The Greens have today launched a plan to protect lutruwita/Tasmania’s forests for future generations and for a safe climate, all while ensuring new job opportunities.

With states across Australia ending native logging, it’s clear the writing is on the wall for Tasmania’s native forest logging industry. The IPCC tells us our forests are the first line of defence against climate change and must be protected. Native forest logging is destroying biodiversity and undermining climate action, and consumers are waking up to the damage.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt announced today that the Greens would preference Labor ahead of the Liberals across the country. Greens Local and State branches finalised preference recommendations for how-to-vote cards this week ahead of early voting polling booths opening on May 9.

Greens how-to-vote cards, that recommend preferences, will recommend a preference for Labor above the Coalition and place other right wing parties last. The Greens will also recommend a preference for climate independents in key Liberal held seats.

As the official election campaign is called, the Greens have launched their bid to put South Australia and climate action front and centre, with the party vying to double their representation in SA and balance of power in the Senate.

The Greens will run candidates in every seat and will campaign hard to elect Barbara Pocock to join Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in the Senate following the election on May 21.

The Greens will stop big polluters corrupting democracy by banning donations from the fossil fuel sector to political parties, candidates, and associated entities.

Since 2012, the fossil fuel sector has donated over $9 million to the major parties. It’s no coincidence that successive governments have refused to take strong action on climate, while letting coal and gas corporations pollute our air and water, destroy farmland and culturally significant sites, and release billions of tons of carbon emissions. 

The Greens have announced a policy to support women-led businesses, generating more employment opportunities for women and boosting economic growth.

Businesses with female founders and executive leadership employ, on average, six times as many women as other businesses, and typically have strong parental leave and flexible working arrangements. But women-led businesses, particularly in regional areas, often find it difficult to secure finance, despite the calibre of staff or the quality of their product or service.

Disabled person and spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services Senator Jordon Steele-John has announced the Australian Greens have released a plan to improve the lives of disabled people across the country.

Australian Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services Senator Steele-John said:
“I am so excited to release the first stage of our monumental Greens plan for disabled people ahead of International Day of People with Disabilities. 

Decisions made by successive governments have resulted in health inequality. Whether you’ve been here for 5 years, 5 generations or 5 000 generations, everyone should enjoy the same access to healthcare in this country. 

COVID-19 put a spotlight on the fact that many First Nations communities need better access to health services, and the health centres they rely on need more resources to empower First Nations people to get what they need to be and stay well. 

The Australian Greens have today announced their plan to make Telehealth a permanent part of our healthcare system, investing $772 million over the forward estimates into our healthcare system.

Telehealth has been widely available since March 2020 and has enabled many people to access healthcare on the phone or by video conference. The changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule that enabled these appointments are set to end on 31st December 2021.

Greens spokesperson on Health and Mental Health Senator Jordon Steele-John said:

As Barnaby Joyce and Matt Canavan call for more coal before the ink on the Glasgow Climate Pact is even dry, the Greens have begun hitting the streets in target inner-city Liberal seats like Ryan, Brisbane, Kooyong and Higgins to unseat incumbents by reminding them that if you vote Liberal, you get Barnaby.