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westholme
Joined: 02 May 2006
Posts: 2628
Location: Amamoor
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 Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject: A bit of dam politics |
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| Quote: | Beattie's 'Vote 1' system may haunt Labor: Greens
Brisbane Times
Marissa Calligeros and Tony Moore | February 21, 2009 - 5:41PM
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/beatties-vote-1-system-may-haunt-labor-greens/2009/02/21/1234633127081.html
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the "Vote 1" system adopted by former Queensland premier Peter Beatie to blanket preferences at the last state election may return to haunt the Labor Party.
Senator Brown could not guarantee Premier Anna Bligh the Greens' preferences if she calls a snap poll for March.
"Traditionally, Labor has got Greens' preferences, but less and less so,'' Senator Brown said.
"The Vote 1 system is a Labor prescription which the Greens heard loud and clear at the last election, and it is an option that always remains there (for the Greens),'' he said.
It is likely the Queensland Greens State Council will recommend a ``just vote one'' strategy to voters, since the Bligh Government has failed to back-down on its controversial plan to dam the Mary River at Traveston.
Greens MP for Indooroopilly Ronan Lee said the State Government could not count on the Greens.
"We are in discussion with both Labor and LNP (Liberal National Party) about preferences and we are calling on Premier Anna Bligh to go the full term so she can implement at least those environmental promises she made before the last election,'' Mr Lee said.
"If she calls a snap election in what is obviously difficult economic times, not unreasonably the Greens will judge her on her record. And they've got a long way to go on the environment.''
The Greens have attacked the Government on a range of issues including a failure to boost the national park system, declining conditions on the Great Barrier Reef, the Traveston Dam, and the Government's continued focus on coal-exporting industries.
Labor will lose its majority in Queensland Parliament should there be a 7.6 per cent swing equivalent of the loss of 18 seats to the Liberal National Party (LNP).
Yet the Bligh Government's re-election would depend entirely on support from the Greens if Labor were to lose just 14 seats across the state, with a 5.9 per cent swing.
Green preferences will also be crucial for Labor on the Gold and Sunshine coasts where the Government will fight to hold seats in Mudgeeraba and Gaven.
On the Sunshine Coast, the redistribution of seats under council amalgamations last year could see the former Labor seat of Glasshouse go to LNP candidate Andrew Powell, with just a 0.1 per cent swing.
Senator Brown suggested the Greens would uphold a traditional, blanket preference deal with Labor, should Ms Bligh trash plans for Traveston Dam.
"You would want to see the ink dry on the paper with Premier Bligh's signature on it, absolutely putting an end to the Traveston Dam,'' he said.
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| Quote: | Labor's Vote 1 a weakness
Sky News Australia
Updated: 17:50, Saturday February 21, 2009
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown says the 'Vote 1' system adopted by former Queensland premier Peter Beattie at the last state election may come back to haunt Labor.
Senator Brown said that while he would leave the decisions on preferences to local candidates in this year's election, Labor had a lot of work to do before it secured Greens' preferences.
'Traditionally, Labor has got Greens' preferences, but less and less so,' Senator Brown said.
'(The Vote 1 system to simplify voting along party lines) is a Labor prescription which the Greens heard loud and clear at the last election, and it is an option that always remains there (for the Greens),' he said.
Indooroopilly Greens MP Ronan Lee said it was unlikely the Bligh government would have his party's preferences if a snap election was called.
'We are in discussion with both Labor and LNP (Liberal National Party) about preferences and we are calling on Premier Anna Bligh to go the full term so she can implement at least those environmental promises she made before the last election,' Mr Lee said.
'If she calls a snap election in what is obviously difficult economic times, not unreasonably the Greens will judge her on her record. And they've got a long way to go on the environment.
Mr Lee said Labor would need to do a lot more than back down on plans to build the controversial Traveston dam.
'That's a good start, but they need to do more,' he said.
'They also need to deliver for the Barrier Reef and for wilderness rivers. It's not too late to do so.'
Senator Brown aired the Greens' reluctance to preference Labor at the next election, which many are tipping will be called soon, as he outlined the Greens' economic stimulus measures.
The Greens' $500 million package of measures, negotiated as part of the federal government's $42 billion stimulus package, will create more than 10,000 jobs Australia-wide.
Queensland is expected to see around $80 million from the package.
The package includes a $300 million Local Green Jobs scheme, which will provide one-off grants to church, charitable, council and community organisations for green projects.
Groups are being encouraged to apply for grants. |
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CESARE LOMBROSO "The ignorant man always adores what he cannot understand" |
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SteveB
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 241
Location: Dagun
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| Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:37 am Post subject: Greens / Traveston /preferences |
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Heres some more angles on the same issue
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25090172-3102,00.html
| Quote: | Mr Lee said a September poll would give Ms Bligh six months to get its ``greenhouse'' in order and satisfy voters that Labor was serious about environmental issues.
``But if she goes early, then we would make a judgment based on what she has done,'' Mr Lee said.
``What we have clearly said up to this point is that it is a disappointing Government on the environment, more spin than policy.''
