News

• MEDIA RELEASE | Greens Commitment to Work with New Government

  The ACT Greens today announced their commitment to Canberra to work cooperatively with both the Labor and Liberal Parties when a new government is elected on Saturday.

  “The Greens will write to both Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Liberal Leader Zed Seselja inviting them to sign a formal commitment to a cooperative Assembly,” Amanda Bresnan said.

  “The Greens have proposed to discuss new government arrangements with all Parties and Independents post election to form Canberra’s most constructive and innovative parliament.”

  “Canberra voters have elected five minority governments in the past six elections and it is highly likely that Canberrans will vote this Saturday for a return to minority Government.”

  “The Greens stand ready to co-operate with either the Labor or the Liberal Parties to deliver a stable minority government after the election.”

  The Greens called on Jon Stanhope and Zed Seselja to join the Greens in endorsing a formal ‘Commitment to Canberra’ Pledge, which contains the following principles:

  1. Committing all parties to respect the vote of Canberrans at the election, and to agree to work positively and cooperatively in minority government, if that’s what Canberrans vote for on October 18.

  2. Supporting balanced budgets over the economic cycle.

  3. Agreeing to work with other MLAs after the election to formulate an agreed policy program for the benefit of all Canberrans which recognises the challenges of climate change and financial uncertainty.

  4. Committing to improving community consultation and the accountability of government.

  5. Agreeing not to place misleading advertising, or to misrepresent the policies of other parties.

  “Many voters are responding positively to the Greens optimism and long-term vision. Unfortunately, the Labor and Liberal parties have responded by misrepresenting the Greens policies to the public and trying to scare voters about minority government. But if a minority government is returned, no single political party will be able to force through legislation with no accountability or oversight. Every political party will need the support of another to pass legislation, requiring cooperation, consultation and negotiation.” Bresnan said.

• MEDIA RELEASE | Energy Efficiency Makeover for Canberra

  Greens lead candidate for Ginninderra, Meredith Hunter, today announced a plan to better utilise Federal funding allocated to the ACT for household energy efficiency.

  “The ACT Greens Energy Efficiency Makeover plan will increase the roll out and scale, targeting houses below a 3-star rating,” Hunter said.

  “The Greens are calling for the ACT Government to put $500,000 on the table now, to fund the plan that will put Canberra a step out in front and take full advantage of Federal funding.”

  “Under the program, homes would have an expert assessment of what steps are needed to lift their energy rating, then the retrofit would be conducted by qualified tradespeople and installers.”

  “This is an integrated program delivering a one-stop service for people to make their homes as energy efficient as possible.”

  “Wall insulation, curtains and blinds, gap sealers, solar hot water and other efficiency measures will be paid for, over time, by reduced energy bills. The scheme will manage the debt by attaching it to the house, and organising repayments through energy bills”

  The benefits for Canberra will include:

  -For home owners it will mean houses that cost less to run and are worth more as an asset;
  -For tenants it will mean a warmer home in winter, and cooler in summer;
  -For local businesses it will be the chance to gear up for the eventual roll out of schemes like this across Australia.
  -A dramatic drop in our greenhouse emissions, and the chance for Canberra to point the way for the rest of Australia.

  “This program steps beyond the ad hoc rebates and subsidies offered by other parties, to make sure that the whole community is set up for a low energy future” Ms Hunter said.

• OPINION POLLS | Greens to hold balance of power?

  A poll published by the Canberra Times has predicted that the ACT Greens will win 4 seats in the October 18 election.  The poll suggests that the Greens will double their vote in each electorate.

  The Patterson-Canberra Times poll is predicting that the final make-up of the Assembly will be 6 Labor, 6 Liberal, 4 Greens and 1 seat undecided - that seat being the seventh seat in Molongolo.  For this seat, the poll predicted a close contest between a third ALP candidate and independent, ex-Queanbeyan mayor Frank Pangallo.

  While heartening, this is a poll of only 1200 voters and has a 4.9% margin of error in each electorate.  It gives some indication of voters’ intentions, the Greens campaign team is taking nothing for granted.  We will be out there until voting closes talking to voters in all three electorates at shopping centre stalls, on people’s doorsteps and at community forums.

  If you want to help the Greens make this opinion poll prediction a reality, talk to your family and friends about the benefits of voting Green.  If you would also like to volunteer for the ACT Greens on or before election day, call our office on 6247 6350.

  Voters want party to end for majority rule

  Stanhope will need Greens to hold power

  Poll outcome on a knife edge

  Poll results no comfort to Labor or Liberals