply against the government since the budget and in any election all the non-government parties could look forward to increased numbers. But if we, the public, remain passive then the Opposition senators will likely hesitate to block the budget and the Abbott government will come to believe they can tough it out. As they have in the past, university students are showing the way. And it may only be a matter of time before senior high school students join them. They must already realise how their own futures could be undermined by huge increases in uni fees and debts that may take Mٺ�MK\�NZWU�VM`\�aMIZ��In recent times – in countries like Canada and Chile – tens of thousands of high school and university students have gone on

strike, taken over their schools and campuses and marched in the streets to shake governments to their foundations over education injustice.Unions are also moving. In Melbourne union members are stopping work on June 12 for rallies against the budget. On the same day in Sydney union delegates and representatives are meeting to discuss future action. The Greens and the environment movement – after the huge success in stopping the coal seam gas fracking at Bentley on the North Coast – are contemplating increasing their peaceful but determined resistance to the most environmentally vandalistic budget in memory. If we maintain the rage, and it continues to spread, then Opposition senators may actually Å�VL�\PMQZ�XWTQ\QKIT�KW]ZIOM�IVL�block the budget and force this government to the polls.The point is, it can be done.

June 2014

June 2014 nsw.greens.org.au

yes, we can

tens of thousands of australians have marched against the budget and opinion polls reveal still rising opposition to this appalling budget photo © glenn lockitch

Wrong Way, go BaCKBy Jenny leong page 7stop the Dirty DeeDsBy John Kaye page 3

BloCK theBuDget

nsw.greens.org.au June 20142

hoW to stop the aBBott BuDget

By DaViD shoeBriDge greens nsW Mp

Much of the public debate on the

Senate “blocking supply” suggests

that it is an all or nothing tactic.

However this is not the case. The

Senate can carefully cherry-pick the

elements in the budget that it demands

be amended and force the Abbott

government to either accept those

amendments or see its budget fail.

hoW the BuDget proCess WorKsThe Federal budget contains two main pieces of legislation:Appropriation Bill (No 1)

This is the bill that covers the ordinary services of government – payment of public servant wages, new expenditure that has not been previously approved, payments to local government etc. It is the main budget bill and accounts for approximately 25% of the annual outlay of the Commonwealth Government in Canberra. This is generally called the “Supply Bill”.Appropriation Bill (No 2)

This deals with all other annual budget allocation. Some of the highly controversial parts of the budget such as Medicare co-payments are to be found in this bill.

What the senate Can DoThe Senate can block either or both bills. It can also amend Appropriation Bill (No. 2). Section 53 of the constitution says the Senate cannot amend Appropriation Bill (No. 1). However section 53 also says:“The Senate may at any stage return to the House of Representatives any proposed law which the Senate may not amend, requesting, by message, the omission or amendment of any items or provisions therein.”Odgers Australian Senate Practice (the most authoritative text on the Senate’s powers) takes the view that the Constitution permits the ;MVI\M�\W�JTWKS�[]XXTa�IVL��QV�Mٺ�MK\��\W�NWZKM�amendments on the House of Representatives. On section 53, it states:“The provisions of section 53 are usually described as limitations on the power of the ;MVI\M�QV�ZM[XMK\�WN�Å�VIVKQIT�TMOQ[TI\QWV��J]\�they are procedural limitations only, not substantive limitations on power, because the Senate can reject any bill and can decline to pass any bill until it is amended in the way the Senate requires. In particular, the distinction

between an amendment and a request is purely procedural: in one case the Senate amends a bill itself, in the other it asks the House of Representatives to amend the bill. In both cases the bill is returned to the House of Representatives for its agreement with the proposed amendment. In the absence of agreement the Senate can decline to pass the bill.”In other words the Senate can demand the Supply Bill be amended by refusing to pass it unless amendments are made. It can provide those amendments to the House of Representatives and force the Abbott government to either accept the amendments or see the budget voted down.

What happens neXt?)[[]UQVO�\PQ[�PIXXMV[�IVL�\PMZM�Q[�I�[\IVL�Wٺ��then what will happen?If the Abbott government refuses to accept the amendments and the budget fails to be adopted by 1 July 2014 then most of the ordinary services of government would continue. This is because 75% of Commonwealth expenditure is not covered by the Supply Bill, but is set out in separate Acts.These are called separate appropriations and for the most part continue from year to year and are not dependent on the passing of the budget. If the Senate blocked supply by not passing both Appropriation Bills, given that the majority of the Commonwealth’s expenditure is covered by special appropriations, most functions of government would be able to continue. <W�JM�[XMKQÅ�K"��?MTNIZM�XIaUMV\[�IVL�XMV[QWV[�_W]TL�

continue under the Social Security Act 1999��5MLQKIZM�XIaUMV\[�_W]TL�KWV\QV]M�]VLMZ�\PM�

Health Insurance Act 1973, and��8IaUMV\[�\W�\PM�[\I\M[�IVL�\MZZQ\WZQM[�_W]TL�

continue under the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.

If both bills were blocked, then the regressive proposed changes to welfare, medical and education spending would not occur. <PM�UIQV�VMOI\Q^M�Mٺ�MK\�_W]TL�JM�\W�[\IZ^M�Commonwealth departments of the funds necessary to make wages payments to public servants. While departments may have funds available from prior years appropriations, these would be quickly depleted. A likely result would be that public servants would either:��JM�ZMY]QZML�\W�_WZS�_Q\PW]\�XMZQWLQK�XIaUMV\�or��JM�[\WWL�LW_V�NWZ�I�XMZQWL�However, as public servants have a contractual

relationship with the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth would remain liable to make the necessary wages payments in due course. <PM�Mٺ�MK\�_W]TL�JM�\W�LMTIa�\PM�XIaUMV\�WN�public servants for the period of any impasse in the Senate.

ConClusion Essentially it is not a case of all or nothing for the Senate. The Senate can choose the grounds WV�_PQKP�\W�Å�OP\�\PM�J]LOM\��NWZ�MÌUXTM�refusing to agree to cuts to welfare, schooling,

health and the environment. With both the Supply Bill and the balance of the budget, the Senate can target the debate to the deeply unpopular and unfair elements in the budget. This will force the Abbott Government to either agree to fair amendments or see its entire budget defeated with the consequential shut down of much of the Government.

David shoebridge is a greens member of the legislative Council, the upper house in the nsW parliament.

photo © Jenny templin

June 2014 nsw.greens.org.au 3

Clean politiCsCorruption-proofing nsWBy John Kaye greens nsW Mp

+WZZ]X\QWV�IVL�QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�IZM�not victimless crimes.

It is not only the state’s reputation

\PI\�[]ٺMZ[�_PMV�OW^MZVUMV\�decision are purchased by donations

WZ�QVÆ]MVKML�Ja�TWJJaQ[\[�M`XTWQ\QVO�their political connections on behalf of

a corporate client.

Households, the environment and the

economy inevitably pay the price.

For more than a decade the Greens have been warning that the state of NSW is in deep trouble. Hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate donations were not given to Labor and the Coalition parties because developers and wealthy companies seeking government contracts and other special favours had a sustained attack of charitable feelings towards politicians and their supposed causes.That money was buying legislation that advantaged the donors over the rest of us. Developments and mines were being approved without regard to the impacts on the local community and the environment. 4MI[M[�\W�X]JTQK�XZWXMZ\QM[�_MZM�[WTL�Wٺ�I\�below their market value. Access to ministers was on the basis of willingness to pay. At the same time, those who could pay for lobbyists _Q\P�QV[QLMZ�QVÆ]MVKM�_MZM�OM\\QVO�I�TQWV¼[�share of the action.

The Independent Commission against +WZZ]X\QWV¼[�ÅVLQVO[�IOIQV[\�NWZUMZ�4IJWZ�Ministers Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald and <WVa�3MTTa�M`XW[ML�I�[\I\M�JMQVO�ZQXXML�Wٺ�for millions of dollars by the unscrupulous [KPMUQVO�WN�I�[UITT�V]UJMZ�WN�[MVQWZ�ÅO]ZM[�in the previous government.Allegations currently before ICAC suggest \PI\�KWZZ]X\QWV�IVL�QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�had well and truly crossed the boundaries between political parties. The Liberals’ relationship with Nick Di Girolamo, )][\ZITQIV�?I\MZ�0WTLQVO[��-QOP\JaÅ^M��the Millennium Forum and the Free Enterprise Foundation did more than take out a Premier, two senior ministers, a parliamentary secretary and a handful of back benchers. It exposed a systematic attempt to subvert the intent, if not the letter, of the donations laws. It revealed a party organisation captured by I�K]T\]ZM�WN�TWJJaQVO��QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�IVL�favours.While Australian Water Holdings did not get its billion dollar contract, it was able to extract massive salaries and other expenses from household water bills in Sydney and the Illawarra. Coal mines have been approved to enrich at least one MP. )�[QOVQÅKIV\�XZWXWZ\QWV�WN�\PM�4QJMZIT�XIZ\a¼[�spending on the 2011 election may well have been come from illegal donations. The list is long, damaging and shameful.By any reckoning NSW has been pillaged by

politicians from both of the old parties. This is much more than just a few individuals turned bad. The malignancy is entrenched within the system. It thrives QV�I�K]T\]ZM�WN�\ZMI\QVO�X]JTQK�WٻKM�I[�IV�opportunity for self-enrichment, the laws regulating donations as optional and the community as a necessary nuisance who should be treated as mugs.there are solutions<PM[M�\PQVO[�KIV�JM�Å`ML�IVL�\PM�/ZMMV[�have a plan that will begin to turn around NSW. Premier Mike Baird and Opposition Leader John Robertson talk about a scheme to force taxpayers to pay for their election campaigns, hoping to distract voters from the real damage their parties have done to the state’s democracy. The Premier’s committee inquiring into the 100% public funding scheme will not report back until New Year’s Eve. Donations will continue to pour in from dodgy sources, with no public accountability until it is too late. The next state election will largely happen under the old corruption-vulnerable rules.Meanwhile the Greens have developed a package of legislation to ban the laundering of donations through front organisations, force politicians and their families to explain where their wealth comes from and expose all lobbying to public scrutiny. We will prohibit donations from the mining industry and contractors and require all donations to be

fully disclosed as they are received. But it will take much more than just legislation to change politics in NSW. There has to be an end to rich pickings for corporate sharks created by contracting out X]JTQK�[MZ^QKM[��[MTTQVO�Wٺ�X]JTQK�I[[M\[�IVL�sweetheart deals for casinos and motorways.

