Elissa Jenkins – Green Grrl

Thank you people of Moreton. Your respect for Greens policies shines through.

The Greens in Moreton received an 8.7% swing and doubled our vote. With 74% of the vote counted, we have received 15.76% of the primary vote. What an extraordinary indication that my local community is seeking leadership, a voice for and alternative decisions made in the areas of disability support (loud and clear!), public education, higher education, refugees (from the rooftops!), poverty, housing, renewable energy (a no brainer!), healthcare, aged care (absolutely fundamental!) and mental health reform.

What a great electorate and WHAT an amazing grassroots campaign run on the smell of an oily rag.

It means so much to me to have fronted for The Greens in Moreton and it warms the cockles of my heart (below the cockles) to see Larissa Waters win a seat in the Senate. For the first time since I began voting 16 years ago, I have a representative in Queensland who speaks for me. I cannot believe it has finally happened! Congratulations Larissa!!

Thanks also to Ian (Moreton campaign organiser), Sean (volunteer extraordinaire), Peter (letterbox coordinator), scrutineers, booth-workers, letterboxers, stall-holders, state campaign team, national team, senate team, Qld & national web teams and party founders Drew & Libby for their incredible foresight … the list is endless!

On a personal note, I wouldn’t have been able to manage over the last few months without the support of my wonderful Mum and Dad (coming home to find my house clean and sparkling was a treat!); my new friends Kate and Tyrone (who let me be); my staff and colleagues at work (who graciously coped with my work-a-holism); my poor neglected dog (more walks are on their way Pacey!); my Facebook & Twitter friends and supporters; and my oldest & most beautiful buds (you know who you are).

On a more somber note, this week marked a year since my oldest friend took her own life. A day of this campaign hasn’t passed without thinking of you, sweets.

Love and respect to you all in Moreton. I hope we see the changes we deserve.

Elissa Jenkins

I will be speaking at this event tonight.

Say no to another Tampa election! Let the boats land. End offshore processing. Close all detention centres.

The rally is on the evening before election day. It also marks the 9th anniversary of the Tampa incident and the dirty election campaign that ensued in 2001.

When: 5.30pm, Friday 20th August. The night before the election.
Where: Brisbane Square, top of Queen St Mall, corner of George St, City
Speakers include: Chaman Shah Nasiri (Afghan refugee & former Nauru detainee), Fr Pan Jordan (community leader of Tamil refugees), Sam Watson (Aboriginal leader and Socialist Alliance candidate), Andrew Bartlett (refugee advocate and Greens candidate), Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Collective), Elissa Jenkins (RAC member and Greens candidate) . Entertainment by Nathaniel Hubbard.

Further info: Paul, Ph. 3392 3843, email paul@rac-qld.org

Come along and make a stand for justice for asylum seekers in this toxic political atmosphere.

1. The Greens stand up for what’s right, not just what’s easy. Whether it’s protecting the environment, introducing universal dental care, opposing the war in Iraq or advocating for refugees to be treated humanely, the Greens are driven by values, not polls.

2. It’s the Party everyone’s heading to. The Greens are the third largest political party in Australia, with five national Senators, 21 State MPs and more than 100 local Greens councillors already playing a positive and constructive role across Australia. More than a million Australians voted Green in 2007, and we’re the fastest-growing party in the country.

3. Break the deadlock in the Senate between the Government and the Opposition. Last time the Government of the day also got control of the Senate, we got WorkChoices. Or, Tony Abbott’s Coalition could easily win control of the Senate, which would deliver Australians nothing but three years of deadlock. We deserve a Senate that will work for us and deliver strong, sensible action – not just spin.

4. Provide future generations with clean air, clean water and a stable climate. The Greens will tackle climate change by putting a price on carbon for big polluters in the next term of government. It’s time we created new clean energy jobs and started investing in the economy of the future.

5. Make legislation better. When the Coalition tried to block the stimulus package that kept Australia out of recession, the Greens passed it with added environmental and small business benefits. The Greens will do the same thing to improve the mining super profits tax.

