In the News
Clippings and links to news articles involving country greens
Push for better safety at train stations in the hills
SAFETY at hills train stations is looming as a key election topic, with both the Liberal and Greens candidates for Monbulk launching campaigns for extra transit police and permanent staff at local platforms.Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matthew Mills said under the Victorian Coalition’s plan, 100 extra transit police would be added to Victoria’s train network, and two Victoria protective services officers would be stationed at every train station from 6pm until the last train. Tecoma and Upwey stations are both currently unmanned.
Greens candidate Jo Tenner said her party planned to fully staff all train stations from the first to the last train.
“Many people I have spoken with around the electorate have told me that they do not feel safe using the unstaffed stations, they also expressed concerns about the level of vandalism and graffiti at the stations,” she said. Ms Tenner said if permanent staff were employed, then waiting areas and toilets could be opened and tourists provided with directions, making the station a real hub of the town.
Staff from Indian restaurant Saffron Cottage in Tecoma recently quit after being racially taunted and threatened with violence at Tecoma station. Restaurant owner Nikky Salgadoe said she supported the station being staffed at all times. Monbulk state Labor MP James Merlino said there had been more than a 50 per cent increase in public transport over the past 10 years, yet the crime rate had continued to drop.
Mr Merlino said Victoria Police and Metro continued to work together to identify hot spots across the rail network.
He said the Victorian Transport Plan had a further commitment to engage 50 new transit police, and more than 500 authorised officers were already employed across the Victorian public transport network.
Push for better safety at train stations in the hills
KIMBERLEY SEEDY, Free Press Leader 5th May 2010
ABC won't come to the party over Gruen Greens ad
The ABC has rejected pleas from the Greens to be allowed to broadcast a striking yet fake election advertisement that was created for the broadcaster.
The party confirmed it wants to use an advertisement created by agency Republic of Everyone that featured on the Gruen Nation last night.
But the ABC will not allow it to be used during the campaign, stating it owns the rights and the "ABC can't provide one side's advertising".
A scene from the fake Greens ad showing on Gruen Nation.
The "fake ad" was created as part of "The Pitch"- a segment in which two advertising agencies were asked to create an advertisement about the Greens.
The 30-second clip focused on issues such as gay marriage, climate change and dental care and has been viewed more than 3400 times this morning on YouTube.
Republic of Everyone's Ben Peacock said on the Gruen Nation that its creation aimed to show the Greens' stance on multiple issues, not just the environment.
The Greens Senator, Bob Brown, said he thought the ad was "great."
"And it got right to the point. The Greens have normally had a struggle to stay in election campaigns because of the spending of the old parties. We’ll give them a run for their money this time."
"Maybe Gruen Nation could run that ad again next week, that would be a start," Senator Brown said.
Gruen panelist and Leo Burnett chief executive Todd Sampson told Mr Peacock "it was the best ad the Greens have ever done" and to "expect a phone call".
And that call came this morning.
Greens spokeswoman Ebony Bennett confirmed the party had contacted Republic of Everyone and the ABC asking to use the advertisement.
"We rang the Republic of Everyone first thing this morning as we had a huge response following last night and we were inundated with requests to get it on air," Ms Bennett said.
But an ABC spokesman said the broadcaster would not provide the "fake Greens" advertisement.
"ABC TV will not be providing the fake Greens ads to the Greens party, because the ad was made specifically for Gruen Nation," he said.
The Gruen Nation's Twitter account also tweeted a short time ago that "Greens can't buy or run brill Gruen Nation ad ... ABC can't provide one side's advertising".
Ms Bennett denied the fake advertisement was better than those created by the party.
"I think all our ads have been fantastic," she said.
"This just came out of nowhere. I think people are really disillusioned by the major parties and what they believe ... and [this advertisement] speaks to the core of what the Greens believe in."
Ms Bennett said the party had placed links to the video on its Facebook and Twitter pages.
Mr Peacock said the response since the Gruen Nation had been phenomenal.