There has to be a richer, more engaging democracy, where communities have a real say in their own future.And there has to be a changing of the expectations of what politics can deliver.

By Mehreen faruqigreens nsW Mp

The foetal personhood bill known as “Zoe’s Law”, brought to NSW parliament last year, is a covert attempt to undermine women’s reproductive rights. It is an unnecessary and dangerous piece of legislation. Unnecessary because current law already treats foetal harm, and/or loss, as a most serious crime committed against the woman concerned. It is punishable with a maximum 25-year sentence. Dangerous because it will undermine women’s rights to choose and put them and their health professionals at risk. Similar legislative changes in the US, pushed by conservative pro-life advocates, have resulted in serious consequences for late-term abortions and have led to the KZMI\QWV�WN�VM_�WٺMVKM[�IOIQV[\�pregnant women and the medical profession.

These threats are compounded in NSW, because abortion still [Q\[�I[�I�X]VQ[PIJTM�WٺMVKM�under the Crimes Act, with its legality hanging precariously on the interpretation of the word “unlawfully”.Despite overwhelming expert evidence and concern about the bill, it shamefully passed the lower house of NSW parliament with the support of a majority of Liberal and National MPs and almost half

the Labor MPs. However, the huge community campaign to oppose this law has assured that its fate in the Upper House will be quite LQٺMZMV\��_PMV�IVL�QN�Q\�Q[�M^MZ�brought on for debate.However, the initial success of the so-called foetal personhood bill has made it quite clear that women’s

rights in NSW cannot be taken for granted just yet. Women in NSW must never again be put in a position where they have to defend their basic human right to make choices for their own bodies.We have to make sure that the gains made on women’s rights over the last 100 years are not wound back, but further strengthened, so the next generation of women have the freedom and the right to make decisions about their reproductive

health without fear of prosecution.The only way forward is through the passage of a comprehensive abortion decriminalisation bill which repeals out-dated and inappropriate laws and ensures access to safe and legal reproductive health services. Such bills have been enacted in ACT, Victoria and

most recently in Tasmania. The time to decriminalise abortion in NSW has certainly come.A coalition of women’s rights IL^WKI\M[�ÅOP\QVO�\PM�NWM\IT�personhood law has already galvanised wide community support and is now turning its attention to removing abortion from the Crimes Act. We must capitalise and build on this momentum to demand once and for all that women’s bodies and women’s rights are not political

JIZOIQVQVO�KPQX[�WV�\PM�ÆWWZ�WN�parliament. Otherwise we will be playing defence yet again before long.The Greens have always had a strong position on repealing current abortion laws, and we will be at the centre of the movement for decriminalisation.

Dr Mehreen faruqi is a greens Mp in the upper house of nsW parliament and the spokesperson for the status of Women.

Clean politiCs: the greens plan to turn arounD nsW��,ZQ^M�\PM�UWVMa�W]\�WN�XWTQ\QK[�Ja�

lowering expenditure caps on elections��*IV�\PM�TI]VLMZQVO�WN�LWVI\QWV[�\PZW]OP�

front organisations��8ZWPQJQ\�LWVI\QWV[�NZWU�\PM�UQVQVO�

industry and government contractors ��:MY]QZM�ITT�LWVI\QWV[�\W�JM�N]TTa�

disclosed as they are received��.WZKM�XWTQ\QKQIV[�IVL�\PMQZ�NIUQTQM[�\W�

explain where their wealth comes from��-VL�\PM�ZM^WT^QVO�LWWZ�JM\_MMV�ZM\QZML�X]JTQK�WٻKQIT[�IVL�QVL][\ZQM[�\PMa�QVÆ]MVKML

��-`XW[M�ITT�TWJJaQVO�\W�X]JTQK�[KZ]\QVa

tiMe for nsW to DeCriMinalise aBortion so ChoiCe is ours

“Women in nsW must never again be put in a position where they have to defend their basic human right to make choices for their own bodies.”


BY CHRIS GALL

Boy, have we caused a stir the past few months. Across the country students have responded to the savage Abbott budget with a resurgence of big and creative protests.The budget particularly targets students and the young, with fees set to increase immediately by somewhere between 20%-50% and then dramatically rise again in 2016 when universities are allowed to set their own fees. New students will see their debts rise to over ��NWZ�I�ÅZ[\�LMOZMM��)�TW_MZ�\PZM[PWTL�for repayments and higher interest rates mean current students will suffer as well. Combine this with removing the dole for under-30s for \PM�ÅZ[\��UWV\P[�WN �]VMUXTWaUMV\��IVL�I�lot of futures are being shattered. When there are many more applicants than RWJ[��VW�]VMUXTWaUMV\�JMVMÅ\[��IVL�[\]LMV\�debts so huge that taking them on means a life-long debt sentence, that leaves little option for the vast majority of students who aren’t <WVa�)JJW\\¼[�LI]OP\MZ[�

This is why a group of students [U]OOTML�I�JIVVMZ�QV\W�\PM�)*+¼[�Q&A program and disrupted the nauseating drone of Chris Pyne, Minister for (Destroying) Education. That moment proved two things. Firstly, it proved that the young are keenly aware of how this budget screws them out of a future, dispelling the myth that our generation is apolitical or apathetic. Secondly, it showed that grassroots activism can score big wins against the ruling elite in ways

\PI\�»XWTQ\M¼�XWTQ\QKIT�M`KPIVOM�KIV¼\�Suddenly everyone was asking ‘why are these [\]LMV\[�[W�IVOZa'¼�<PM�IK\QWV�_I[�[WWV�followed by escalation – across the country Liberal politicians were heckled, jostled, chased from campus and one protest in )LMTIQLM�M^MV�LZW_VML�W]\�I�[XMMKP�Ja�8aVM�_Q\P�[WVO��<PM�[\]LMV\[¼�MIOMZVM[[�\W�\ISM�direct action even forced the Prime Minister to pull out of university visits for fear of attracting protesters.On May 21, tens of thousands of students \WWS�\W�\PM�[\ZMM\[��1¼U�XZW]L�\W�[Ia�\PI\�Young Greens in NSW have played a pivotal role in standing up to the federal OW^MZVUMV\¼[�PWZZWZ�J]LOM\��<PM�XWTQ\QKIT�MTQ\M�IZM�ITZMILa�[\IZ\QVO�\W�_I^MZ��*]\�_M¼̂ M�got a long way to go before we can scuttle these reforms and turn off the path that the )48�IVL�\PM�4QJMZIT[�PI^M�[MV\�][�LW_V�·�I�path of an underfunded, inequitable and deregulated universities that provide quality education only to the very rich.The student protests are going to get a lot bigger before this is over. Watch this space.

VIEW FROM TAFE

LESS FUNDING = MORE INEQUALITYBY JULIAN CERRETO

“The proposed changes that would see TAFE lose Government funding and be forced to compete with private education providers

strike at the heart of what makes TAFE unique. This consists of providing accessible education to people who are LQ[ILÎV\IOML��^]TVMZIJTM��LWV¼\�Å\�QV�\W�uni or more competitive institutions, or just need another chance at education. <).-�Q[�VW\�R][\�IV�ML]KI\QWVIT�QV[\Q\]\QWV�\PI\�XZW^QLM[�KMZ\QÅKI\M�IVL�diploma level courses; any education XZW^QLMZ�KW]TL�LW�\PI\��)[�I�X]JTQKTa�N]VLML�XZW^QLMZ��<).-�KIV�WNNMZ�I�huge range of courses catering to many different interests and aspirations, at very low cost, and with a wide range of free support services. This includes counsellors and teachers who are prepared to give you intensive, personalised help when necessary. )[�[WUMWVM�_PW�PI[�OZW_V�]X�_Q\P�educational disadvantage, I can personally vouch for how helpful it is \W�JM�IJTM�\W�IKKM[[�\PQ[�[]XXWZ\��)[�I�student I know how much people need this help, and while working at a mental health support service, I have been able to refer people with no hope for \PM�N]\]ZM�\W�<).-�KIZMMZ[�KW]V[MTTWZ[�and seen them come back with positive changes in their lives. <PM�M`\ZI�[]XXWZ\[�\PI\�<).-�WNNMZ[�IZM�probably not competitive commercially and would not survive without funding, but they are absolutely vital aspects of providing education to disadvantaged people. If government funding is cut, WZ�QN �<).-�Q[�NWZKML�\W�KWUXM\M�_Q\P�private providers, these services will gradually disappear, and that will be a severe blow to the range of education options for the most vulnerable people in our society.”



