The Greens: read this 2min cheat sheet before you vote.

If you, like many, are feeling exasperated with the two major parties, you might be thinking of voting Green. But do you know what they stand for? All of it? Perhaps you do and that’s why you’re voting Green. Or perhaps there are one or two of their policies you like and you don’t care about the rest of it, but here are the facts, as presented by Mamamia political editor, Julie Cowdroy:

Are the Greens really a viable option for government?

 

Bob Brown gave an address to the National Press Club today, and he came armed with a catch phrase that he repeated throughout the lunch time address. “Coalition. That’s C-O-A-L ition.” It was his way of warning us that a vote for the Coalition is a vote for dirty coal. During his address, he also implored Australian voters over and over, “If you want action on [insert noble policy here], then vote Green”. Was today’s use of recurring slogans enough to convince us that these guys are playing with the big kids now?

Whatever you may think, it is becoming more apparent that that the upcoming election has shone the spotlight on the Greens. Momentum has been building for the Greens over the past seven or so years. This was demonstrated when in 2003 there was a massive surge in membership due to the Tampa crisis and objections to the Iraq war. In the 2007 federal election, more than one million people voted Green. I would also suggest that because the two major parties are looking more and more similar these days, the Greens are being widely considered as a viable third option for a large portion of Australian voters in 2010.

Still, there are many strong opinions about the Greens. Hidden agendas. The watermelon analogy. You know, green on the outside but red left wing extremists on the inside. Fears of injecting rooms on every corner and the return of death duties. These remarks are hardly surprising. Politics is always filled with inflammatory commentary, however, despite the hyperbole, the fact remains that there are definitely real concerns for a lot of people when it comes to the Greens. The scrutiny and the questioning solidifies the fact that people are genuinely considering the possibility of another party to be introduced to what has been an eternal two-party preferred system in our nation.

So as this party makes the transition from a political environmental movement to a more powerful party within government, we thought it was important to take a closer look at some of some of their lesser known policies and candidates.

Economic policies
The Greens’ climate change policies and focus on social justice are widely known. However, for most people, it all comes back to the question, how much will it cost? The driving force behind the Greens economic policies is the belief that there is no economy without the environment. Their thinking is, our resources are finite so how can one expect infinite growth? The trouble with this is that the current global economic system relies on growth.

From a social justice perspective, the Greens say that widening gaps between the rich and poor mean essential services are being cut back. The Greens strongly argue that the revenue raised from higher taxes should be for the purpose of all Australians.

The Greens believe their policies for improved education, infrastructure like high speed rail, better health care services, especially for indigenous Australians justify heavy taxation. The economic policies are radical as the strong emphasis on the environment, infrastructure and improved social services relies on heavy taxes as well limited economic growth.

Some of the Greens’ economic policies include:

• A progressive taxation system where those who earn more, pay more. This includes increasing tax to 50% for those who earn $1m or over
• Lowering tax on small business to 28%
• Removing Fringe Benefits Tax which promote increased use of motor vehicles
• Removing concessional arrangements for Capital Gains Tax
• Ensuring the mining tax returns to the proposed Resource Super Profits Tax, not the Minerals Resource Rent Tax
• Introduce an estate tax, otherwise known as death duties, This is where individual’s assets are taxed when they die. Under this policy the family home, farm and small business will be protected with a threshold of up to $5 million. Australia had federal and state estate taxes that were abolished in 1979. Incidentally, the Henry Tax Review contained a recommendation for the re-introduction of an estate tax which the ALP rejected.
• Abolishing the 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate in order to increase funding for public hospitals
• Tax family trusts in the same way companies are taxed
• Conduct an inquiry with a view to implement changes to the tax system addressing any negative impacts of the GST
• Implement a shift in the tax system to place more taxes on natural resources and pollution (hence support for a carbon tax and the mining tax)
• Implement measures at all levels of government to incorporate social, environmental and financial impacts into policy development and assessment (this is called triple bottom line reporting)

Other policies include:

ASYLUM SEEKERS: End mandatory detention for asylum seekers

EDUCATION: Every child in Australia to have access to at least two years of public preschool education & for schools funding to be placed on an equitable footing by reversing the excessive increases in Commonwealth funding to non-government schools in recent years

INTERNET: The Greens support the ALP’s National Broadband Network but oppose the mandatory internet filter (Cheat sheet on filter here )

DISABILITY: Allow full tax deductibility for any aids, devices, special equipment or services that directly assist people with disability in finding a job.