6. The Greens have vision. When Bob Brown first spoke to the Senate about climate change 14 years ago, his Labor and Liberal colleagues actually laughed at him. Now the Greens are the only party working to end all forms of legal discrimination against Australians based on sexuality. The Greens focus on what’s right for the next generation, not just the next election cycle.

7. An environmental party. The Greens have always worked to protect Australia’s magnificent natural environment for future generations – whether that’s protecting our native forests and their wildlife, or our pristine beaches and marine ecosystems.

8. An environmental party and much, much more. The Greens stand for much more than just cutting carbon pollution, securing our water supplies and protecting our environment. Think better public schools, more funding for hospitals and fixing our broken mental health system. The Greens also drive great new ideas, like building high-speed rail between Australia’s major cities, which is now gaining momentum but would never have gotten up otherwise.

9. For a more powerful vote. Another Labor or Liberal candidate will just vote the way they’re told. With the Greens, every vote is a conscience vote. If you’re disappointed with Labor but don’t want Tony Abbott, you can send a powerful message to Julia Gillard. And if your Greens candidate doesn’t win, your vote will simply go to the next candidate of your choice at full value.

10. Bob Brown. A genuinely decent politician and the most experienced party leader in Parliament.

GREENS Candidate for Moreton Elissa Jenkins has expressed surprise at the number of Moreton constituents who have raised concerns with her about the Government’s proposed Internet filter and welcomes the Coalition announcement that it will not back the ALP’s proposal.

“On July 9 Communications Minister Stephen Conroy indicated that the filter would be delayed for 12 months until a review of the “Refused Classification” category was completed in conjunction with the states,” said Ms Jenkins.

“But the reality is that the controversial internet filter is still on track to be implemented in the Government’s next term.

“If a mandatory filtering of the Internet in Australia is the Government’s position, then there should be an open discussion in the lead up to the election about its development.

“It’s excellent news that the Coalition have finally declared their hand – it’s now up to Graham Perrett to declare his.

“What I’m hearing from constituents is that they believe that mandatory censorship of the Internet is entirely inappropriate and should be dropped.

“The Government has pulled the proposal off the table because they know it has administrative, technical and political problems associated with it, but the reality is that – after the election – the idea will be back on the table.

“I am suggesting that the public has a right to know the facts – and that the discussion be had in the lead-up to the election,” she said.

Ms Jenkins said the reality was that the Gillard Government realises that the issue is politically toxic.

“They’re not hearing from many advocates so it’s a one-sided debate – even child safety advocates are perplexed.

“If the Government’s justification for mandatory Internet censorship is truly about protecting our kids from harmful content then a list of 800 URLs isn’t going to cut it.

“Surely you would want to prevent children from seeing a much broader range of material than this?

“Unless we decide the entire net is going to be Rated G for everybody then the proper place for a filter is in a home, or a public library or a school,” she said.

“In the lead-up to the election is exactly the time to move the debate forward and go on the front-foot.

“If not the filter, then what Graham?

“That would be the question a true leader would be asking.

“Moreton residents are demanding answers – and only The Greens and the Coalition are giving them,” she said.

I have been shocked, dumbfounded and, frankly, downright scared at the vitriol I’ve received from some members of the fishing community in response to The Greens policy on marine parks. Oddly, some posts I am unable to publish as they are racist or perverse in content. Some are designed to intimidate and some even challenge my own personal safety.

That said, as someone who’s running for public office and who is an ardent supporter of participatory democracy, it’s really important for me to respond to those fellow Australians from the fishing community who are asking me genuine questions about the rationale behind this policy.

I apologise for having taken so long to respond. I felt that those who asked considered questions deserve the respect of me offering considered response in return, so it’s really just been about finding time to follow up.

For those querying my delayed response, no I actually haven’t consulted with my fellow Greens Party in regards to this matter. They are busy attending to and responding to a range of similarly important and pressing conservation and social justice issues such as working with farmers on the Darling Downs to Call for a moratorium on coal seam gas mining , an announcement on Quality, Affordable, Accessible Childcare and the Plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef .

I’m quite comfortable taking charge of responding to these queries myself and I thank those in the community who have assisted me in my research. If people expect me to be able to respond to scientific questions off the cuff, sorry – no can do! I’m a lay person when it comes to science and my role is similar to other lay people like me; my role is to seek to better understand and discuss this issue in a spirit of supporting the benefits of being part of an open dialogue.