By DaviD shoeBriDge greens nsW Mp













What the senate Can DoThe Senate can block either or both bills. It can also amend Appropriation Bill (No. 2). Section 53 of the constitution says the Senate cannot amend Appropriation Bill (No. 1). However section 53 also says:“The Senate may at any stage return to the House of Representatives any proposed law which the Senate may not amend, requesting, by message, the omission or amendment of any items or provisions therein.”Odgers Australian Senate Practice (the most authoritative text on the Senate’s powers) takes the view that the Constitution permits the Senate to JTWKS�[]XXTa�IVL��QV�Mٺ�MK\��\W�NWZKM�IUMVLUMV\[�WV�the House of Representatives. On section 53, it states:“The provisions of section 53 are usually described as limitations on the power of the Senate in respect WN�Å�VIVKQIT�TMOQ[TI\QWV��J]\�\PMa�IZM�XZWKML]ZIT�limitations only, not substantive limitations on power, because the Senate can reject any bill and can decline to pass any bill until it is amended in the way the Senate requires. In particular, the distinction between an amendment and a request is purely procedural: in one case the Senate amends a bill itself, in the other it asks the House of Representatives to amend the bill. In both cases the bill is returned to the House of Representatives for

its agreement with the proposed amendment. In the absence of agreement the Senate can decline to pass the bill.”In other words the Senate can demand the Supply Bill be amended by refusing to pass it unless amendments are made. It can provide those amendments to the House of Representatives and force the Abbott government to either accept the amendments or see the budget voted down.

What happens next?)[[]UQVO�\PQ[�PIXXMV[�IVL�\PMZM�Q[�I�[\IVL�Wٺ��\PMV�what will happen?If the Abbott government refuses to accept the amendments and the budget fails to be adopted by 1 July 2014 then most of the ordinary services of government would continue. This is because 75% of Commonwealth expenditure is not covered by the Supply Bill, but is set out in separate Acts.These are called separate appropriations and for the most part continue from year to year and are not dependent on the passing of the budget. If the Senate blocked supply by not passing both Appropriation Bills, given that the majority of the Commonwealth’s expenditure is covered by special appropriations, most functions of government would be able to continue. <W�JM�[XMKQÅ�K"��?MTNIZM�XIaUMV\[�IVL�XMV[QWV[�_W]TL�KWV\QV]M�

under the Social Security Act 1999��5MLQKIZM�XIaUMV\[�_W]TL�KWV\QV]M�]VLMZ�\PM�



If both bills were blocked, then the regressive proposed changes to welfare, medical and education spending would not occur. <PM�UIQV�VMOI\Q^M�Mٺ�MK\�_W]TL�JM�\W�[\IZ^M�Commonwealth departments of the funds necessary \W�UISM�_IOM[�XIaUMV\[�\W�X]JTQK�[MZÎV\[��?PQTM�departments may have funds available from prior years appropriations, these would be quickly depleted. A likely result would be that public servants would either:��JM�ZMY]QZML�\W�_WZS�_Q\PW]\�XMZQWLQK�XIaUMV\�WZ��JM�[\WWL�LW_V�NWZ�I�XMZQWL�However, as public servants have a contractual relationship with the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth would remain liable to make the VMKM[[IZa�_IOM[�XIaUMV\[�QV�L]M�KW]Z[M��<PM�Mٺ�MK\�would be to delay the payment of public servants for the period of any impasse in the Senate.

ConClusion Essentially it is not a case of all or nothing for the Senate. The Senate can choose the grounds on _PQKP�\W�Å�OP\�\PM�J]LOM\��NWZ�MÌUXTM�ZMN][QVO�\W�agree to cuts to welfare, schooling, health and the environment.

?Q\P�JW\P�\PM�;]XXTa�*QTT�IVL�\PM�JITIVKM�WN�\PM�budget, the Senate can target the debate to the deeply unpopular and unfair elements in the budget. This will force the Abbott Government to either agree to fair amendments or see its entire budget

defeated with the consequential shut down of much of the Government.


4

UNI STUDENTS FIGHT BACK

‘THE Q&A ACTION SHOWED THAT GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM CAN SCORE BIG WINS AGAINST THE RULING ELITE IN WAYS THAT ‘POLITE’ POLITICAL EXCHANGE CAN’T.’

‘We know at least why the higher education changes are the way they are — the aim is to wither the humanities. With open slather on course costs, people will think a lot harder about the earning potential they gain from a $120,000 degree — and make some savvy FRVW�EHQHÀW�DQDO\VHV�DV�WR�ZKHWKHU�they need to go to university at all. What will suffer most are arts and other related degrees, which will be judged not worth it…

‘Most work demands a degree, bullshit or otherwise, and so the imposed cost is simply the price of not falling into the pit of precarious existence — short-term unskilled work, much of which is rapidly disappearing. Doctors and lawyers will take it in their stride — it’s the business studies majors who will be saddled with debts that are lifelong, their degrees offering them no income premium, merely guaranteeing them a job. Debt, in this instance, is not primarily an economic measure — it is a form of social discipline, which yokes people to an all-encompassing system.

GUY RUNDLE, CRIKEY

Photo: Jack Carnegie

Photo: Jack Carnegie


Last month’s announcement

by the NSW government

cancelling Metgasco’s licence

to drill for coal seam gas in

the Northern Rivers district

of Bentley is a huge victory

for grassroots democracy

and protection of our living

environment.

A referendum held in the local Lismore shire in 2012 resulted in a 87% vote against CSG drilling, or fracking as it’s known, in the north of the state. But residents did not leave it at that – as we know, too often voting is never enough. So thousands of local citizens manned the barricades near the proposed Bentley site for two months before the government climb-down.The NSW government was on the verge of ordering hundreds of NSW police to the north to attempt to JZMIS�\PM�JTWKSILM�J]\�JIKSML�Wٺ��I\�the last moment. The victory at Bentley reminds us that our greatest environmental

victories have been the result of community campaigns. These KIUXIQOV[�IZM�PMTXML��[QOVQÅ�KIV\Ta�by support from members of parliament, as this one was by the support of Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham and his colleagues.Bentley now joins the honour roll of great wins such as: ��\PM�/ZMMV�*IV[�^QK\WZQM[�WN�2IKS�

Mundey and the BLF:��[I^QVO�\PM�ZIQVNWZM[\�I\�<MZIVQI�

Creek in 1979;

��PIT\QVO�NZMM_Ia[�\PZMI\MVQVO�500 homes in inner-Sydney in the 1970s;��[\WXXQVO�\PM�LIUUQVO�WN�\PM�

Franklin in 1983.Each of these victories represents the triumph of the democratic wishes of communities over the demands of markets, corporations and big bureaucracies and governments subordinate to these corporations. 1V�\PI\�[MV[M��\PMa�XZMÅ�O]ZM�\PM�

genuinely democratic, ecologically conscious society we need if we are going to preserve a liveable world. Yes, there have been losses, but wins like that at Bentley show the

potency of people power. Yes, the campaign to end CSG drilling is far from won.But Bentley shows what we can achieve.

noW let’s saVe learD forestAs we go to press, there is ongoing destruction of this native

forest to make way for the largest coalmine now under

construction in Australia – the Whitehaven mine near Maules

Creek in the NSW North-West.

However, there are also ongoing protests by the local

community and supporters from all over NSW. Five protesters

who chained themselves to bulldozers were arrested during

\PM�Å�Z[\�_MMSMVL�QV�2]VM�IVL�/ZMMVXMIKM�Q[�OQ^QVO�XZQWZQ\a�\W�action at this site. If you can go to Maules Creek – any length of

stay is useful – you will be welcome.

