Country Greens Victoria Network

If Darren Chester is elected at this weekend's by-election poll, the Greens will hold him to the commitment he made supporting cleaning up political donations.

"At the Bairnsdale Meet the Candidates meeting Darren Chester supported the Greens campaign to reform political donations" said Dr Malcolm McKelvie, Greens candidate for Gippsland.

"The Greens have campaigned for many years against corporate donations to political parties, because this is how big business influences policy", Dr McKelvie said. 

The Greens how to vote card for the Gippsland byelection 2008 is below

 Dr McKelvie has welcomed Darren Chester's call for all candidates to support the Greens proposal for an increase in the aged pension.

"Darren's advisors seem to have forgotten that last year, Bob Brown put up two motions calling for the Federal Government to approve a $30 a week pension rise to increase their standard of living above the poverty line," said Green candidate Dr Malcolm McKelvie. "The Coalition refused to approve both motions".

“Rising fuel prices are triggering changes in our behaviour that need to bepermanent, as we adapt to a world of higher energy and fuel prices” Greens candidate for Gippsland, Dr Malcolm McKelvie said today.

“The Greens in Federal Parliament have this week put up a successful motion for the Rudd Government to start work on international legal action against whaling in our waters” said Greens candidate, Dr Malcolm McKelvie.

"We don’t have whales in Traralgon or Orbost but it is an issue which Australians everywhere feel very strongly about. 

Sarah Hanson-Young, recipient of a prize sponsored by Peter McGauran, has urged Gippsland voters to vote Green in this weekend's by-election.

"Now is the time for people in Gippsland to turn to the Greens.  We offer real vision, and we are serious about representing the whole community in the parliament," Senator-elect Hanson-Young said. 

"We will be pushing for an increase in the old age pension in budget negotiations after July 1".

The Greens are questioning the 'clean green Gippsland' claims after reports this week shows the Gippsland Lakes are almost damaged beyond repair.

"If we can measure the health of our agriculture by the health of the Gippsland lakes, then we are probably not very clean or green at all," said Dr Malcolm McKelvie, Greens candidate for the Gippsland by-election.

“There are bigger and more important things in this election campaign than where the people of Traralgon buy their postage stamps”, said Dr Malcolm McKelvie, Greens candidate in the Gippsland by-election.

“For example, are our forests worth more to the community standing or as woodchips?” he asked.