Greens to contest federal election in NSW
SYDNEY — "NSW Greens are gearing up for the upcoming federal election", according to a spokesperson, Mark Berriman. "We feel that we need to give the federal parliament an increased green presence so that long term environmental and social justice issues are given more weight in political decision making."
Berriman said a statewide meeting of Greens delegates had agreed to proceed with preselection process of a Senate team. "A ticket of four will be selected for the Senate, including at least two women. We have nominations from seven excellent people with credentials as community and grassroots green activists.
"With the recent formation of a national confederation of Greens, we are looking forward to having more Green candidates across the country than ever before. In NSW, as well as the Senate, local groups will be organising candidates for at least 15 key lower house electorates."
Berriman said the issues campaigned on would include: "real ecologically sustainable policies; concern for the quality of the urban environment; job creation through environmental conservation programs; a halt to the reduction in tariffs and protection from international financial exploitation; opposition to a goods and services tax; a guaranteed minimum income scheme to ensure a consistent and comprehensive welfare system; opposition to the third runway at Mascot; implementation of international treaties on greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and other aspects of planetary care".