Greens MPs

This is a speech I delivered to the Sydney Institute last night. You can also listen to it here or download a pdf here.

Sydney Institute, October 27th 2008.

Green Politics, the Balance of Power and the Green New Deal.

Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening about Green Politics, Balance of Power and the twin global meltdowns of climate and finance. There has never been a more critical time to be a Green and there has never been a time when the philosophy and experience of Green politics - based on forty years of environmental, social justice, peace and democracy campaigning - has been more important. The decisions that will be made in the next five years are crucial for the future of life on Earth.

In excellent news this morning, The Age reports that Christine Milne's amendments to the Luxury Car Tax, exempting fuel efficient vehicles from the levy, are already having an impact!

Ian Porter writes:

"THE changes made to luxury car tax have already started to influence the design of premium cars, with Audi announcing plans to install smaller diesel engines in some of its models so they consume less than seven litres per 100 kilometres - and become exempt from the tax."

Audi Chief Joerg Hofmann is quoted as saying:

ABC TV watchers amongst you may have seen the promos already for Christine Milne on the newish Q&A program this Thursday night, July 10, at 9.30 pm.

She will be on the panel, focussed on 'Welcome the new Senate', with Senator Helen Coonan, Minister Craig Emerson, author Linda Jaivin and everybody's favourite opinionated columnist, Andrew Bolt.

As well as watching the program, please think about asking questions of Christine and the other panellists - about the Senate and balance of power, about the Garnaut Review, about appropriate responses to climate change, peak oil and the transport crisis, or anything at all that interests you!

You know the message is starting to get through when Kerry O'Brien on ABC's 7.30 Report opens an interview with the Prime Minister by saying "isn't it time to look Australians in the eye and tell them the news is only going to get worse on oil?"

New Matilda published this piece today under the title: 'Be wary, we're in safe hands'.

This piece was published today on Crikey's daily email. Also see my media release from this morning on the issue.

ABC Online kindly published this piece of mine today here. It's very encouraging to see the overwhelmingly positive comments thread thus far.

With the Infrastructure Australia Bill having passed the Senate in its original form this morning, this article from me discussing its implications was published in New Matilda today.

The Rudd Government's Bill to establish Infrastructure Australia is currently being debated in the Senate, with several amendments being proposed and debated by Christine.

This was orginally published in Crikey's daily email today, March 5.