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only the impotents are pure…...
The Greens are threatening to block the referendum on the ‘Voice’ which promises to give effect to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The Green’s spokesperson on Indigenous Affairs, Senator Lidia Thorpe has described the Voice as a ‘waste of money’ and a ‘wasted exercise’.
Instead the Greens want priority for a Truth and Justice Commission.
This could spell the end or the defeat of the referendum on the Voice.
Don’t the Greens ever learn?
BY JOHN MENADUE
They were responsible for over a wasted decade on climate change. They bear responsibility with Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison for the continuing cruelty to refugees. In both cases, they wanted ‘something better’ than what was on offer. The result was that we failed for a decade on both issues.
Refugees
In the Parliament in September 2011, the Greens sided with Tony Abbott against the Malaysian Arrangement, which, whilst not ideal, would have been a useful first step in curbing boat arrivals. That arrangement with Malaysia was negotiated with the understanding and broad support of UNHCR. Under the Arrangement, 800 boat arrivals in Australia would be repatriated to Malaysia and Australia would accept 4000 refugees who had been orderly processed in Malaysia in cooperation with UNHCR. Not only did the Greens side with Tony Abbott in opposing amendments to the Migration Act to allow the arrangement with Malaysia to proceed, they embarked on an unscrupulous bashing campaign of Malaysia.
With the collapse of the Malaysian Arrangement, boat arrivals in Australia increased dramatically. In September 2011, there were about 3 to 4 asylum boats per month coming to Australia. By July 2013, the number had increased to 48 boats. The Greens cannot be absolved for their populism and the cruelty that followed.
Climate
The Greens must also accept responsibility for the collapse in public support for effective action on climate change. In collaboration with the Coalition in the Senate they opposed the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme of the first Rudd Government. If the Greens had supported the Rudd Government’s CPRS in the Senate, in 2008, the issue of climate change would not have been fully ‘done and dusted’ but we would be in a far better position on climate than we are today. The Greens said that the CPRS was not good enough. So we got nothing at all and 14 wasted years.
The Greens have inflicted damage on both climate and refugees. Their actions on both set back real reform and decent policies.
On the Voice we look like having a repeat of bloody mindedness by the Greens.
Once again the perfect looks like becoming the enemy of the good.
Or as Gough Whitlam often put it, ‘only the impotent are pure’.
READ MORE:
https://johnmenadue.com/john-menadue-the-pompous-greens-are-at-it-again/
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- By Gus Leonisky at 5 Sep 2022 - 9:55am
- Gus Leonisky's blog
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asking for an improved heaven…..
Let me be clear.
The Greens were the first party to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, and we still do.
This land always was First Nations land, it always will be, and we all need to take steps to ensure First Nations justice.
The Greens have a strong First Nations Network, which has underscored the value of the order of truth telling, treaty, and voice to make sure change is lasting & meaningful.
Victoria’s Labor government is already proceeding with truth and treaty. We need progress nationally too.
We may only get one chance at a referendum to enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the constitution. It cannot fail.
Our policy is to improve, not block vital legislation, and so in balance of power we'd work with the next government to further truth, treaty, and voice.
We need to kick the Liberals out, and the Greens will work with the next government to pass major reforms to improve First Nations rights, set up a Truth and Justice Commission and begin steps towards a treaty.
READ MORE:
https://greens.org.au/news/uluru-statement-heart
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THE GREENS ALWAYS ASK FOR MORE THAN CAN BE DONE.... THEY END UP GETTING NOTHING.....
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robust green space…...
Greens leader Adam Bandt says he is satisfied with his party's updated complaints processes, despite mounting pressure on it about its workplace culture.
Key points:In a formal complaint to Mr Bandt, Indigenous elder Geraldine Atkinson — who co-chairs the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria — accused Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe of verbally abusing her during a 2021 meeting in Parliament House.
She said that Senator Thorpe's alleged conduct had left her feeling extremely shaken, so much so that she sought treatment from a parliamentary nurse.
In September, Nine's newspapers revealed Senator Thorpe's former chief of staff — who was also in the meeting — had emailed Ms Atkinson, describing Senator Thorpe's behaviour as the "appalling conduct" and said it had left him "scared and in shock".
On Thursday, Mr Bandt would not be drawn on whether he apologised to Ms Atkinson, instead responding to questions on the matter by saying he had done what she had asked of him in her letter.
"When I received that complaint, I was asked to take a number of steps. I did those steps," he said.
