The Australian Greens have called on all Australians to check their enrolment immediately and update their details to ensure they don't miss out on voting in the imminent Federal Election, according to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson on Youth says time is running out for people to confirm their place on the electoral roll for the 2010 election.
Australian Greens candidate for Ballarat West Leon Dwyer will speak at a community meeting tonight called to support a helipad in Ballarat. He will tell the meeting that he supports the community call for a helipad, but other critical health issues must also be addressed.
“This is an emotional issue, like many others in the community I have been touched by grief from recent events,” said Leon Dwyer.
Leon knew Claire Smith, aka “Becky Bloodnut”, through his involvement in the Ballarat Roller Derby League.
Greens candidate for Western Victoria Marcus Ward says the denial from DSE that Wombat Forest has been opened up to logging from 2012 is not credible.
"The Government's native forest logging plan has been revealed and their damage control is in tatters," said Marcus Ward. "DSE says Wombat Forest will not be logged, but the VicForest allocations are clear as day, come 2012 it's open slather." *
Michael Bond is the 46 year old grandson of pioneering dairy farmers in the 
Strzelecki ranges and is the Greens candidate for the Federal seat of Gippsland.
He spent his childhood helping on the family dairy farm. “That upbringing has taught me the value of hard work and the struggle for people on the land. I remember long days of hay-carting and morning milkings. It’s a never ending cycle,” he recalls.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Business from Monash University and works in marketing and sales. He knows how critical it is to balance the books. Funds wasted on government advertising and billions in assistance to large industries could instead be invested in education and infrastructure.
He also calls on the government for a simplification of paperwork for the millions in small business and for retirees. “I hate the paperwork of business as much as everyone. Those are hours we should be spending with our family and friends,” Michael said.
“I believe that jobs are the key to success for any community and that their creation is my number one priority for Gippsland. I want to see a jobs-rich Gippsland. I remember the serious unemployment in the 1990s due to the privatisation of the SECV. It dislocates communities and ruins lives and must never happen again” he laments.
News that the Victoria’s Environment Minister, Gavin Jennings, has signed the Wombat Forest over to VicForests has been met with total disbelief.
“Steve Bracks promised to end all woodchipping and to hand the forest over to local community management,” commented Greens Western Victoria candidate Marcus Ward. “He said publicly and clearly, that if the community decided to end all logging that this would be respected. This pomise was made in the full glare of a state election, in writing, with the involvement and agreement of the then Treasurer John Brumby.”
“Now, in a sleazy backroom deal, it’s all out the window. It’s a total betrayal. One wonders what it takes to get the ALP to honour its commitments,” said Mr Ward.
"There have been growing reports of higher tides, beach erosion, faster currents and an increase in swell (surge from Bass Strait) since the Entrance to Port Phillip Bay was deepened,” Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik said today.
The Greens have rejected the government's proposal to abolish the Port of Hastings Corporation and incorporate it into the Port of Melbourne Corporation, under the Ports Integration bill in state parliament this week.
Sue Pennicuik, Greens spokesperson for Ports said. "The Greens have grave concerns about the impact of a larger Port of Hastings on the local environment and on Western Port Bay, which is a Ramsar-listed wetland."