PRISONERS:  Implement alternatives to imprisonment, where appropriate, including restorative justice and diversionary programs.

HEALTH: Make Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s health a funding priority, with a focus on community-controlled health services and additional community-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child-care services

DRUGS: Introduce the regulated use of cannabis for specified medical purposes, such as intractable pain. Increase the availability of harm reduction programs, including needle and syringe exchanges and medically supervised injecting rooms and implement a rigorous scientific trial of prescribed heroin to registered users in line with the proposed 1996 ACT government heroin trial.

MARRIAGE: Legislate to allow marriage regardless of sexuality or gender identity.

GENDER IDENTITY: Establish intersex as a gender recognised by the legal system. Support gender assignment for people born with an intersex condition being made only when they are able to express personal sexual identity”.

FOREIGN AID: Increase foreign aid to 0.7% and create a separate minister for international development as well as an independent AusAID

ARTS: Increase funding incentives for artists and arts events to tour and/or establish  in rural and regional areas.

SEX: End the criminalisation of consensual adult sex workers.

INTERNET: The Greens support the ALP’s National Broadband Network but oppose the mandatory internet filter (Cheat sheet on filter here)

[Read all their policies online.]

If the Greens get the balance of power in the Senate, will they negotiate or block legislation like they did with the ETS?

When Bob Brown was asked this at the National Press Club on Wednesday, he answered that the Greens understand the Senate is a powerful place and will use their position responsibly. Brown answered that the Greens would negotiate strongly on all legislation, injecting good ideas and then vote for the best option. They will work with whoever is in government, but will never vote for bad legislation. In regards to the ETS, the Greens felt that this type of taxation would not reduce emissions and that only a carbon tax will.

Will the Greens get into the House of Representatives?

There is a very likely possibility that Adam Bandt who is running for the seat of Melbourne will be elected to be a member of the HOR. This is because the current sitting member, ALP’s Lindsay Tanner, is retiring after this election. If Bandt is elected, there will be a bigger crossbench. A crossbench is where members who don’t belong to the major parties sit. This means any legislation that is proposed into the HOR faces more scrutiny. Bandt will sit alongside independents Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter and Tony Windsor.

 

 

Candidate snapshot – Tipping the balance of power.

Lin Hatfield Dodds is running for the Senate in the ACT. If she is elected this weekend, her term starts straight away on Monday morning. This is because when senators are elected in the territories, they start immediately. (See my cheat sheet on how the election works here for more). If Christine Milne and Rachel Siewert retain their seats, Lin’s election would mean that the Greens would hold the balance of power in the Senate (again, see election cheat sheet).

Lin is married and a mother of two teenage boys. She has headed up UnitingCare Australia, which is one of the largest providers of community services in the country. She has also been the President of the Australian Council of Social Services. These roles have meant Lin has sat in parliament for years lobbying on community services. She joined the party only a year ago when she realised the Greens were the party that best aligned with her values.

I spoke to Lin about concerns that families may have about the Greens being given more power. How would the economy hold up? Lin explains that she remembers watching the news during the Howard years when the former treasurer Peter Costello would declare budget surpluses each year. She would yell at the TV, “To what purpose?” Lin admires that we are a wealthy nation but is frustrated when she sees the widening gaps between rich and poor. “A strong economy has got to be for something.” When speaking to the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, she said to the many young people present, “My generation has let your generation down.” This sentiment and the thought of her sons’ future underpins her drive for a future focused economy that requires higher taxes on big business and big individual earners.

Of other politicians she says, “I haven’t met many pollies who don’t care, but there are many who don’t understand.” Lin’s claim is that she understands what it takes. Her approach to social services is to partner with those who need assistance to be on a journey together. “There is no silver policy bullet. We need empathy and understanding.” Lin is well versed in public policy processes and speaks with passion of such things as providing a safety net for society. For example, “We want great schools, but we also want to make sure we send kids to school with full bellies.”

Has this changed how you feel about the Greens? Will you be voting for them on Saturday? Why?