"I didn't get back to confirm with the person who raised those with me that, in fact, I'd acted on [them] and that was a mistake and I should have and I've acknowledged that and since acknowledged that, with her, in writing."
Senator Thorpe has reportedly described the meeting as a "robust discussion", with Mr Bandt saying she takes a different view of the meeting and has requested an investigation.
"I've asked — and Lidia Thorpe has also asked — for that issue to be independently looked at by the department and, of course, await the outcome of that," he told the ABC on Wednesday.
READ MORE:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-06/adam-bandt-defends-greens-complaints-processes/101509568
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demanding too much.....
Large numbers of people who will decide the future of the Indigenous voice to parliament don’t yet know about the proposal, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has conceded.
Speaking to a government party room meeting on Tuesday in Canberra, Ms Burney urged Labor colleagues to campaign within their communities for the “yes” vote.
“Many of the people who will decide the referendum still don’t know about it,” she said.
The referendum to enshrine the Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution will be held in the second half of the year.
The exact wording of the question, as well as what would be put in the constitution should the referendum succeed, will be finalised by June at the latest.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the voice would be about recognising Indigenous people.
“We don’t currently recognise in a positive way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our constitution,” he said.
“Many nations that have histories of colonisation do do that: recognise their Indigenous people.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has yet to lay out his party’s formal position on the voice, but he has denied his questions about details of the proposal were undermining it.
At a joint party room meeting on Tuesday, the coalition agreed to push for funding to be provided for the “yes” and “no” campaigns as well as the distribution of pamphlets to households outlining the argument for both sides.
Mr Dutton said a majority of Australians wanted the situation to improve for Indigenous people, but there was still confusion about the voice.
“People … want to do the right thing but don’t understand what it is the government’s proposing,” he said.
“What would give people more assurance is if there is a bill that can explain how it’s going to work because there are different models as well.”
The latest Essential poll found 65 per cent of people supported the constitutional change.
While junior coalition party the Nationals will not back the voice, the Liberals have not put forward a formal stance.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said his party would be united in backing the voice after outspoken senator Lidia Thorpe’s decision to quit the party because of her concerns with the referendum proposal.
The Greens had delayed officially backing the proposal, saying the party wanted all aspects of the Uluru statement from the Heart – including treaty – to be implemented.
“All Greens MPs will be campaigning for the referendum to succeed. It’s going to be an important opportunity for the country to take another step towards First Nations justice,” Mr Bandt said.
“It was a consensus decision and there was no dissent to it; we’re all going to be campaigning for it.”
READ MORE:
https://michaelwest.com.au/people-still-dont-know-about-voice-minister-admits/
New independent senator Lidia Thorpe has revealed she has never been invited to attend the referendum working group, despite the federal government extending invitations to members of the opposition and the teal independents.
Key points:Prior to yesterday, the DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman was the Greens' First Nations spokeswoman.
In an her first interview since quitting the party, Senator Thorpe told ABC News she was disappointed in the government's handling of the referendum working group.
She also took aim at the parliament for not offering her enough protection and expressed an interest in meeting King Charles.
"I question the government and the prime minister as to why Peter Dutton was invited to meet with the working groups, and not the grassroots Black sovereign movement," Senator Thorpe said.
"'I've never been invited. I'll put that out there to the prime minister and the minister for indigenous Australians that the black sovereignty grass roots movement want to meet with the two advisory groups."
READ MORE:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-07/lidia-thorpe-speaks-after-quitting-greens/101940046
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alarming dating.....
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe's staff were so alarmed about her dating a former president of an outlaw motorcycle gang, they took the matter to the office of party leader Adam Bandt and an independent parliamentary authority.
Key points:Her staff were particularly worried because, at the time, Senator Thorpe was sitting on the joint parliamentary law enforcement committee, which was receiving confidential briefings about bikie gangs and organised crime.
Senator Thorpe has confirmed to the ABC she "briefly dated" the ex-president of the Rebels in Victoria, Dean Martin.
"We met through Blak activism and briefly dated in early 2021," she told the ABC.
"We remain friends and have collaborated on our shared interests advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples."
But their friendship troubled Senator Thorpe's staff, who learned of the relationship almost 18 months ago.
Dean Martin has no criminal convictions but had a 25-year-plus association with the Rebels. He stepped down as Victorian chapter president in 2018 after his brother Shane Martin — the father of AFL star Dustin Martin — was deported to New Zealand over links to the Rebels and Shane's criminal history.
READ MORE:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-20/lidia-thorpe-undisclosed-relationship-ex-rebel-president/101553386
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