Townsville Greens The Greens Listen

Local Greens candidates have called on other candidates to state their position on container deposit legislation. A Newspoll survey commissioned by Clean Up Australia, showed that four out of five Australians believe a 10-cent refund for drink containers is a good idea. What seems to be lacking in Queensland is the political will to take on the big manufacturers who make greater profits from single use drink containers.

The Greens would introduce legislation based on the successful South Australian legislation which has been responsible for massive reductions in litter and increases in the reuse and recycling of glass, plastic and cans. Nationally, the recovery rate for non-refillable soft drink bottles is 36%, whether glass or plastic but South Australians recover 74% of plastic bottles and 85% of glass ones.

Elders from Palm Island say the way the Queensland government is treating them and their issues reminds them of the way they were treated by the superintendent who ruled their lives with an iron fist under the Aboriginal and opium act drawn up at the beginning of the last century.

Bethel Smallwood still remembers the day she cut her forehead badly and was forbidden by a policeman to go by the quickest route to the hospital, down Mango Lane, because of apartheid laws.

In a similar way, in 2008, Palm Island children seeking refuge from neglect and abuse were stopped from going to "Safe Haven": a refuge for children set up by the women at Kootana, "because of bureaucratic laws that overrode the good sense and compassion of local women looking after children in trouble," said Delina Oui Foster, Independent candidate for the state seat of Townsville and former Mayor of Palm Island.

The Greens have assured voters that they are committed to supporting the arts in Townsville.

Jenny Brown, Greens candidate for Mundingburra , is concerned that Tropic Sun Theatre Company may be forced to close due to lack of funding from the State Government.  Ms Brown said, “The Greens believe in supporting and promoting local artists and protecting their work. The Greens would increase direct funding to the arts and artists and ensure access to the arts and cultural events in rural and regional areas.”

Greens argue that promotion and support for organic agriculture would provide jobs and better food for rural Queenslanders.

With climate chaos, peak oil and the global economic meltdown, it will not be business as usual in Queensland, warns Greens candidate for Townsville Jenny Stirling.   “Both the major parties are promoting a future for Qld dependent on coal.  This is an outdated technology that will not provide secure jobs for Queenslanders, and contributes to climate chaos”.

The Greens promote an alternative future for Queensland reliant on green collar jobs, including organic agriculture.  “Organic farming can get better yields than conventional agriculture and will be much more reliable in the drier years that are predicted to increase with climate chaos. 

Greens ask for funds to be directed to supporting Kokoda Pool instead of wasted on V8 supercars.

Greens candidate for Mundingburra, Jenny Brown adds her voice to calls to upgrade and preserve Kokoda Pool as a community aquatic facility and fitting memorial to the soldiers who fought and died on the Kokoda Track.  “Many community groups have been disadvantaged by the closure of the pool and it is outrageous that our State Government neglects to provide the $5.8 million funding for this facility, which allows year round physical  activity for the community, yet spends millions on promoting V8 supercar racing”

The Greens candidates in Nth Qld are concerned that both major parties are promoting uranium mining as an answer to the State’s economic crisis.  Laurence Springborg has openly supported uranium mining, and the current ALP government already allows exploration for uranium.

If uranium mining gets the go-ahead from the next government, we could see mining in Mt Isa and at Ben Lomond outside of Townsville.

Toxic waste from heavy industry around Townsville is being regularly discharged into our Marine Parks and the State Government is unable to control it.

Greens candidate Jenny Stirling is concerned that both BHP Billiton Yabulu (QNI) and Sunmetals have both been releasing toxic heavy metal waste from their tailings dam into the Marine Park.  The regulatory agency, the EPA has no control over these discharges.

Local candidates for The Greens have expressed their support for Seniors and the important role they play in our community. Jenny Brown, The Greens candidate for Mundingburra said, “The Greens have long recognized that the pension has not kept up with the real costs for pensioners and have been successful in gaining a commitment from the Federal Government for a rise in the pension in the May budget as part of the Economic Stimulus package."  Ms Brown said, ”This is about social justice and fair distribution of Australia's wealth”.

Local Greens candidates today challenged other candidates for the coming state elections to tell the voters how they plan to deal with the severe shortage of affordable rental properties in Townsville.

The Greens candidates have all witnessed in their work, Jenny Stirling and Frank Reilly as social workers and Jenny Brown as a psychologist, the distress that being homeless or at risk of homelessness can cause.

Jenny Brown, The Greens candidate for Mundingburra said that, “The Greens believe that everyone should have access to secure, affordable housing. In Townsville low-income households can't find affordable homes to rent, but our state government chooses to build a racetrack for V8’s rather than put money into public housing".

The Greens candidate for Mundingburra, Jenny Brown, urges animal lovers to examine the animal welfare policies of the major parties when considering how to vote at the coming state election.

“Most Australians would be horrified if they fully understood the cruelty involved in the intensive farming practices used to produce much of the food we eat.” Ms Brown said. “The Greens are the only major party with real policies designed to protect farm animals.”

The Greens are opposed to intensive farming practices such as battery hen farming and the use of sow stalls, plus the indefensible live export trade. Ms Brown urges all animal lovers to let the governments, both state and federal, know that they won’t tolerate cruelty to farm animals.

Of special concern to Ms Brown is the suffering of pregnant sows that spend most of their lives confined to  metal crates only 60cm wide with a concrete floor, when a more humane alternative of group housing could be used.