He also refrained from criticising the ABC for not releasing the advertisement to the Greens.
"Clearly I would love to see it on TV but at the same time I don't think it is a question of won't for the ABC; it is that they can't ... be giving ads to political parties and I totally sympathise with them," he said.
Mr Peacock said the clip took over a week to produce and was the first idea floated by his team.
He said the advertisement "worked because it was positive" and is based "on real issues".
"I really would like to see this change the way political parties view advertising and show them it can be positive," he said.
"I would also hope from a corporate [advertising] point of view that they can realise the power in sustainable and positive messages."
with Louise Hall
Cardina boys' club
CARDINIA Shire has an all-male council following the weekend’s election.
The only woman candidate, Kate Lempriere, bows out, and the other five women who stood – Catherine Manning, Kate Hands, Tracy Montgomery, Gloria O’Connor and Linda Hamilton – also attracted too few votes to survive.
In neighbouring Casey the story is different, with a record five women to take their place in the 11-member council.
Casey is one of only a couple of councils with five women, following the 2008 poll.
Casey voters returned finance broker Lorraine Wreford in Springfield Ward for another term. The other four successful female candidates will be first-time Casey councillors.
Volunteer and family carer Shar Balmes, with Karen Baxter, will tip the gender in Four Oaks Ward, where voters threw out Paul Richardson and Rob Wilson.
Amanda Stapleton sets some gender balance in Mayfield, where the voting system returned the person currently under an investigation for breach of the council’s code of conduct, Kevin Bradford.
In River Gum Ward, mother and carer Lynette Keleher for the Greens will balance the gender with returning councillor Wayne Smith, who shared the ward with former mayor Janet Halsall.
Speaking after the Cardinia result on Monday, Ms Lempriere said that while democracy had spoken, Cardinia Shire would be at a disadvantage without a female at the council table.
“The one thing I am disappointed about is that there are no women,” she said. “Women give a different approach, a different perspective, not better nor worse, just different.
“I would have liked to have seen Catherine (Manning) or Kate (Hands) there because it would have given a bit of balance. They would have been a great asset to this council.
“I am concerned about the arts. I was the only one who championed the arts. The men are into sport, sport, sport.”
Gloria O’Connor, who ran for Bunyip Ward, agreed it was a shame the voters elected no women.
“It’s a pity that of seven councillors there isn’t a capable female, from the public’s perspective,” she said.
Catherine Manning, who ran for Port Ward, said there were plenty of quality female candidates on Cardinia’s ballot papers.
“I’m disappointed there’s not one female at least to represent Cardinia’s population,” she said.
“At this time in 2008, I would have expected a couple of females to be elected onto council. It’s important to have balance.”
“The council has the potential to be seen as a boys’ club, but let’s hope they prove us wrong.”
http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/67487
Court upholds public interest in Brown Mountain forest proceedings
The Supreme Court today refused VicForests' application for up to $163,000 in security from a small environment group. VicForests was asking for this sum to be secured before a court injunction is granted to stop logging on Brown Mountain.
"If EEG had been required to pay such a large sum of money, it could have stifled an important piece of public interest litigation", said EEG spokesperson Jill Redwood.
"This is a groundbreaking decision because no Victorian court has ever ordered an injunction on logging before. It is also a groundbreaking case because it is the first time that the Supreme Court has been asked to order a party in a public interest case to pay security of this type".
"The judgment says 'this is an exceptional case', and that if logging was allowed to go ahead before the trial, there is 'a genuine risk' that the Potoroo habitat may be destroyed", said Ms Redwood.
Justice Forrest said that the relevant laws "demonstrate the clear legislative intent that protecting threatened or endangered species such as the Potoroo is particularly important".
"We feel vindicated by this decision today and look forward to having the case heard for the protection of the forests and rare wildlife on Brown Mountain", said Ms Redwood.
For comment: Jill Redwood ph (03) 5154 0145
Gippsland by-election date set
The Federal by-election in the Victorian seat of Gippsland will be held on June 28th.