Given the fishing lobby (and I refer to it as a lobby because many of us who fish are not involved in this lobby) has been bombarding me with phone calls, text message, emails and blog comments, it was important for me – given I fish and I vote Greens – to better understand the concerns of my fellow fish hunters. And given I fish and I vote Greens and I have friends and constituents who also fish and vote Greens (and wish to continue to do so), I am in a position to realise there’s a diversity of opinion in this area. And I acknowledge it’s an emotive topic.

While I cannot provide what some people are looking for (e.g. scientific evidence that covers every patch of ocean in Queensland), I can say that it is globally recognised that there needs to be areas of our oceans that remain untouched and that the marine reserves that exist around the world have shown to have increased diversity.

It is a myth that The Greens want to ban fishing. I don’t know why people wish to perpetuate this myth. To me it’s sensational and counter-productive given that many fishers express a genuine concern for and interest in marine conservation. An online fishing group is currently publishing a map of proposed ‘no take’ zones featuring a disclaimer regarding its accuracy. Well the good news for fishers is that the map is, in fact, inaccurate. From what I can tell by looking at it, it looks like it might be a map that identifies areas for further assessment or areas of great biological importance. The reality is The Greens wish to ensure that the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas program has legislated targets of a minimum of 30% ‘no take’ areas per bioregion by 2012. To me 100% equals a complete fishing ban, not 30%.

Given we’re a country that’s built on the coastline and that, in turn, begs a lifestyle that involves enjoying all the pleasures that beach and ocean life can bring, I am proud to live so close to areas of such vital ecological importance. I love fishing, I love kayaking, I love sailing and I love snorkeling. I shamelessly thank the producers of Happy Feet for having a crack at bringing a simplistic message of marine conservation to the masses because – quite frankly – I think children and families of tomorrow should be able to enjoy the same joys that we experience today. Sure the Happy Feet message is a bit contrived and simplistic, but it makes some attempt to spread the word that marine conservation is important for us to consider. Like the national parks and the flora and fauna we hold dear, we cannot continue to have a free reign on our ocean life.

I’m a sucker for seafood. I just can’t give it up. However, I am aware that we are over-fishing our oceans so what I do is choose to do is follow the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Sustainable Seafood Guide.

I also agree with those readers who have suggested that there other ways we can conserve and protect our waterways and oceans and support the species that exist within those important ecosystems. I suppose that is why I underwent training as a Seagrass Research Volunteer. Funds for marine research are extremely limited. That is why a cooperative national approach to coastal management is required to deliver clean and healthy environments, integrated ecosystems and sustainable coastal communities and that the health of Australia’s estuarine, coastal and marine environment is dependent on land management that recognises the interconnectedness of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. If elected I would work to eliminate harmful and toxic waste dumping into Australian waters.

Given that over 1 million Australians voted Greens at the last election, I am confident and proud of the policy position I am supporting and this is what I present to the electorate of Moreton. I proudly support the Greens platform that the health of Australia’s fishing industries is dependent on adequate conservation and sustainable management measures that ensure the replenishment of fishing stocks. Our goal is to have statutory ecosystems-based regional marine planning that enables the full range of uses and impacts to be identified and managed, and allocates resources across and within marine industry sectors. The Greens also want protection of the habitat of all marine mammals.

One reader wrote in saying ‘In the future i wish to teach my kids to fish i hope you give me a chance to do that!!!!!!!!’ While I am unable to publish this reader’s full comment due to a professional code of conduct I hold dear to my heart, I share this gentleman’s concerns. Sir, these policies The Greens present for consideration are, in fact, about ensuring exactly that – that children and families of tomorrow are able to enjoy the same joys that we experience today.

