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Chapter 4: Decision-making

30.Meeting Facilitation !!!

30.1Meetings of the ACT Greens shall be facilitated by at least one person agreed to by those members present at the meeting. Any member may be a facilitator. A member may not facilitate more than one meeting in succession unless there is a consensus of the meeting to waive this provision.

30.2A General Meeting may decide on rules for the conduct of ACT Greens’ meetings.

31.Decision-Making !!!

31.1Decisions at meetings shall be made by cooperative decision-making processes, which includes the options of consensus and voting.

31.2All decisions shall be attempted to be made by consensus before any form of voting is proposed. Consensus is achieved when all members present at a meeting agree with a proposed course of action or, where some members disagree with the proposal, these members decide not to oppose the rest of the members’ agreement. Consensus is blocked if any member decides to oppose the rest of the members’ agreement to a proposal.

31.3In attempting to reach consensus, sufficient time shall be allowed for discussion of different views on a proposal and to make amendments to a proposal, including provision for non-decision-making meetings where time allows. Informal or straw voting may be held to gauge a meeting’s opinion about a proposal, but such votes are not binding.

31.4If consensus is not able to be reached about a proposal at a meeting, the matter shall be deferred to a future meeting, except where clause 31.5 applies.

31.5Any member present at a meeting may propose an urgency motion that a particular proposal must be decided at the meeting and not be deferred. An urgency motion to be successful requires the consensus of the meeting or, where consensus is blocked, a vote of those members present with two-thirds in favour of the motion.

31.6If an urgency motion is passed regarding a proposal and consensus on the proposal is not able to be achieved at the meeting, a vote on the proposal shall be held before the end of the meeting. A vote to be successful requires a two thirds majority of those members present, unless other rules apply as provided for elsewhere in this Constitution.

31.7If an urgency motion has been passed and a vote has been held, but two-thirds majority has not been reached, then, if there has been no previous decision on the issue, a subsequent vote may be held that can be decided by a simple majority of those voting. If possible, the meeting shall be adjourned before using the option of a majority vote.

31.8Voting shall be conducted by a show of hands except in the case of contested elections which shall be determined by secret ballot. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.

31.9Provision shall be made for important or contentious issues to be resolved by all members. A postal ballot may be convened if initiated by a General Meeting or a petition of the lesser of 20 members or 20% of the membership. The text of the motion to be put to the ballot must have the endorsement of all those calling the ballot. For the ballot to be successful, a minimum of 20% of the membership must vote in favour of the motion and at least two thirds of the total number of votes must favour the motion.

31.10Decisions on matters described in this Constitution can only be made at any ACT Greens’ meeting while a quorum is present.

32.Quick Decision-Making !!!

32.1A Quick Decision Making Group shall be established to make decisions for the ACT Greens regarding any matter of such urgency that it must be resolved before the next scheduled meeting of the Coordinating Group or a General Meeting.

32.2Decisions made by the Quick Decision Making Group shall be consistent with the Charter and the policies, decisions and practices of the ACT Greens.

32.3The Group shall comprise the Convenor, the Deputy Convenor, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Principal Delegate to meetings of the Australian Greens (ie National Conferences and National Council), and the Parliamentary Convenor. A General Meeting may appoint a person to act as a temporary substitute on the QDMG to cover the extended unavailability of a member of the QDMG, or when an office is vacant. A quorum shall be three members of the Group, but the Secretary shall attempt to contact all members of the Group regarding a quick decision that needs to be made.

32.4The Quick Decision Making Group shall meet only as often as essential.

32.5In matters relating to particular issues, the Quick Decision Making Group shall consult where possible with members or bodies who may have a direct interest in the decision.

32.6 Decisions of the Quick Decision Making Group shall follow the rules in section 30.

32.7The Convenor shall report on any quick decisions made to the next meeting of the Coordinating Group or a General Meeting. The Convenor will also report on attempts made to contact those members of the Quick Decision Making Group who were not contacted. The meeting may then decide to ratify the decision, take further actions or issue guidelines for future decision making.

33.Formulation And Adoption Of ACT Policies !!!

33.1ACT Greens’ policies on matters only relevant to the ACT shall be decided in accordance with this Section. Policies of the ACT Greens on national issues shall be decided in accordance with the national constitution of the Australian Greens.

33.2ACT Green’s policies shall be formulated with the maximum participation of members through Working Groups designated with this purpose.

33.3Decisions to approve or amend policies shall only be made at Special General Meetings called for this purpose. Policy decisions may only be made by consensus at these meetings, or by vote if an urgency motion regarding the decision is passed by the meeting.

33.4Emergency policy decisions may be made by a General Meeting and these decisions shall be submitted to a Special General Meeting as soon as possible. A General Meeting shall not make any emergency policy decision which contradicts any policy already approved by the Party.