100% reneWaBles: the alternatiVe that WorKsOn May 29, Greens MP John Kaye introduced a private members bill in the NSW parliament setting out a road map to take the state to 100% renewable power by 2030.The Greens Transforming NSW Energy Sector (Towards 100 percent Renewables) Bill would require the NSW government to replace the state’s KWIT�Å�ZML�MTMK\ZQKQ\a�OMVMZI\QVO�Æ�MM\�_Q\P�ZMVM_IJTM�MVMZOa�IVL�MVMZOa�Mٻ��KQMVKa�UMI[]ZM[�Ja"��+ZMI\QVO�IV�M`XMZ\�XIVMT�\W�LM^MTWX�\PM�JM[\�UQ`�WN�ZMVM_IJTM�\MKPVWTWOQM[�IVL�MVMZOa�Mٻ��KQMVKa�UMI[]ZM[�\W�ITTW_�NWZ�\PM�KTW[]ZM�WN�ITT�KWIT�Å�ZML�XW_MZ�[\I\QWV[�QV�6;?�Ja��

��-`XIVLQVO�ZMVM_IJTM�MVMZOa�\MKPVWTWOQM[�IVL�MVMZOa�Mٻ��KQMVKa�UMI[]ZM[�to produce the equivalent output of a 500MW base load generator by ��\W�KZMI\M�KWVÅ�LMVKM�QV�\PM�[MK\WZ�IVL�[\QU]TI\M�N]Z\PMZ�QV^M[\UMV\�

��+TW[QVO�I\�TMI[\�WVM��5?�KWIT�Å�ZML�OMVMZI\QVO�]VQ\�Ja�2IV]IZa��*IVVQVO�\PM�LM^MTWXUMV\�WZ�M`XIV[QWV�WN�KWIT�Å�ZML�IVL�NW[[QT�OI[�Å�ZML�

power stations to 15MW��,M^MTWX�MUXTWaUMV\�O]IZIV\MM[�NWZ�ITT�MUXTWaMM[�QV�\PM�[\I\M¼[�KWIT�Å�ZML�XW_MZ�[\I\QWV[�

you are invited to the inaugural nsW greens Women’s Conference

Colour our CaMpaignsthe Conference will hear from greens women parliamentarians responsible for women’s policy areas.

senator lee rhiannon will report on tony abbott, Minister for Women (such a wealth of material here) and we will engage in planning a response.

Mehreen faruqi MlC, with a panel of activists, will bring us up to date on the state of play of reproductive rights in nsW and tell us of the planned implementation of long standing greens policy through her address, the time has come

to remove abortion from the Crimes act. there will be a call to an action campaign arising out of this talk.

Jenny leong, who we hope will be a woman parliamentarian soon, has a story to tell about her journey as a greens woman activist. her address will lead us into the workshop run by Jane oakley about “Women in leadership in nsW greens”.

other workshops are ‘refugees – women & children’ convened by Dianne hiles; ‘standing up to violence against women’ facilitated by De Brierley; and ‘reproductive rights campaign’ with Christine Donayre & tamara rouse.

Debbie gibson will analyse our three-year action research project on women’s participation in the nsW greens, the interventions we have tried and suggest where to next.

Keynote addressforced adoption, then & now

speaker: Dr Miriam stevensonDr stevenson will give an historical perspective and talk about the present reemergence of adoption in

australia through the reframing of the ‘rescue’ discourse and the streamlining of inter-country adoption program now favoured by the abbott government. her work on restorative justice programs will inform her address.

the Conference is on saturday 26th July 8-4pm @ fire employees union premises, 1-7 Belmore street, surry hills. Details for registration: https://www.facebook.com/events/273675309471304/ or at greens.nsw.org.au

all WelCoMe!authorised by Darelle Duncan, Convenor, Women’s group

people power: scene from the Bentley blockade photo: r J poole

neW DaWn: thousanDs froM all WalKs of life turneD up to help on the Bentley BloCKaDe


BY BEN SPIES BUTCHER

If this budget is passed, it will fundamentally reshape Australian society.We need to look beyond all the phoney talk of a ‘budget emergency’ and the headline cuts to education, welfare, environmental protection, the arts and overseas aid. When you do the sums in the budget, all the cuts tend to pay for the tax cuts to corporations (see box).What does all this mean? If the cuts are not addressing a crisis, then the government is doing them for other reasons. It is hard to see the budget as anything other than an attempt to redistribute income from households and public services to corporations.There are three components to the cuts. <PM�ÅZ[\�[M\�WN �KPIVOM[�MNNMK\Q^MTa�XIa�NWZ�\PM�corporate tax cuts. Most concerning, there are changes to access. Workers will have to wait until 70 to access the pension, those with disability will be subject to more frequent medical examinations, and the younger ]VMUXTWaML�_QTT�TW[M�\PMQZ�JMVMÅ\[�MV\QZMTa�NWZ�periods of six months at a time.Families, particularly single parents, lose payments and the school bonus. Travel concessions are cut. And there are cuts to \PM�NWZU]TI�NWZ�QVLM`QVO�I�ZIVOM�WN �JMVMÅ\[��The message is clear – those reliant on direct government assistance should be allowed to fall behind, it is not the role of government to mitigate inequality. These changes will increase poverty.The second set of changes dismantles those public institutions that give voice to views the government does not approve of. Gone are the Climate Change Authority and Clean Energy Finance Corporation. There are [QOVQÅKIV\�K]\[�\W�UW[\�WN �\PM�QV[\Q\]\QWV[�WN �science, like the Bureau of Meteorology, to those representing the Arts, like the Australia Council, to those defending the poor or the

environment, like legal aid, and to those supporting non-corporate news reporting, like the ABC. Finally, the budget transforms social services. Changes to universities and Medicare, to schools and hospitals via the states, and to housing and retirement savings, all shift funding away from direct public provision towards user-pays systems based on KWUXM\Q\QWV�IVL�XZWÅ\�These changes are not primarily about savings, but about changing the nature of service provision. Take the GP co-payment. There is a reason bulk billing is so popular, not only with the public, but with doctors. Medicare pays doctors 85% or less of the fee they would normally charge. But that is still worth it for doctors because they don’t need to administer payments and cash. Bulk billing isn’t just cheaper for the patient, Q\¼[�UWZM�MNÅKQMV\�NWZ�\PM�LWK\WZ��;W�\PM�OW^MZVUMV\�Q[�\PZMI\MVQVO�\W�ÅVM�LWK\WZ[�\PI\�don’t charge their patients, precisely because doctors wouldn’t have any incentive to charge fees otherwise.Charging fees does reduce the number of

\QUM[�XMWXTM�OW�\W�\PM�LWK\WZ��;W�XWWZ�[QKS�people stop going to the doctor. The result is people become so sick they end up in hospital. This substantially increases the total cost of health care.The government claims these changes are needed because Australia’s population is ageing. This will force up public spending, which the government claims is unaffordable. But as the Medicare changes show, the changes designed to address population ageing often cost more than they save. This is even more true in relation to pensions. The Treasurer, Joe Hockey, has cited pension costs as the largest component of social security,

IVL�\PM�NI[\M[\�OZW_QVO��<PQ[�PI[�R][\QÅML�I�higher retirement age, lower indexation and tighter eligibility.What Mr Hockey does not mention is that Australia’s pension costs are one of the lowest in the developed world, and will remain so in the future. That’s partly because Australia’s population is relatively young, and will age relatively slowly. It’s also because our pension [a[\MU�Q[�^MZa�MNÅKQMV\��\IZOM\QVO�\PW[M�WV�\PM�lowest incomes.Mr Hockey has also carefully avoided talking about how we support alternatives to the pension. And here lies the rub. The alternative is to encourage private savings, so people can pay their own pension, and become ‘self-funded retirees’. The two main forms of savings are super and housing.This is the hidden story of this budget. While the pension is a large part of the budget, it is only as large as the tax breaks for superannuation. Unlike the pension, those tax breaks go overwhelming to the rich, and are growing at twice the rate of pension costs. By 2016 they will cost $45 billion a year, well in excess of the total cost of the pension.

How does it work? If you put money into []XMZ�aW]�XIa�I�ÆI\�ZI\M�WN �\I`��.WZ�TW_�income workers that means they pay more tax on super than on the money they earn. But if you earn over $180,000, you pay just a third of your normal rate. That is a huge discount, and has led many high-income earners to put large parts of their income into super, costing the budget billions.There are similar tax breaks for housing, which mean investors can write off their interest costs and pay less tax on capital gains than most workers pay on their wage. This is the real effect of the changes the government R][\QÅM[�WV�\PM�OZW]VL[�WN �XWX]TI\QWV�IOMQVO�

– they mean those on low incomes pay, while those on high incomes have their savings subsidized. For those on low incomes, the budget reduces their income directly, by cutting parenting XIaUMV\[��XMV[QWV[�IVL�JMVMÅ\[��1\�_QTT�substantially increase the amount they pay for uni, because it increases the interest rate WV�0-+;�LMJ\��UMIVQVO�UWLMZI\M�QVKWUM�earners will take longer to pay it off and pay more. That debt will make it harder for them to afford a mortgage, trapping them in private rental and low superannuation. But if you are lucky enough to come from a family of means you can pay those fees upfront, making it easier to get into the housing market, and by your 50s you could be buying investment properties and topping up your super. That will cost the budget more than all the welfare payments going to someone on a lower income. This is the change we are seeing. Gone is a commitment to provide equity and security. This is the welfare state as a tax minimisation strategy for some. For most people it means debt and discipline from cradle to grave.

Ben Spies Butcher is deputy national coordinator of the Australian Greens.



























6

BUDGET ANALYSIS

DEBT AND DISCIPLINE FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

‘UNLIKE THE PENSION, THOSE SUPERANNUATION TAX BREAKS GO OVERWHELMINGLY TO THE RICH, AND ARE GROWING AT TWICE THE RATE OF PENSION COSTS.’