Finally, in my quest to understand fellow fishers a bit better, I found the following finding from a research paper called ‘Recreational fishers’ attitudes towards the 2004 rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (2009, Environmental Conservation 36 (3): 245-252) which states:

A survey of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park recreational fishers conducted three years after implementation of the new zoning plan revealed that 68% of fishers believed that, in general, rezoning the Marine Park was a good idea, whereas 57% supported the actual zoning plan that was implemented. A majority of fishers believed that rezoning the Marine Park as necessary, that the new zoning plan had high conservation value, and that the plan had little impact on their recreational fishing activities. However, most fishers had low to moderate satisfaction with the programme used to consult the public throughout the rezoning process.’

To me, this report highlights some vital information – that change is possible. It also highlights that the public, including recreational fishers, deserve consultation, open communication and respect in the process of discussions on rezoning.

Thanks for your time and your interest in asking the hard questions around marine conservation. I hope I have, to some extent, offered some food for thought. And please – put a halt on the insults and abuse please.

Kind regards,

Elissa.

Griffith University Master of Arts student Elissa Jenkins, who received a Griffith Award for Academic Excellence in 2009, is running as the Greens candidate for Moreton.

According to Ms Jenkins, her fellow, hard-working students needed more of a voice, more money and a better social life.

“University students – even those who feel happy, financially secure and supported – should take time to check out the educational policies of the major parties and step into the shoes of other students on campus.

“The Greens want to repeal Voluntary Student Unionism to ensure that student services and independent representation are provided on all university campuses.

“The Government’s failure to repeal the Howard Government’s draconian VSU legislation has continued to have a devastating effect on campus culture.

“In the 1990s, when I was an undergraduate student at UQ and QUT, my parents happily paid compulsory student union fees on my behalf because we both knew that it meant there was representative voice for students on campus.

“Even though I wasn’t active in student politics, I knew that paying these compulsory fees meant that students – regardless of their socio-economic background – would have access to free or affordable student services at their disposal including welfare services such as counselling.

“I knew that all of us would also have the opportunity to join social clubs and be part of affordable sporting activities. It was a socially inclusive policy.

“There were also student groups that performed a number of advocacy functions – women’s rights, queer rights, refugee rights.

“Without them on campus doing their thing, I reckon my head would probably have remained under the sand when it came to fully understanding those issues,” she said.

Ms Jenkins said The Greens believed that education should be affordable and accessible.

“That is why we are taking a stance in Moreton to abolish university fees and forgive HECS-HELP debts.

“Personally I think students, after they graduate, should be financially empowered to choose to save for a deposit on a home rather than being forced to pay off large HEC-HELP debts,” she said.

Popped into Griffith University’s Nathan Campus today, at the invitation of the National Union of Students, to meet with students to pledge – if elected – to support a range of measures including:

1. Increase funding for universities
2. Create a more equitable system of student income support
3. Support student representative organisations
4. Deliver affordable student accommodation

What a great initiative. What thoughtful young people. If elected, I would be whole-heartedly represent your interests.

Colourful photos to come!

Elissa.

GREENS candidate for Moreton says you don’t have to live by the ocean to care about marine parks and the future of Australia’s beautiful marine flora and fauna.

According to Greens Candidate for Moreton, Elissa Jenkins, Abbott’s announcement in Mackay that a Coalition Government would freeze the gazetting of new marine parks around the country is appalling, populist politics that shows he has no real understanding of the issues at stake with marine sanctuaries.

“I cannot believe Abbott made this announcement while campaigning in the central Queensland coastal city of Mackay,” said Ms Jenkins.

“It insults the voters of Mackay and the voters of Moreton in one fell swoop.

“This initiative – or lack thereof – takes marine protection and conservation back decades.

“Ironically, Abbott’s rationale that marine parks threaten the livelihood of fishing industries and the tourism industries is flawed beyond belief.

“Anyone’s who’s seen the animated children’s film Happy Feet would know that overfishing is the biggest threat facing our fishing and tourism industries – not sanctuaries.

“If Tony Abbott had the best interests of the fishing industry and recreational fishers at heart he’d realise that Australia’s oceans are under protected and under threat.

“Action is needed now to put these industries on a sustainable footing.

“I love fishing as much as the next person and enjoy recreational fishing with my Dad, but marine sanctuaries play a key role in ensuring our fish stocks can replenish.

