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Democracy & Governance

Democracy & Governance

The Greens believe in doing politics differently. We do not accept political donations from big business, and we support public election funding as a way to end the practice of buying political influence.

The Greens believe that there should be more women in politics and we practice what we preach. Of all the Greens Senators to date, six out of seven have been women - a record unmatched by the other parties.

Government should not waste opportunity to create sustainable cities for the future

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 6th January 2009, 3:37pm
in

The Australian Greens say plans to overhaul the Sydney metro could create a sustainable city for the future, but only if they are underpinned by public transport and affordable housing.

"The plans reported in the media today are an example of what the federal government could achieve through its Infrastructure Australia Fund. However, urban consolidation is only ever effective if there's provision for affordable housing and developments are networked with fast, affordable public transport."

Message to Rudd from 100 A-Bomb Survivors – Take Leadership to End Nuclear Age

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 29th December 2008, 12:00am
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More than 100 Hibakusha - survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb attacks - arrive in Sydney on the Peace Boat today, Monday 29 December.

Peace Boat is an ocean liner with 1,000 passengers that have travelled to 20 countries to promote the vision of a nuclear weapon free future. Australian Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam joined the voyage in Auckland.

"The arrival of the Peace Boat is an opportunity for Kevin Rudd to reconsider the role of nuclear weapons in our security policy," said Senator Ludlam.

Greens win 'process not postcode' argument on radioactive waste

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 18th December 2008, 12:00am
in

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam has welcomed the recommendations of a Senate Inquiry to scrap the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act.

“Labor went to the last election promising to repeal this radioactive legislation", said Greens nuclear spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.   

Rudd off the rails on coal

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 12th December 2008, 4:58pm
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The Australian Greens Transport spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam today said the Prime Minister's announcement of $580 million dollars to fast track coal transport is an "horrific use of tax payer funds" and an opportunity to embrace a ‘Green New Deal' has been missed.

"The Prime Minister's decision to inject more than $500 million dollars into railways to transport coal from the Hunter Valley to Newcastle is a disastrous outcome for tax payers and the environment. Once again the government is using tax payer funds to help the coal industry, despite the industry being past its used-by date and environmentally unsustainable," said Senator Ludlam.

Greens: PM should boost public transport spending

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 12th December 2008, 4:52pm
in

The Australian Greens are calling on the Federal Government to increase its investment in public transport, with the Prime Minister due to announce more infrastructure spending later today.

"The Prime Minister has said this morning that the government may be pumping more money into public infrastructure to try and give the economy a boost. Kevin Rudd should seize the opportunity to recognise that by investing in environmental outcomes like public transport and energy efficiency, the government can achieve an economic benefit," said Australian Greens Transport spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam.

Ranger uranium mine - ERA

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 5th December 2008, 4:15pm
in

Hansard Page ECITA: 135 (21 Oct)

Senator Ludlam asked:
Senator LUDLAM-Has the company provided any advice to your office on the level of environmental assessment that their expansion plans might reasonably require under the EPBC Act?

Mr Hughes-I believe they have given an undertaking that they will be making a referral.

Senator LUDLAM-They will be making a referral under EPBC?

Mr Hughes-I understand that.

Senator LUDLAM-As far as you are aware. Minister, could I ask you to take a similar question on  notice on behalf of the minister.

Answers:
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) has not provided advice to the Minister's office on the level of environmental assessment that their expansion plans might reasonably require under the EPBC Act.

Question to the office of the Supervising Scientist

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 5th December 2008, 4:04pm
in

Senator Ludlam asked:
1) Regarding the proposals for the lifting/heightening of the tailings dam that were discussed in previous Estimates hearings, what assessment was undertaken regarding the heightening of the tailings dams at Ranger?  What did the assessment identify as potential risks and impacts?  What steps have been taken to address these?

2) What is the extent of social impact monitoring that OSS is currently undertaking in the Alligator Rivers region?

3) Is the OSS aware of any other social impact modelling undertaken in the Alligator Rivers region, with particular regard to the social impacts of past or present uranium mining?

4) What advice has OSS provided government following the findings of the 2003 Senate Inquiry into uranium mining?  Have OSS or ERA practices changed significantly since this inquiry?

5) Regarding the expansion of the planned expansion of the Ranger site, has the OSS provided any advice to the Minister on the level of environmental assessment that the expansion plans might reasonably require under the EPBC Act?

6) If there is no advice, why has the OSS not acted on the public information regarding Ranger's expansion?

7) If there is advice, has the OSS been pro-active in making certain that this environmental assessment is undertaken well in advance of the proposed expansion to ensure high quality community consultation and therefore informed government decision making?

Question to AFP on surveillance of ethnic communities

Estimates Transcripts | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 5th December 2008, 3:54pm
in

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Question No. 83

Senator Ludlam asked the following question at the hearing on 20 October 2008:

In relation to the surveillance of ethnic communities:

a) can you provide details of funds allocated to investigations into the activities of Australians abroad (eg the investigations that have taken place into the activities of Australians in Somalia) for the last financial year

b) can you identify how spending priorities are established for these sorts of investigations, given their potential cost

c) how are expenditure priorities determined in relation to investigations into particular Australian communities (e.g. Tamil Australians, Somali Australians, Kurdish Australians), and

d) can you outline the public benefits of such investigations?

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

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