WHAT BUDGET EMERGENCY?4QSM�UIVa�ÅZ[\�\MZU�J]LOM\[��\PQ[�one repeats the old story that past governments have forced a reluctant government to make choices it would prefer not to make. Except, that story is particularly phoney this time.First, Australia’s public debt, at 14% of GDP, is a fraction of the average of rich nations, now over 70%, and of key KW]V\ZQM[�TQSM�\PM�=;�� IVL�/MZUIVa�(80%). <PM�LMÅKQ\�\PI\�LWM[�M`Q[\�Q[�ITUW[\�entirely the result of falling revenues. If tax receipts were the same now as they were during the Howard years the LMÅKQ\�_W]TL�[PZQVS�Ja�UWZM�\PIV� � ��Australia’s overall level of taxation is one of the lowest in the rich world.;W�\PMZM�Q[�VW�KZQ[Q[��IVL�\W�\PM�M`\MV\�\PMZM�Q[�I�LMÅKQ\�Q\�Q[�\PM�ZM[]T\�WN �TW_�\I`�revenues. Remember that. Because this budget boasts that it cuts taxes. You may have missed that in the hullaballoo about \PM�LMÅKQ\�TMâ�IVL�N]MT�M`KQ[M��*]\�\PMZM�are three large tax cuts – the abolition of the Mining Tax and the Carbon Tax and a cut in company tax. All paid by corporations, particularly the largest polluters. This explains perhaps the most striking feature of the budget. Despite all the cuts it makes very little difference to the bottom line. Once you take out some tricky accounting, the return to surplus is much as it was before the budget.

Photo: Jenny Templin

Photo: Jenny Templin





\PI\�[]ٺMZ[�_PMV�OW^MZVUMV\�LMKQ[QWV�are purchased by donations or

QVÆ]MVKML�Ja�TWJJaQ[\[�M`XTWQ\QVO�\PMQZ�political connections on behalf of a

corporate client.



For more than a decade the Greens have

been warning that the state of NSW is

in deep trouble. Hundreds of millions

of dollars in corporate donations were

not given to Labor and the Coalition

parties because developers and wealthy

companies seeking government

contracts and other special favours

had a sustained attack of charitable

feelings towards politicians and their

supposed causes.

That money was buying legislation that

advantaged the donors over the rest

of us. Developments and mines were

being approved without regard to the

impacts on the local community and

the environment. Access to ministers

was on the basis of willingness to pay.

At the same time, those who could pay

NWZ�TWJJaQ[\[�_Q\P�QV[QLMZ�QVÆ]MVKM�_MZM�getting a lion’s share of the action.

1V�[PWZ\��6;?¼[�LMUWKZIKa�_I[�PMILQVO�\W_IZL[�banana republic status.

The Independent Commission against Corruption’s ÅVLQVO[�IOIQV[\�NWZUMZ�4IJWZ�5QVQ[\MZ[�-LLQM�Obeid, Ian Macdonald and Tony Kelly exposed a [\I\M�JMQVO�ZQXXML�Wٺ�NWZ�UQTTQWV[�WN�LWTTIZ[�Ja�\PM�unscrupulous scheming of a small number of senior ÅO]ZM[�QV�\PM�XZM^QW][�OW^MZVUMV\�Allegations currently before ICAC suggest that KWZZ]X\QWV�IVL�QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�PIL�_MTT�IVL�truly crossed the boundaries between political XIZ\QM[��<PM�4QJMZIT[¼�ZMTI\QWV[PQX�_Q\P�6QKS�,Q�/QZWTIUW��)][\ZITQIV�?I\MZ�0WTLQVO[��-QOP\JaÅ^M��the Millennium Forum and the Free Enterprise Foundation did more than take out a Premier, two senior ministers, a parliamentary secretary and a handful of back benchers. It exposed a systematic attempt to subvert the intent, if not the letter, of the donations laws. It revealed a party organisation captured by a culture of TWJJaQVO��QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�IVL�NI^W]Z[�

?PQTM�)][\ZITQIV�?I\MZ�0WTLQVO[�LQL�VW\�OM\�Q\[�billion dollar contract, it was able to extract massive salaries and other expenses from household water bills in Sydney and the Illawarra. Coal mines have been IXXZW^ML�\W�MVZQKP�I\�TMI[\�WVM�58��4MI[M[�\W�X]JTQK�XZWXMZ\QM[�_MZM�[WTL�Wٺ�I\�JMTW_�\PMQZ�UIZSM\�ÎT]M��)�[QOVQÅKIV\�XZWXWZ\QWV�WN�\PM�4QJMZIT�XIZ\a¼[�campaign spending on the 2011 election may well have been sourced from illegal donations. The list is long, damaging and shameful.*a�IVa�ZMKSWVQVO�6;?�PI[�JMMV�XQTTIOML�Ja�politicians from both of the old parties.

This is much more than just a few individuals turned bad. The malignancy is entrenched within the system. It thrives in a culture of treating public WٻKM�I[�IV�WXXWZ\]VQ\a�NWZ�[MTN�MVZQKPUMV\��\PM�laws regulating donations as optional and the community as a necessary nuisance who should be treated as mugs.

there are solutionsThis is the culture that grows when there is QV[]ٻKQMV\�X]JTQK�[KZ]\QVa�IVL�IKKW]V\IJQTQ\a�and when donations can be passed between organisations to disguise their origins. It is the K]T\]ZM�\PI\�ÆW]ZQ[PM[�_PMZM�\PM�M`XMK\I\QWV�Q[�\PI\�wealthy and powerful mates of the political elite will get the inside running.<PM[M�\PQVO[�KIV�JM�Å`ML�IVL�\PM�/ZMMV[�PI^M�I�XTIV�\PI\�_QTT�JMOQV�\W�\]ZV�IZW]VL�6;?��8ZMUQMZ�5QSM�*IQZL�IVL�7XXW[Q\QWV�4MILMZ�2WPV�

Robertson talk about a scheme to force taxpayers to pay for their election campaigns, hoping to distract voters from the real damage their parties have done to the state’s democracy. The Premier’s committee inquiring into the 100% public funding scheme will not report back until 6M_�AMIZ¼[�-^M��,WVI\QWV[�_QTT�KWV\QV]M�\W�XW]Z�QV�from dodgy sources, with no public accountability until it is too late. The next state election will largely happen under the old corruption-vulnerable rules.Meanwhile the Greens have developed a package of legislation to ban the laundering of donations

through front organisations, force politicians and their families to explain where their wealth comes NZWU�IVL�M`XW[M�ITT�TWJJaQVO�\W�X]JTQK�[KZ]\QVa��?M�will prohibit donations from the mining industry and government contractors and require all donations to be fully disclosed as they are received. But it will take much more than just legislation to KPIVOM�XWTQ\QK[�QV�6;?��There has to be an end to rich pickings for corporate sharks created by contracting out public services, [MTTQVO�Wٺ�X]JTQK�I[[M\[�IVL�[_MM\PMIZ\�LMIT[�NWZ�

casinos and motorways.There has to be a richer, more engaging democracy, where communities have a real say in their own future.And there has to be a changing of the expectations of what politics can deliver.


The foetal personhood bill known I[�¹BWM¼[�4I_º��JZW]OP\�\W�6;?�parliament last year, is a covert attempt to undermine women’s reproductive rights. It is an unnecessary and dangerous piece of legislation. Unnecessary because current law already treats foetal harm, and/or loss, as a most serious crime committed against the woman concerned, whether WZ�VW\�[PM�[]ٺMZML�IVa�W\PMZ�PIZU��1\�is punishable with a maximum 25-year sentence. ,IVOMZW][�JMKI][M�Q\�_QTT�]VLMZUQVM�women’s rights to choose and put them and their health professionals at risk. Similar legislative changes in the US, pushed by conservative pro-life advocates, have resulted in serious consequences for late-term abortions and have led to the creation of new WٺMVKM[�IOIQV[\�XZMOVIV\�_WUMV�IVL�the medical profession.

These threats are compounded in 6;?��JMKI][M�IJWZ\QWV�[\QTT�[Q\[�I[�I�X]VQ[PIJTM�WٺMVKM�]VLMZ�\PM�Crimes Act, with its legality hanging precariously on the interpretation of the word “unlawfully”.,M[XQ\M�W^MZ_PMTUQVO�M`XMZ\�M^QLMVKM�and concern about the bill, it shamefully passed the lower house of New South

?ITM[�XIZTQIUMV\�_Q\P�\PM�[]XXWZ\�WN�I�UIRWZQ\a�WN�4QJMZIT�IVL�6I\QWVIT�58[�IVL�ITUW[\�PITN�WN�\PM�4IJWZ�MPs. However, the huge community campaign to oppose this law has assured that its fate in the Upper House will be Y]Q\M�LQٺMZMV\��_PMV�IVL�QN�Q\�Q[�M^MZ�brought on for debate.However, the tabling and initial success of the so-called foetal personhood bill has made it quite clear that women’s ZQOP\[�QV�6;?�KIVVW\�JM�\ISMV�NWZ�

OZIV\ML�R][\�aM\��?WUMV�QV�6;?�U][\�never again be put in a position where they have to defend their basic human right to make choices for their own bodies.?M�PI^M�\W�UISM�[]ZM�\PI\�\PM�OIQV[�made on women’s rights over the last 100 years are not wound back, but further strengthened, so the next

generation of women have the freedom and the right to make decisions about their reproductive health without fear of prosecution or persecution.The only way forward is through the passage of a comprehensive abortion decriminalisation bill which repeals out-dated and inappropriate laws and ensures access to safe and legal reproductive health services. Such bills have been enacted in ACT, Victoria and most recently in Tasmania. The

\QUM�\W�LMKZQUQVITQ[M�IJWZ\QWV�QV�6;?�has certainly come.A coalition of women’s rights advocates ÅOP\QVO�\PM�NWM\IT�XMZ[WVPWWL�TI_�PI[�already galvanised wide community support and is now turning its attention to removing abortion from the Crimes )K\��?M�U][\�KIXQ\ITQ[M�IVL�J]QTL�WV�this momentum to demand once and for all that women’s bodies and women’s rights are not political bargaining chips

WV�\PM�ÆWWZ�WN�XIZTQIUMV\��7\PMZ_Q[M�we will be playing defence yet again before long.The Greens have always had a strong position on repealing current abortion laws, and we will be at the centre of the movement for decriminalisation.