“Recent research on the Great Barrier Reef has shown that fish populations have doubled in sanctuary zones, playing a key role in replenishing adjoining populations on the reef.

“If Abbott keeps bowing down to special interest groups rather than the Australian people and announcing backward thinking, out-of-touch policies like this, he will see unhappy Liberal feet Voting 1 Greens this election – wherever they live,” said Ms Jenkins.

Dear Moreton Residents,

As a fellow Moreton resident, I am reaching out to you today in my capacity as the Greens candidate for the federal electorate of Moreton.

The Australian Greens are the fastest growing political party in Australia. I am proud to represent a party that takes a stand on issues the other parties avoid. Last election more than a million Australians voted for the Greens and we have five elected Senators. Moreton residents need the Greens in the Senate to break the deadlock between the old parties and Greens in the lower house to provide an alternative, progressive voice in Parliament.

In the lead up to the election, you have the opportunity to support the local Greens campaign in a number of ways. However, today I am writing to you to specifically ask for your permission to place a Greens sign in a prominent position in your front garden or on your fence. It would be a wonderful advantage to secure your support.

Unlike the other major parties, The Greens do not accept donations from big business which means our campaign budget is very small. This is a great way you can help us get a big bang for our buck.

If you’re happy for us to place a sign in your front yard or fence, please email moreton@qld.greens.org.au and provide your full name, address and phone number. We will then seek the appropriate Council permission on your behalf. Please note election signs may only be displayed 4 weeks before the election date.

If you have any questions about The Greens campaign in Moreton, please feel free to contact me anytime. If you’d like to volunteer in other ways (e.g. letterboxing, on stalls, or election day), we’d love to hear from you.

Thanks so much for considering this request. It means a lot.

Yours sincerely,

Elissa Jenkins
Greens Candidate for Moreton
moreton@qld.greens.org.au
www.greens.org.au/moreton
www.facebook.com/elissa.jenkins.moreton

THE GREENS today launched their campaign in Moreton with Lead Queensland Greens Senate candidate Larissa Waters, tipped to be Queensland’s first Greens Senator, visiting the electorate to support the local Moreton electorate fronted by seasoned campaigner Elissa Jenkins.

Both opting for values-based careers in the community sector, Larissa and Elissa are typical of the new crop of Greens supporters – progressive, passionate and positive about the future. And proud to talk Greens politics.

Greens candidate for Moreton Elissa Jenkins, who lives in Moorooka and was born and raised in Brisbane’s south west, said that with the Greens the third political force in Australia, Moreton residents needed the Greens in the Senate to keep a check on both major parties and Greens in the lower house to provide an alternative, progressive voice in Parliament.

“A vote for the Greens in Moreton is fundamental to securing a green future for Australia and for driving global action,” said Ms Jenkins.

“Electoral success for the Greens will deliver a sustainable and just future for Queenslanders,” she said.

Larissa Waters is widely tipped to be the first Greens Senator for Queensland.

“Our team is offering voters a carbon tax on polluters; bringing home Australia’s troops from Afghanistan; a universal dental care scheme; and humane treatment of asylum seekers in Australia,” said Ms Waters.

“The Australian Greens are campaigning strongly on environmental issues including climate change action, the creation of marine national parks, protecting native forests and wildlife and saving the Darling Downs farmlands from the damage caused by coal seam gas mines and open cut coalmines.”

“Queensland is an important state to the Australian Greens and we are offering a high quality team of candidates at this election,” she said.

According to Ms Jenkins, a vote for the Greens in Moreton is a vote to:

- increase funding for public education, eliminate ‘league tables’, abolish university fees and forgive HECS-HELP debts;
- celebrate multiculturalism and promote a culture of compassion and support for refugees and asylum seekers;
- enhance access to quality health care, housing, income support and support services for elderly, disabled and disadvantaged people;
- address the housing crisis, including our own shortage of affordable rental properties, by implementing progressive planning guidelines that require a social mix of housing;
- encourage research into and use of renewable energy sources to reduce our reliance on coal and other fossil fuels.