The Speaker for the Federal House of Representatives, Harry Jenkins will issue a writ on May the 19th. It will be a 40-day campaign.
Both the Liberals and Nationals have held official campaign launches, but the ALP has been waiting for the date of the by-election to be announced.
The Former National Party MP, Peter McGauran, announced his resignation from the seat in early April to take up a job in the racing industry.
There has already been controversy in the Labor Party's preselection process when Labor head office stepped in to announce a candidate against the wishes of local branches.
The seat is a critical one for the Nationals.
They have held the seat with the Country Party since the 1920's and the last three-cornered contest was in 1983.
Last month Federal Liberal MPs tried to convince the State independent to run on a joint party ticket.
The date of the election has caused concern in some quarters, because it is the first week of the Victorian school holidays.
Groups call for a halt to Port of Hastings expansion plans
Environment and community groups are calling for a halt on plans to significantly expand the Port of Hastings due to the unacceptable risks they pose to Westernport Bay's environmental and recreational values.
"Westernport has remarkable environmental and recreational values right on Melbourne's doorstep," said the Victorian National Parks Association's Marine and Coastal Project Officer Simon Branigan.
"Extensive tracts of seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh habitats provide nurseries for fish species and important foraging, breeding and roosting habitat for shorebirds and wader birds," he said.
Blue Wedges Coalition spokesperson Jenny Warfe warned the plans could undermine the bay's resilience to climate change.
"Plans to expand the Port of Hastings endanger Westernport's values and reduce the resilience of the bay to the ongoing impacts of climate change," she said.
Download joint community & enviroment groups statment here
"The current port expansion plans include major new and upgraded road and rail transport corridors, significant dredging of the channel, the decimation of 4-6 kilometres of mangroves, and substantial land reclamation.i
"The State Government's plans to export 12 million tonnes of brown coal through Hastings by 2020ii will add further to traffic and pollution, massively increase shipping traffic, and will heighten the risk of contaminant spills including oil in an area known to be extremely vulnerable to spills," she said.
The Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council's Karri Giles said the expansion plans could ruin the bay's credentials as a tourist drawcard.
"We also want to stand up for the recreational values of Westernport - swimming, fishing, education, tourism - as well as its environmental values," said Ms Giles.
"Port expansion could tip the balance in Westernport and ruin the very reason why people visit the bay."
"The joint statement by fifteen groups demonstrates considerable support for an urgent and comprehensive assessment of Westernport's values and threats to better inform planning and protection measures - not an ill-conceived port expansion," said Simon Branigan.
The groups call on the Brumby Government and Baillieu Coalition Opposition to commit to:
- Halting plans to expand the Port of Hastings due to the unacceptable risk it would pose to the environmental, health and recreational values of Westernport.
- Conducting, as a stand-alone process or as part of a broader state-wide review, a comprehensive, independent, science-based assessment. The review would update information on the ecological values of Westernport, the threats to these values, and the way in which those values can be protected and the bay and its catchment used in an ecologically sustainable way.
- Including in this assessment comprehensive modelling of oil spill risk and dispersal following and extending on earlier studies.
i Port of Hastings Corporation (2009) Port of Hastings Land Use & Transport Strategy. ii Morton, A (2010) State brown coal export plan revealed, The Age, November 4.
For comment- Simon Branigan - 03 9347 5188.
Logging Glider & Powerful Owl Habitat
The Otway Conservation Council (OCC) is asking the Environment Minister Gavin Jennings to intervene to protect an area of forest that is currently being logged in the Wait-A-While Creek catchment, which is habitat for Yellow-bellied Gliders and Powerful Owls.