Dr Mehreen faruqi is a greens Mp in the upper house of nsW parliament and the spokesperson for the ‘status of Women.

“Donations Will Continue to pour in froM DoDgy sourCes, With no puBliC aCCountaBility until it is too late. the next state eleCtion Will largely happen unDer the olD Corruption-vulneraBle rules.”

vote 1 the greensClean up nsW politiCs

Clean politiCs: the greens plan to turn arounD nsW��*IV�\PM�TI]VLMZQVO�WN�LWVI\QWV[�\PZW]OP�

front organisations��8ZWPQJQ\�LWVI\QWV[�NZWU�\PM�UQVQVO�QVL][\Za�

and government contractors ��:MY]QZM�ITT�LWVI\QWV[�\W�JM�N]TTa�LQ[KTW[ML�I[�

they are received��.WZKM�XWTQ\QKQIV[�IVL�\PMQZ�NIUQTQM[�\W�M`XTIQV�

where their wealth comes from��-VL�\PM�ZM^WT^QVO�LWWZ�JM\_MMV�ZM\QZML�X]JTQK�WٻKQIT[�IVL�QVL][\ZQM[�\PMa�QVÆ]MVKML


tiMe for nsW to DeCriMinalise aBortionso ChoiCe is ours

“WoMen in nsW Must never again Be put in a position Where they have to DefenD their BasiC huMan right to MaKe ChoiCes for their oWn BoDies.”

June 2014 nsw.greens.org.au 7nsw.greens.org.au June 20142






























\PI\�[]ٺMZ[�_PMV�OW^MZVUMV\�LMKQ[QWV�are purchased by donations or

QVÆ]MVKML�Ja�TWJJaQ[\[�M`XTWQ\QVO�\PMQZ�political connections on behalf of a

corporate client.



For more than a decade the Greens have

been warning that the state of NSW is

in deep trouble. Hundreds of millions

of dollars in corporate donations were

not given to Labor and the Coalition

parties because developers and wealthy

companies seeking government

contracts and other special favours

had a sustained attack of charitable

feelings towards politicians and their

supposed causes.

That money was buying legislation that

advantaged the donors over the rest

of us. Developments and mines were

being approved without regard to the

impacts on the local community and

the environment. Access to ministers

was on the basis of willingness to pay.

At the same time, those who could pay

NWZ�TWJJaQ[\[�_Q\P�QV[QLMZ�QVÆ]MVKM�_MZM�getting a lion’s share of the action.

1V�[PWZ\��6;?¼[�LMUWKZIKa�_I[�PMILQVO�\W_IZL[�banana republic status.

The Independent Commission against Corruption’s ÅVLQVO[�IOIQV[\�NWZUMZ�4IJWZ�5QVQ[\MZ[�-LLQM�Obeid, Ian Macdonald and Tony Kelly exposed a [\I\M�JMQVO�ZQXXML�Wٺ�NWZ�UQTTQWV[�WN�LWTTIZ[�Ja�\PM�unscrupulous scheming of a small number of senior ÅO]ZM[�QV�\PM�XZM^QW][�OW^MZVUMV\�Allegations currently before ICAC suggest that KWZZ]X\QWV�IVL�QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�PIL�_MTT�IVL�truly crossed the boundaries between political XIZ\QM[��<PM�4QJMZIT[¼�ZMTI\QWV[PQX�_Q\P�6QKS�,Q�/QZWTIUW��)][\ZITQIV�?I\MZ�0WTLQVO[��-QOP\JaÅ^M��the Millennium Forum and the Free Enterprise Foundation did more than take out a Premier, two senior ministers, a parliamentary secretary and a handful of back benchers. It exposed a systematic attempt to subvert the intent, if not the letter, of the donations laws. It revealed a party organisation captured by a culture of TWJJaQVO��QVÆ]MVKM�XMLLTQVO�IVL�NI^W]Z[�

?PQTM�)][\ZITQIV�?I\MZ�0WTLQVO[�LQL�VW\�OM\�Q\[�billion dollar contract, it was able to extract massive salaries and other expenses from household water bills in Sydney and the Illawarra. Coal mines have been IXXZW^ML�\W�MVZQKP�I\�TMI[\�WVM�58��4MI[M[�\W�X]JTQK�XZWXMZ\QM[�_MZM�[WTL�Wٺ�I\�JMTW_�\PMQZ�UIZSM\�ÎT]M��)�[QOVQÅKIV\�XZWXWZ\QWV�WN�\PM�4QJMZIT�XIZ\a¼[�campaign spending on the 2011 election may well have been sourced from illegal donations. The list is long, damaging and shameful.*a�IVa�ZMKSWVQVO�6;?�PI[�JMMV�XQTTIOML�Ja�politicians from both of the old parties.

This is much more than just a few individuals turned bad. The malignancy is entrenched within the system. It thrives in a culture of treating public WٻKM�I[�IV�WXXWZ\]VQ\a�NWZ�[MTN�MVZQKPUMV\��\PM�laws regulating donations as optional and the community as a necessary nuisance who should be treated as mugs.

there are solutionsThis is the culture that grows when there is QV[]ٻKQMV\�X]JTQK�[KZ]\QVa�IVL�IKKW]V\IJQTQ\a�and when donations can be passed between organisations to disguise their origins. It is the K]T\]ZM�\PI\�ÆW]ZQ[PM[�_PMZM�\PM�M`XMK\I\QWV�Q[�\PI\�wealthy and powerful mates of the political elite will get the inside running.<PM[M�\PQVO[�KIV�JM�Å`ML�IVL�\PM�/ZMMV[�PI^M�I�XTIV�\PI\�_QTT�JMOQV�\W�\]ZV�IZW]VL�6;?��8ZMUQMZ�5QSM�*IQZL�IVL�7XXW[Q\QWV�4MILMZ�2WPV�

Robertson talk about a scheme to force taxpayers to pay for their election campaigns, hoping to distract voters from the real damage their parties have done to the state’s democracy. The Premier’s committee inquiring into the 100% public funding scheme will not report back until 6M_�AMIZ¼[�-^M��,WVI\QWV[�_QTT�KWV\QV]M�\W�XW]Z�QV�from dodgy sources, with no public accountability until it is too late. The next state election will largely happen under the old corruption-vulnerable rules.Meanwhile the Greens have developed a package of legislation to ban the laundering of donations

through front organisations, force politicians and their families to explain where their wealth comes NZWU�IVL�M`XW[M�ITT�TWJJaQVO�\W�X]JTQK�[KZ]\QVa��?M�will prohibit donations from the mining industry and government contractors and require all donations to be fully disclosed as they are received. But it will take much more than just legislation to KPIVOM�XWTQ\QK[�QV�6;?��There has to be an end to rich pickings for corporate sharks created by contracting out public services, [MTTQVO�Wٺ�X]JTQK�I[[M\[�IVL�[_MM\PMIZ\�LMIT[�NWZ�

casinos and motorways.There has to be a richer, more engaging democracy, where communities have a real say in their own future.And there has to be a changing of the expectations of what politics can deliver.


The foetal personhood bill known I[�¹BWM¼[�4I_º��JZW]OP\�\W�6;?�parliament last year, is a covert attempt to undermine women’s reproductive rights. It is an unnecessary and dangerous piece of legislation. Unnecessary because current law already treats foetal harm, and/or loss, as a most serious crime committed against the woman concerned, whether WZ�VW\�[PM�[]ٺMZML�IVa�W\PMZ�PIZU��1\�is punishable with a maximum 25-year sentence. ,IVOMZW][�JMKI][M�Q\�_QTT�]VLMZUQVM�women’s rights to choose and put them and their health professionals at risk. Similar legislative changes in the US, pushed by conservative pro-life advocates, have resulted in serious consequences for late-term abortions and have led to the creation of new WٺMVKM[�IOIQV[\�XZMOVIV\�_WUMV�IVL�the medical profession.