Details at www.greens.org.au/larissawaters and www.greens.org.au/moreton

WHEN: Thursday July 22, 10.00am
WHAT: Moreton Campaign Launch – The Greens
WHO: Lead Queensland Greens Senate candidate Larissa Waters and Greens Federal Candidate for Moreton Elissa Jenkins
WHERE: Brisbane Corso Reserve, Brisbane Corso (near cnr Cansdale St), Yeronga
WHY: The Greens are the third political force in Australia. We take a stand on issues the other parties avoid. Last election more than a million Australians voted to elect five Greens Senators. Moreton residents need the Greens in the Senate to keep a check on both major parties and Greens in the lower house to provide an alternative, progressive voice in Parliament.
CONTACT: Elissa Jenkins 0418 786 986 or moreton@qld.greens.org.au

There will be a Greens listening post at the Rocklea Markets on Saturday July 17 from 6am – noon.

I’ll be at the stall from 9am so, if you’re in the area, please do feel free to pop in for a chat!

Hopefully the weather is as beautiful as it was today. Brisbane is just magical in Winter.

It sent shivers up my spine and gave me a heavy heart to hear today of the assassination of Rwandan Greens Vice-President Mr Andre Kagwa Rwisereka. I extend my deepest sympathies to Mr Rwisereka’s family and colleagues.

I echo the call of the Global Greens who are demanding investigation into the murder and Call on the Commonwealth to act. Please find below a statement from the Global Greens.

The Global Greens express their deep shock and sadness at the murder of Rwandan Greens Vice President Mr. Andre Kagwa Rwisereka on 13 July 2010. Mr. Rwisereka was a prominent member of the Rwandan Greens which has been systematically blocked from registering as a political party.

We send our deepest sympathy to Mr Rwisereka’s family and colleagues.
*The Global Greens Coordination*

Yesterday I visited the electorate of Bowman to stand in for Greens candidate David Keogh to speak at the Make Poverty History public forum. The Greens were the only party to support the Make Poverty History 2010 policy asks to increase the aid commitment to reach 0.7% of GNI.

I also learnt about Micah Challenge from visiting San Sisto College student (pictured left). Micah Challenge is a global campaign of Christians speaking out against poverty and injustice. Great work.

Cheers to Bowman residents for the great turn out and interest in the topic. Please find my speech below. I ended it telling the audience about the petition from the Australia-Eritrean community that the Greens are currently supporting, but I’ll blog more about that another time soon.

SPEECH TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY PUBLIC FORUM

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. This week we celebrated NAIDOC week. Yesterday I was delighted at the opportunity to spend time with my Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander work colleagues, particularly given the theme of this year’s celebration ‘Closing the Gap by leading their way’. I’ve had the wonderful joy, in the last few months, of working together with my community sector colleagues to be part of this special week. I hope it’s been a great NAIDOC Week for everyone. Yesterday’s event at Musgrave Park certainly lifted my spirits.

Recently, I attended the Asia Pacific Greens Network congress in Taipai, Taiwan. It was fabulous to be there and receive a warm song and dance welcome from the Indigenous people of Taiwan. One of the most fabulous experiences when I attend these global events is the opportunity to learn and share with indigenous peoples of the world. In fact, at the Taipai Congress, we passed the following resolution:

The APGN demands mechanisms that take into account indigenous and local knowledge, sciences, ideologies and concepts. This would include conducting research of the causes and impacts of climate change and to create impact models at regional, national and global levels. We also support localised adaptation and mitigation techniques to address climate change and pressure all parties at all levels to facilitate indigenous and local solutions.

The Australian Greens is part of a global movement of green political parties that value ecological sustainability, social justice, peace & non violence and participatory democracy.

The Global Greens seeks to promote the Global Greens Charter among the Green Parties of the world, as well as kindred groups and society at-large. The network strives to stimulate and facilitate action on matters of global consequence and deepen communication among Green Parties and Federations.

The rationale for connecting with individuals and groups from all over the world that share our politic goals is that we see Australia and Australians as instrumental in taking leadership in making the world a fairer place for all.

My name is Elissa Jenkins. I am the Greens candidate over the way in Moreton, I’m on the board of an NGO called the Green Institute and I’m the Qld Representation on the Australian Greens Global Issues Group.