Stephen Chenery spokesperson for Otway Conservation Council, said "We have spoken with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) which okayed the logging in such a highly sensitive habitat area, but they have said they will not halt the logging. They had agreed to conduct an inspection of the coup with us, but have now reneged on the undertaking. We have now contacted the Premier John Brumby and the Minister for Environment Gavin Jennings and expect their reply early next week"
Logging in this area has also been opposed by the local landcare group, and landholders. "This area is of national park status because of it’s biodiversity values and should be added to the Great Otway National Park." said Mr Chenery,
"The area being logged contains many Yellow-bellied Glider feed trees which are at risk of damage from logging operations. All vegetation around them is being cleared which will expose them to wind damage thereby reducing the habitat value for both the yellow-bellied glider and the Powerful Owl. One habitat tree has already been felled." said Mr Chenery.
Preferences for Deakin ward by-election revealed
THE six candidates in the Deakin Ward by-election for the City of Greater Geelong have announced their preferences ahead of the postal vote.
On paper, the six candidates appear to have paired off, with each trading second preferences with one other candidate.
Highton businessman Andrew Katos has given his second preferences to Highton mother Trish McClure, who in turn has given her second preferences to Mr Katos.
Similarly, Geelong Greens convener Bruce Lindsay and unionist Andy Richards have traded second preferences, and Barwon Health finance manager Brandon Howard has traded preferences with public servant Ron Nelson.
The six hopefuls have also provided the state electoral commission with their candidate statements, which have been published on the commission's website.
Mr Howard yesterday announced he had launched his own website at www.brandonhoward. com.au.
He said the website would allow residents to communicate with him on the important issues.
"I am committed to listening to the issues that affect the residents of Deakin Ward and this is why I have set up this website," Mr Howard said.
"A councillor's role is more than just looking after garbage and gutters but it's about listening to the real issues of our community, so that we can work together to find solutions."
Mr Katos went on the front foot yesterday on the issue of water.
He said Geelong's council should work with other local councils to probe the opportunities to secure our region's future water supply needs.
"Many residents are fearful that new housing developments will result in an unsustainable drain on the region's water supply leaving Geelong in a permanent state of drought and water restrictions," Mr Katos said.
"It beggars belief that Geelong is continually beset with water restrictions when our city is surrounded by water, has the Barwon River flowing through it and the high rainfall Otways situated in our back yard."
Ballot packs containing voting material will be posted to voters from Tuesday, April 15.
Ballot papers must be received by the returning officer by 6pm on Friday, May 2.
Trees and Weeds in the Dandenong Ranges
WEEDS again proved a hot hills topic at a forum with State Environment Minister Gavin Jennings last Friday.More than 20 representatives from Dandenongs environment groups questioned the minister on a range of green topics at Olinda Community House.
Greens candidate for Monbulk Jo Tenner, representing the Upper Yarra and Dandenongs Environment Council, likened the fight against weeds to tackling a cancer.
“You don’t say that you’ve cured three to five per cent of the cancer and stop the treatment,” she said.
“You actually have to take the steps, make the investment to treat 100 per cent of the cancer, then you can go on a maintenance regime.”
“But we seem to be in a situation where year after year we get drip fed, which really just doesn’t tackle the problem.”
Mr Jennings accepted an invitation from Ms Tenner to return to the region in spring to see the problem first-hand.
The 10/30 rule, which allows hills homeowners to remove vegetation within 30 metres of their house and trees within 10 metres, also came under fire.
Olinda Action Group’s Mark Ferguson asked Mr Jennings when and how these vegetation controls would be reassessed.
“At the time we were told very clearly when the rules were announced that it was going to be a trial,” he said. Mr Ferguson said many people were removing trees to improve their view rather than for fire safety, and the rule was likely to have a major effect on the Dandenongs.
Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group’s Anne Elizabeth said trees were being taken for granted.
“The 10/30 rule, in my opinion, devalues people’s perceptions of the Australian bush.”
Mr Jennings said many people had “heartfelt anxieties” about bushfire which he had to be respectful of in dealing with the 10/30 rule, but agreed a review was needed.
“We should measure its effectiveness and its appropriateness,” he said.
By Casey Neill, Ranges Trader Mail 4th May 2010