He said before a preference deal could be contemplated, the Government would need to ``back down'' on the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam. |
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"Bad luck ... you dickheads. Suffer in your jocks". (from: the Castle) |
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Darren E
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 2075
Location: Dagun, Qld
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| Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:53 am Post subject: |
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Well, the election has just been called today, for March 21, so lets hope the Brown and Lee meant what they said.
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"There can be no liberty for a community which lacks the means by which to detect lies" - Walter Lippman |
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westholme
Joined: 02 May 2006
Posts: 2628
Location: Amamoor
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| Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:13 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Early election unacceptable, say MPs
12:00a.m. 24th February 2009
| By Nikkii Joyce
http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/feb/24/queensland-2009-election-timing/
Angry Sunshine Coast MPs have labelled premier Anna Bligh’s early election announcement as unacceptable and an expensive act of contempt for taxpayers.
Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington, an independent, was strongest in his opposition to the shock announcement of March 21 as the day Queensland voters would head to the polls.
“It is the strongest case for a change to have a fixed term of state parliament as local government. There is no need for the premier to have such a latitude to pick and choose the polls,” Mr Wellington said
Steve Dickson, the member for Kawana who will contest the new seat of Buderim, said the announcement came as he and a large number of regional Queensland MPs had travelled to Brisbane for a week of parliament.
“It’s a great waste of time for MPs and a great waste of taxpayer money,” he said.
Mr Dickson said his campaign would focus on a health system in crisis and job security.
The Australian Labor Party candidate for Buderim, Laura Hawkins, said it was vital for voters to stick with a major party where their voices would be heard.
“It’s a very exciting opportunity with this new seat and with the ALP they have a voice into the government,” Ms Hawkins said.
Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle, the Liberal National Party deputy leader, said “anger” had taken hold of Sunshine Coast residents over 11 wasted years under the current Queensland government.
Mr McArdle said the region would not forget the region’s water being stolen, a health system besieged and an “economy that has taken a nose dive”.
“The government is now bereft of funds when rivers of gold were clearly flowing in for the state. Sunshine Coast residents are very angry,” Mr McArdle said.
He said current unrest among Queensland voters meant no member of parliament could assume re-election, including himself.
“Every state member will be focusing on their electorates and for my Caloundra seat I will not be taking that for granted.”
Greens candidate for the seat of Noosa, Steve Haines, said key issues for his community which had been ignored included urgent public transport upgrades and climate change.
“They are very angry at the downright disrespect the government has shown for the desires of the people of Noosa in relation to council mergers and their continued Traveston Dam campaign.”
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| Quote: | Nicklin candidate Steve Morrison
3:00p.m. 24th February 2009
Nicklin candidate Steve Morrison
Nicklin LNP candidate Steve Morrison.
Nicklin LNP candidate Steve Morrison is a 46-year-old Bli Bli resident who has been married to his wife Gwenyth for 24 years. The couple has two children.
Steve was born and raised in Samford, near Brisbane. He trained as a mechanical technician before moving to the Sunshine Coast in 1985 to start a mechanical and machinery sales and service business in Nambour, which is still operating and employs 15 people.
Steve has a passion for flying - and has enjoyed flying small aircraft in all states of Australia.
Steve says he prides himself on having been a practical environmentalist - ensuring his company has involved itself in the manufacture of machinery which will work with nature, not against it. Since 1985 his firm has been responsible for manufacturing soil aerating machinery which directly reduces the need for using chemical fertilizers and sold them in all parts of Australia.
In 2001, Steve says he designed and built sprayers for the Strawberry industry which led to a direct reduction in chemical usage by 45% and reduced water requirements by 50%.
Steve fought against the Kulangoor Dump and with the assistance of others in the KADAG team won this fight and had the dump stopped. Steve felt honoured to accept an award from KADAG for the assistance in the fight against environmental stupidity.
Steve has also been a vocal activist against the Traveston Dam on the Mary River due the environmental concerns which he says are being ignored by the Queensland Labor government.
A graduate of the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) Steve has used his business and university skills to help in local sports clubs, the Sunshine Coast Show Society, Nambour High School P&C and has been on the executive of the Nambour Chamber of Commerce.
Steve has been involved with the Nambour PCYC and with the support of the Maroochy Aero Club has taken children on flights over the Sunshine Coast. |
| Quote: | Candidates speak out
http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2009/02/23/candidates-speak-out/
23rd February 2009
THE early election call showed that “the only job Anna Bligh is concerned about in Queensland is her own,” Gympie sitting MP and Liberal National candidate David Gibson (above) said yesterday.
“There are a lot of issues in this election and Gympie has borne the brunt of many of them.
“We've seen 11 years of Labor failing to deliver.
“After doing nothing on water they decide on the Traveston Crossing dam.
“After not planning for hospital growth, we find we don't have a helipad.
“We've seen powerlines put in a rush without planning and without alternatives being considered.
“What has she got to hide? The election was announced the day before Parliament was to debate the Charter of Budget Honesty Bill, which would have subjected her promises and the Opposition's to independent costing to see if they could be delivered.”
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CESARE LOMBROSO "The ignorant man always adores what he cannot understand" |
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