Please accept my green colleague David Keogh’s apologies. The message he sends is:

It is with much regret that I have been unable to attend today’s Make Poverty History forum. Unfortunately I have a long-standing family commitment which makes my presence impossible. I strongly believe that Australia has a responsibility to increase its commitment to both long-term development aimed at eliminating global poverty as well as reducing climate change vulnerability. Elissa Jenkins kindly offered to represent me here today and put forward the Greens case for Australia increasing foreign aid.

The Australian Greens believe that Australia has a responsibility to contribute to both long term development aimed at eliminating global poverty and reducing climate change vulnerability, and to humanitarian emergency relief where people become vulnerable and suffer because of natural disasters or social conflict.

We believe that it is in Australia’s interests, and the interests of the global community, to encourage positive and equitable change in the social, economic and environmental conditions for citizens of developing nations.

The Greens believe that long term poverty elimination programs should be economically and environmentally sustainable, promote local participation and gender equality, and enhance the political, economic and social rights of the recipient communities.

Aid should always be designed to directly benefit the poorest communities, rather than the wealthy elites in developing countries or donor governments and their aid-related commercial interests.

Long term aid should be directed towards enhancing self-reliance in developing nations. They should also be integrated with international trade, environmental and social policies in order to promote equity.

It’s always interesting sharing policy, isn’t it? It sounds so dry. However, in 2007 I went to a Global Young Greens Conference in Kenya. While I was there I had the unique opportunity of visiting Africa’s biggest slum, Kibera. I visited an environmental/social justice group and have, since then, become good friends with two of its members – Christopher and Anastasia. We get on like a house on fire, particularly after they visited Brisbane for the International River Foundation conference (one of my favourite NGOs). Anastasia and I keep in touch by text and Chris and I keep in touch on facebook. I told Chris I was speaking at this forum and told him he would be better at writing this speech than me. So he gave me some words to contribute. He said:

It’s time to open up for a fresh start, to bring in new dimensions, welcome active and effective community participation on meeting our challenges as a community. And that’s what you are offering, inclusion and participation, not a solution – as it lies with the community; it’s not a job for one person, but for all. Thank you and god bless you.

The Australian Greens want Australia’s aid program to focus on working with developing countries to realise the millennium development goals. We want the level of Australian overseas aid increased to a minimum of 0.7% of GNP by 2010, as mandated by the United Nations, with provision for greater increases should natural disasters or conflicts requiring major humanitarian interventions occur.

We want the purpose and impact of all aid programs to be transparent and fully accountable, both to the Australian government and the communities and countries they are designed to benefit.

We would like long term aid programs that combat climate change as an integral part of their poverty elimination strategy. We also want Australia to play a leading role in securing global contributions to UN and other international appeals for funding, expertise and logistical support to deal with humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur.

porker – a lie, “he’s tellin porkers” or “it’s just porkers” Wiktionary

I’ve been chatting online since 1996; back in the days when Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and Multi-User Dungeon (MUD) were pretty much the only two forms of real-time online communication available. It wasn’t a mainstream activity by any stretch of the imagination. It was a sub-culture and the negative labelling was fierce.

The first High Distinction I received at university was for an applied ethics subject called ‘Vulnerable Identities’. For the main piece of assessment I examined the interpersonal communication challenges of chatting online and the differences between online friendships and r/l (real-life) friendships. The subject of child-sex chat rooms came up. Of course it came up. It made me sick. But it wasn’t the main focus of the piece because it wasn’t the main focus of the general user’s experience. It was a sick online reality – the same sick reality that we hear about in real life. And even though there was nothing I could do about it, the comfort I had was with the knowledge that, if anything sinister was going on out in the open domain, the police would be onto it.

I was 19 years old when I started chatting online. An adult, sure, but a teenager nonetheless. The friends I made online ranged from 14 to 34 and we would organise opportunities to meet in real life. My parents were OK with it. Sure, it was strange back then but they gave me ‘the talk’ and they trusted my judgement. The people I met were great people from all walks of life.

I have met people online who’ve changed my life forever – fleeting relationships with people whose real names I never knew. It was my online friends who taught me ‘how to vote’ – as in, the concepts of the lower house and the upper house. I mean, listening to my parents talk about that stuff was boring right?