These threats are compounded in 6;?��JMKI][M�IJWZ\QWV�[\QTT�[Q\[�I[�I�X]VQ[PIJTM�WٺMVKM�]VLMZ�\PM�Crimes Act, with its legality hanging precariously on the interpretation of the word “unlawfully”.,M[XQ\M�W^MZ_PMTUQVO�M`XMZ\�M^QLMVKM�and concern about the bill, it shamefully passed the lower house of New South

?ITM[�XIZTQIUMV\�_Q\P�\PM�[]XXWZ\�WN�I�UIRWZQ\a�WN�4QJMZIT�IVL�6I\QWVIT�58[�IVL�ITUW[\�PITN�WN�\PM�4IJWZ�MPs. However, the huge community campaign to oppose this law has assured that its fate in the Upper House will be Y]Q\M�LQٺMZMV\��_PMV�IVL�QN�Q\�Q[�M^MZ�brought on for debate.However, the tabling and initial success of the so-called foetal personhood bill has made it quite clear that women’s ZQOP\[�QV�6;?�KIVVW\�JM�\ISMV�NWZ�

OZIV\ML�R][\�aM\��?WUMV�QV�6;?�U][\�never again be put in a position where they have to defend their basic human right to make choices for their own bodies.?M�PI^M�\W�UISM�[]ZM�\PI\�\PM�OIQV[�made on women’s rights over the last 100 years are not wound back, but further strengthened, so the next

generation of women have the freedom and the right to make decisions about their reproductive health without fear of prosecution or persecution.The only way forward is through the passage of a comprehensive abortion decriminalisation bill which repeals out-dated and inappropriate laws and ensures access to safe and legal reproductive health services. Such bills have been enacted in ACT, Victoria and most recently in Tasmania. The

\QUM�\W�LMKZQUQVITQ[M�IJWZ\QWV�QV�6;?�has certainly come.A coalition of women’s rights advocates ÅOP\QVO�\PM�NWM\IT�XMZ[WVPWWL�TI_�PI[�already galvanised wide community support and is now turning its attention to removing abortion from the Crimes )K\��?M�U][\�KIXQ\ITQ[M�IVL�J]QTL�WV�this momentum to demand once and for all that women’s bodies and women’s rights are not political bargaining chips

WV�\PM�ÆWWZ�WN�XIZTQIUMV\��7\PMZ_Q[M�we will be playing defence yet again before long.The Greens have always had a strong position on repealing current abortion laws, and we will be at the centre of the movement for decriminalisation.

Dr Mehreen faruqi is a greens Mp in the upper house of nsW parliament and the spokesperson for the ‘status of Women.

“Donations Will Continue to pour in froM DoDgy sourCes, With no puBliC aCCountaBility until it is too late. the next state eleCtion Will largely happen unDer the olD Corruption-vulneraBle rules.”

vote 1 the greensClean up nsW politiCs

Clean politiCs: the greens plan to turn arounD nsW��*IV�\PM�TI]VLMZQVO�WN�LWVI\QWV[�\PZW]OP�

front organisations��8ZWPQJQ\�LWVI\QWV[�NZWU�\PM�UQVQVO�QVL][\Za�

and government contractors ��:MY]QZM�ITT�LWVI\QWV[�\W�JM�N]TTa�LQ[KTW[ML�I[�

they are received��.WZKM�XWTQ\QKQIV[�IVL�\PMQZ�NIUQTQM[�\W�M`XTIQV�

where their wealth comes from��-VL�\PM�ZM^WT^QVO�LWWZ�JM\_MMV�ZM\QZML�X]JTQK�WٻKQIT[�IVL�QVL][\ZQM[�\PMa�QVÆ]MVKML


tiMe for nsW to DeCriMinalise aBortionso ChoiCe is ours

“WoMen in nsW Must never again Be put in a position Where they have to DefenD their BasiC huMan right to MaKe ChoiCes for their oWn BoDies.”

7

THE GREENS ARE A MEMBERSHIP BASED ORGANISATION. MEMBERS SELECT CANDIDATES. MEMBERS FORMULATE POLICY. MEMBERS RUN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS. GET INVOLVED NOW. -RLQ�RQOLQH�DW�ZZZ�QVZ�JUHHQV�RUJ�DX�RU�ÀOO�RXW�WKH�IRUP�EHORZ�DQG�SRVW�LW�LQ�

JOIN THE GREENSPERSONAL DETAILS

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■ Declaration: I am not a member of another political party; I agree to be bound by The Greens NSW constitution.

0HPEHUVKLS�DQG�GRQDWLRQV�WR�SROLWLFDO�SDUWLHV�DUH�WD[�GHGXFWLEOH� XS�WR��LQ�DQ\�WD[�\HDU

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Return to: The Greens NSW,

GPO Box 1220, Sydney NSW 2001

BY JENNY LEONG NEWTOWN

1�ÅVL�Q\�PIZL�\W�]VLMZ[\IVL�PW_�Q\�Q[�\PI\�_M¼ZM�NIKQVO�\PM�UW[\�ZMOZM[[Q^M�IVL�X]VQ\Q^M�J]LOM\�\PI\�)][\ZITQI¼[�[MMV�QV�UIVa�LMKILM[��And yet, I also feel a little like we should have seen it coming. We’ve witnessed the whittling down of our values and rights by successive Coalition and Labor governments – to a point where we’ve become almost mute as a nation to actions and policies that 20 years ago would PI^M�[PIUML�IVL�PWZZQÅML�UW[\�of us. The recent gross human rights abuses and attacks on those least able to defend themselves, along with the rapid privatisation of public assets and cuts to services,

has diminished who we are and what sort of community we want to build. The 2014 Abbott budget is part of this broader agenda – seeking to undermine any sense of collective solidarity or compassion – and advance an approach driven XZQUIZQTa�Ja�XZWÅ\�IVL�[MTN�QV\MZM[\�I started studying at a time when free tertiary education, and the vision of education as a right and not a privilege, started to disintegrate. When I was at

university I knew I was going to be left with large debt. I knew, as a woman, the impact of government initiatives would impact on me more than my male friends and comrades.And I knew, as someone who looked like one of those ‘Asian invaders’ that Pauline Hanson said _MZM�ÆWWLQVO�QV�·�LM[XQ\M�PI^QVO�been born in little old Adelaide – the impact that divisive national agendas on our political stage have on the personal lives of people in our communities. But I also knew how privileged I was, to even have the opportunity to go to university.Today a new generation of young people are facing debts and a future far bleaker than I could ever have imagined back then – in a society that is more individualistic, less compassionate, and facing much tougher challenges than we ever did.This budget is also a direct attack on vulnerable people and marginalised communities who

WRONG :$<�� GO BACK ¶$33$5(17/<��:(�&$1·7�

AFFORD TO SUPPORT 678'(176��6,1*/(�0806��81(03/2<('�AND PENSIONERS ANY MORE... BUT WE CAN AFFORD NEW FIGHTER JETS AND A CHAPLAINS ,1�6&+22/6�352*5$0�·

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-HQQ\�/HRQJ��VHFRQG�IURP�OHIW��MRLQV�)LUH�%ULJDGH�8QLRQ�VHFUHWDU\�-LP�&DVH\��876�VWXGHQW�&KULV�*DOO��6HQDWRU�/HH�5KLDQQRQ��17(8·V�*HQHYLHYH�.HOO\��SURIHVVRU�)UDQN�6WLOZHOO�DQG�-DPLH�3DUNHU�03�DW�D�¶EXVW�WKH�EXGJHW·�UDOO\�LQ�*OHEH�UHFHQWO\�

are already suffering hardship, disadvantage or discrimination.

BEYOND THE ECONOMICIt is an offensive attempt to feed a toxic culture of individualism, [MTN�QV\MZM[\��VIZZW_�UQVLMLVM[[�and inequality that will have ZIUQÅKI\QWV[�_MTT�JMaWVL�\PQ[�government’s term if we don’t stop it. I liken it to what we saw with Howard and his ‘we decide who comes to this country and the purposes with which they come’ rhetoric and policy that legitimised a racist and discriminatory culture that we still have over a decade later.This budget isn’t about economic KPIVOM[�\W�ILLZM[[�I�[W�KITTML�ÅVIVKQIT�MUMZOMVKa�·�Q\¼[�IJW]\�trying to undermine the collective and inherently compassionate foundations of our society. It’s about trying to convince people we are living in tough times to justify cuts to already far from adequate incomes for students, single parents, the unemployed.

Apparently, we can’t afford to support them any more… but we KIV�INNWZL�VM_�ÅOP\MZ�RM\[�IVL�I�chaplains in schools program.The budget is sold as us all chipping in, doing the heavy lifting – unless of course you are one of the big corporates or mining moguls who _QTT�JM�\PM�JMVMÅKQIZQM[�WN �\PM�\PZMM�tax concessions introduced with this budget.The budget is part of an extreme agenda which uses false claims of economic emergency to encourage everyone to believe times are so tough that we can’t afford to be compassionate or care about the collective interest anymore.Let’s use the current momentum and attention generated around the budget to advance the values, beliefs and principles that we share – but let’s not kid ourselves that any of this will be solved by negotiations between politicians on a hill in Canberra.The outcome of this budget and the success or failure of this agenda rests solely with our ability to mobilise and engage in collective, creative action in our communities. And as is often the case in progressive movements around the world – in China 25 years ago in Tiananmen Square, in Burma in the 1988 uprisings – it’s often the [\]LMV\[�\PI\�\ISM�\PM�ÅZ[\�JWTL�[\MX��that lead the way. So, as so many movements have done before, let’s take the lead from the actions of our students in the past few weeks – and stand in solidarity and in LMÅIVKM�_Q\P�\PMU�

-HQQ\�/HRQJ�LV�D�ORQJ�WHUP�UHVLGHQW�RI�1HZWRZQ�DQG�*UHHQV�DFWLYLVW��6KH�KDV�ZRUNHG�DV�D�JOREDO�KXPDQ�ULJKWV�FDPSDLJQHU�IRU�$PQHVW\�,QWHUQDWLRQDO��ZDV�WKH�IRUPHU�3UHVLGHQW�RI�6\GQH\�8QLYHUVLW\·V�3RVWJUDGXDWH�5HSUHVHQWDWLYH�$VVRFLDWLRQ�DQG�PHPEHU�RI�WKH�8QLYHUVLW\�RI�6\GQH\�6HQDWH��<RX�FDQ�IROORZ�KHU�RQ�WZLWWHU� #MHQQ\OHRQJ�RU�ÀQG�RXW�PRUH�DW�MHQQ\OHRQJ�RUJ

nsw.greens.org.au June 20148 nsw.greens.org.au June 20142


























8

<PM�/ZMMV[�LMÅML�ITT�\PW[M�LQZM�XZMLQK\QWV[�IJW]\��! ��QV�TI]VKPQVO�IV�)][\ZITQIV�OZMMV�XIZ\a�QV�\PI\�aMIZ�_PMV�7Z_MTT¼[�\W\ITQ\IZQIV�VQOP\UIZM[�_MZM�[]XXW[ML�\W�KWUM�\Z]M��True, we didn’t take the fateful step until the year was advanced – August, in fact. We formed at a public meeting held in Sydney’s Glebe Town Hall with about 40 people present. We were keen – witnessed by the fact that we decided to meet fortnightly.The idea of founding the party was very much the brainchild of Sydney teacher and writer Tony Harris, who was a convinced that the Greens were an idea whose time had come. He devised the original ultra-democratic constitution and convinced us to adopt the founding principles of ecological sustainability, grassroots democracy, social justice and peace and non-violence.<PM�ÅZ[\�XWTQKa�LWK]UMV\�_I[�issued in October 1984 and was called “More good oil…” (it’s on the Greens NSW website). It began with this description of the Greens parentage:“The Greens in Sydney come from many backgrounds. Environmental and resident activists. Nuclear disarmers. Dissidents from the Labor party who have witnessed betrayals by both wings of that party. Feminists. Anarchists. Those inspired by the German Greens. Socialists of various kinds.”Not bad parentage. It also contained this indictment of the old established parties:“Locked into support for one cold-war power bloc against the other, these parties are unable to take the steps out of the vicious

and ultimately exterminating cycle of the nuclear arms race. “Committed to the current MKWVWUQK�[a[\MU��\PMa�ÅVL�Q\�LQNÅK]T\�\W�KPMKS�IVL�ZM^MZ[M�Q\[�continuing destruction of the natural basis of life on this planet. “Working hand-in-hand with the Establishment, they are inhibited from moving towards a more equal and socially just society. Interested in power for themselves, they cannot work for a system where all power is in the hands of the people. “<PMZM�Q[�TW\[�QV�\PI\�ÅZ[\�document about grassroots democracy, rights for workers, a shorter working week, protection of wilderness areas, ecological agriculture, feminism, and sovereignty for indigenous people. All of it still valid.Soon there were a dozen or more local groups in NSW and by the late 1980s Green parties had formed in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. In those early years we were a collection of cooperating but independent entities. It wasn’t until 1991 that we decided to form a federated national party called the Australian Greens. We went from a horizontal WZOIVQ[I\QWV�\W�I�^MZa�ÆI\�pyramid – and so it has remained.It was at that time that Bob Brown and the Tasmanian Independents joined in and we took off as a national force. All elements in the Australian Greens have accepted the founding principles as set out in 1984.Now the Greens are a national force of over 11,000 members and in NSW alone there are 56 local groups who make up the NSW Greens. – Hall Greenland

BY BRUCE KNOBLOCH

5I[QP�PI[�XTIaML�[WKKMZ�[QVKM�PM�_I[�I�TQ\\TM�JWa��1\¼[�\PM�VI\QWVIT�[XWZ\�QV�)NOPIVQ[\IV��6W_�PM�LZMIU[�WN �XTIaQVO�NWZ�\PM�;WKKMZWW[�Soccer (call it football if you like!) has kept Masih hopeful through some terrifying and painful times. But now things are looking up. Masih plays semi-pro for Rydalmere Lions FC in the NSW state league. That means training 4 or 5 nights a week. As well, he’s now enrolled in FC11 – the Diploma of Football, a new course with TAFE – studying and training 4 days a week. His body hurts from all that training but he says it’s worth it. Masih gives himself Friday off to recover, plays for the Lions one day of the weekend and works the other day in a carwash to supplement his Youth Allowance. “I work 8 a.m to 6 p.m without a break for just $65.70. It’s not fair. I speak four languages and I should be able to

get a better job.” He’s looking for a job that pays legal Award wages! I asked Masih why he came to Australia. He explained his father was a fuel engineer who was threatened by the Taliban when he refused to allow bad fuel into the country. They attacked his family house and offered a bounty for his dad’s capture. His whole family had to escape to Pakistan in a hurry. He was just 12 when he and his uncle began their journey to Australia. Why Australia? I asked, “Only because my family heard it was a place where people supported asylum seekers. We knew nothing about Australia.”However Masih’s journey to Australia from Indonesia was a disaster. Their boat sank in heavy seas. His uncle drowned. He was one of four who survived of the 22 who set out. He survived by hanging on to wreckage for 16 hours overnight. He had never seen the sea before. “I didn’t know that sea water was salty,” he says.1VLWVM[QIV�Å[PMZUMV�ZM[K]ML�PQU��¹<PM�Å[PMZUMV�\ZQML�\W�ÅVL�Å[P��J]\�they found us.” Next he was put in a refugee prison. The four survivors were badly beaten by police. Then for two years he was in a crowded prison with 25 others. Three times they went on hunger strike to be released, but only when a friend paid I�JZQJM�\W�IV�WNÅKQIT�LQL�PM�OM\�W]\��He was not allowed to speak to his

family during this time. “My family thought I was dead.” He had no choice but to get on another boat and this time he made it to Christmas Island. He spent more than a year in Australian detention in Darwin. There he met a refugee supporter, Pamela Curr. She campaigned for his release.Masih knows some people think conditions are OK in Australia’s refugee prisons, and he says the food is OK, better than for most people in Afghanistan. However he says: “If you have a bird in a golden cage with good food, the bird still doesn’t feel good. Freedom is more than good food.”Eventually he was placed in community detention in Melbourne. ?PMV�ÅVITTa�PM�_I[�ZMKWOVQ[ML�I[�a refugee he moved to Sydney. At last he could start his life again: play soccer and possibly help his family.He quickly got a contract with Parramatta Eagles FC. He was one of two people chosen out of 70 try-outs. However another disaster struck. In a game with friends his leg

A REFUGEE STORY

THE WORLD AT HIS FEET – AT LAST

“IF MY LIFE WASN’T IN DANGER – AND MY DAD’S LIFE WASN’T IN DANGER – I WOULDN’T HAVE STAYED IN PRISON IN INDONESIA AND AUSTRALIA. I WOULDN’T HAVE LOST MY UNCLE. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND US.”

was badly broken in a rough tackle. His dream faded again.Two years and three operations later his leg is healed. Fortunately during this time Pamela found him a new home in Sydney with a Greens member who was willing to help. Masih says she saved him because while his leg was still healing he was depressed. He was living in a homeless refuge, struggling to survive. “She changed my life. Now I knew I had someone in Australia, a family who would always care about me.” Masih knows he’s changed the thinking of some local-born Australians just by meeting him, including some of his team members, who’d never met a refugee – or an Afghan person – before. He gets upset when he meets people who are racist or think he might be dangerous, but he’s met a lot of good people too.Masih’s message to other people in Australia is simple: “We are the same people as you. We are human beings. If my life wasn’t in danger – and my dad’s life wasn’t in danger – I wouldn’t have stayed in prison in Indonesia and Australia. I wouldn’t have lost my uncle. I just want people to understand us.”I asked Masih about his greatest hope. “Actually I have two: to play for Australia in a World Cup and to see my family again. As soon as I can, I want to bring them to safety in Australia.” He’s saving up now to visit them at the end of the year and citizenship next year makes family reunion here possible. As well, Rydalmere Lions FC will take him to Malaysia and Singapore to try out in that league. It looks like Masih is on his way to both his dreams.

30 YEARS OF THE GREENS

1984 WASN’T SUCH A BAD YEAR

Speaking Russian: the big issue in 1984 was nuclear disarmament so we had banners calling for BAN THE BOMB in Russian as well as English

David and Goliath: Founding member Ian Cohen – later

a Greens MP – took on a nuclear-armed warship in

Sydney Harbour in 1984

First banner: The Greens seemed to be channelling the French Revolution

not Orwell

Printed by MPD printing the news everyday, Unit E14, 46-62 Maddox St, Alexandria NSW 2015. Authorised by Hall Greenland for The Greens NSW, 263 Glebe Point Rd Broadway NSW 2008printed by MpD printing the news everyday, unit e14, 46-62 Maddox st, alexandria nsW 2015. authorised by hall greenland for the greens nsW, 263 glebe point rd Broadway nsW 2008

Documents

June 2014 yes, we can - Greens NSW · 2019-05-29 · 2 nsw.greens.org.au June 2014 hoW to stop the aBBott BuDget By DaViD shoeBriDge greens nsW Mp Much of the public debate on the