Victorian branch of Green Party formed

Victorian branch of Green Party formed

By Jason Cheng
and Jeremy Smith

MELBOURNE — A meeting of 20 people here on September 12 decided to form a Victorian branch of the Green Party. Among those in attendance were representatives from the Green Political Network, Australian Conservation Foundation, Green Alliance, Community Aid Abroad and Jenny Saulwick, an independent candidate for Monbulk.

The meeting adopted a charter inspired by the general principles of the German Greens. Its planks are: democracy, social justice, peace, an ecologically sustainable economy, meaningful work, culture, information and global responsibility.

Organisers stressed that the interim constitution had to be compatible with the constitution of the already formed Green Party in Queensland, NSW and Tasmania if the Victorian group was to be part of that process. A key issue of discussion on the constitution was the clause proscribing members of other parties.

According to the draft, members of other political parties may not join the Greens, but may become associate members without a vote. Discretion as to the definition of a party will lie with the state and national councils of the Greens.

A proposal to run a Green candidate in the coming federal election was deferred pending further policy formulation and a recruitment drive. A steering committee was formed and will aim for a public launch in November.

From GLW issue 72