I met people from all walks of life during a period of my life in which I was otherwise quite sheltered. Study, work, movies, shopping summed up my small world. But the internet opened a world of possibilities. I met people from different countries, people who were gay, bisexual and in open relationships. I chatted with women who’d been sexually abused, women who’d had abortions and women who’d suffered eating disorders. I made friends with disabled people whose passion for the Internet was absolute. But it was far from a serious affair. Most of the time we just laughed and mucked around. Some of us practiced how to flirt. We also tested the boundaries of what was and wasn’t acceptable behaviour or ‘etiquette’ – and learnt fast.

We shared audio, shared photos (really low resolution!) and shared web links. When the internet grew up, we started to share videos as well.

Internet is short for Interconnected Network. That is what we were. And that is how I believe the Internet should remain.

My online experiences are no longer strange to most Generation X and Ys and those Baby Boomers who’ve embraced technology. With Facebook and Twitter, YouTube, Google and Wikipedia, the Interconnected Network is larger than life.

What IS strange is the Labor Government’s proposal to amputate the Internet in Australia. Unfortunately, cutting a limb off an Interconnected Network will instead make it a KindOfconnected Muddle.

We’ll have to change the name to KindOfMuddle. Kind of a muddle, really. But porkers like mud, don’t they? And not the Multi User kind.

The Australian Government is about to introduce mandatory internet filtering. Electronic Frontiers explains that, if implemented, ‘it will make Australia the most heavily censored country in the western world.’

The most frustrating thing about this legislation (and the impassioned yet ill-informed arguments for it) is that the filter in fact does nothing to protect children from what parents are really concerned about, like online predators, cyber-bullies, spam, viruses, and other cyber threats.

The only safeguards to these kinds of threat are parental monitoring of their children’s activities online. Internet censorship will not keep children safe, no matter what the Government says.

It’s a porker.

For some of the facts visit www.timetotellmum.com

Or listen to Greens Senator Scott Ludlam speak on the matter.

Dear Graham Perrett MP,

Given I work daily supporting the mental health sector, it would be remiss of me not to contact you seeking your support of this petition.

My oldest friend, a beautiful, intelligent, creative woman who I’d been friends with since I was aged 10 took her own life in August last year.

Her facebook page is still live at http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=669981485&ref=ts and is a constant reminder of her genuine effort to fit into a world that mentally challenged her day in and day out.

I have made peace with my friend’s death and I will never know if improved services would have been her saving grace, but – neverthless – I urge you to seriously consider supporting this reform in order to give hope to others who feel there is nowhere left to turn.

Kind regards,

Elissa.

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/healthreform&id=1125

Mental ill-health is the leading killer of Australians under 45, and the leading cause of disability in Australia. It’s time our governments stepped up and invested in mental health care to save lives.

Please join this petition before it’s delivered in a press conference at Parliament House on Thursday.

“I call on the governments of Australia to act urgently and effectively to reform mental healthcare in Australia so that:
- there is no longer inequality of access to effective treatments between physical health and mental health
- early intervention is the norm;
- community based treatments are the norm; and
- quality services are the norm”

On Sunday I joined 200+ compassionate Brisbane people to call for the government to end mandatory detention, end the freeze on Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers and to stop playing political ping pong with human lives in the lead-up to the federal election.

My contribution was to help set up a ping pong table on behalf of The Greens to remind both of the old parties what a game of ping pong actually looks like – and that asylum seekers and refugees were not political ping pongs; they are people who deserve the same rights as those enjoyed by you and I.

Asylum seekers are people fleeing persecution from torture, trauma, war and tyranny – not political ping pongs.

The speeches were incredibly eye-opening and the courage shown by the speakers to speak out against this injustice was inspiring. Luckily I was wearing sunglasses because the stories were very hard to hear.

Refugee health worker Dr Alison Stewart’s accounts of the mental health trauma experienced by men, women and children who are detained for long periods and statistics surrounding their feelings of helplessness and hopelessness were extremely tough to learn of.

How a lucky country such as ours can justify such gross injustice is beyond my comprehension.