[ Oct 8, 08 ]
The Greens today unveiled their transport plans for the City.
Click the above link for The Greens’ complete transport vision for Melbourne City Council.
As Bianca Hall reports in today’s Melbourne Times,
A GREENS lord mayor would lobby for public transport to run 24 hours a day and would curb the role cars play in the CBD.
Lord mayor candidate Adam Bandt said his party’s inner-city transport platform … would transform the CBD into a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly zone.
Key to The Greens’ transport vision for the City are:
- Making the tourist bus cost-neutral;
- Introducing a 30km/h throughout Council-controlled CBD roads, and on VicRoads-controlled roads after 8pm;
- Relocating tourist buses from Swanston St to Federation Square;
- Funding safe, well-lit taxi ranks in the city;
- Creating a pedestrian mall on Elizabeth St between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street;
- Removing the unacceptably dangerous Craigieburn line / Macauley Rd level crossing;
- Reinstating Swanston Walk;
- Abolishing the mayoral car and reducing the fuel consumption of the council car fleet;
- Reinstating the Westgate Bike Punt;
- Fast-tracking key commuter bicycle paths, and creating safer bicycle lanes;
- Opposing further reduction of CBD tram stops;
- Increasing the frequency of NightRider services to every 20 minutes; and
- Finally building the bus terminal on Lonsdale St, between King and Spencer Streets.
For the full Transport Policy, click here for the html format or here for the pdf format.
[ Sep 24, 08 ]
Greens Deputy Lord Mayor Candidate Cr Kathleen Maltzahn writes:
Over five years ago, I stumbled across slavery in Brunswick St Fitzroy. It was shocking, but not surprising. It wasn’t the first time I’d found out about slavery in Melbourne’s inner city. It wouldn’t be the last.
What was shocking was how long it took for the federal government to respond. It took from the raid of the brothel in mid-2003 to a High Court decision that was handed down on August 28 this year for this case to be resolved.
In between, the five victims endured a committal hearing, two trials, an appeal to the Court of Appeals and the High Court case. Finally though, they have been told that yes, what they experienced was slavery, a crime against humanity.
So what does that have to do with local government?
[ Aug 30, 08 ]
We have some well developed policies for the upcoming elections. But we’d love to hear from you: what matters to you? What would you like to see Council do? Or stop doing?
This is an open thread - leave a post on any topic you’d like. Click on the picture or on the ‘Add Comment’ link above.
Over to you.
[ Jul 18, 08 ]
The Melbourne City Greens held a successful fund-raiser on Wednesday night, hosted by former Lord Mayor (1988-89) Winsome McCaughey, the city’s second female Lord Mayor and one of the first dedicated conservationists to chair council.
Four eco-friendly wineries, including McCaughey’s own Baddaginnie Run, set up at Acquum in North Melbourne to provide attendees, including all Greens Melbourne City Council candidates, and councillors and MLCs from across the city, with a wonderful selection of wines to taste and buy.
Ms McCaughey addressed the crowd, speaking about the need for all levels of government to start seriously tackling climate change, and threw her support behind Greens lead Councillor candidate and long-time friend Cathy Oke.
Ms McCaughey’s comments came just hours after the federal government released its Emissions Trading Green Paper, a document fraught with problems and mixed-messages. She, like the Greens Council Candidates, expressed concern that the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme simply won’t send a signal for change.
Finishing with cause for hope, Greens Lord Mayor Candidate Adam Bandt outlined measures that all levels of government should be taking to provide Australians with practical ways to fight climate change. He hinted at what a council with more elected Greens could do with the tens of millions of council dollars currently being funneled into State Government projects… The Greens’ Solar Panel Initiative will be announced in the coming months!
[ Jul 7, 08 ]
Above: Hundreds of protesters spell the words “CLIMATE EMERGENCY” in Alexandra Gardens, and Greens Lead Councillor Candidate Dr Cathy Oke with Senator Bob Brown.
Climate Emergency Rally and the Draft Garnaut Report
On Saturday afternoon the Green Melbourne City Council Candidates attended the Climate Emergency Rally organised by a coalition of 60 community groups, including the Greens, that are frustrated with State and Federal government inaction on climate change.
A great turnout sent a clear message that we all want positive action immediately to address the Climate Emergency facing us all. Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown was one of the guest speakers, urging greater Government action NOW!
The rally came a day after Professor Ross Garnaut’s draft report on Climate Change was released - ironic timing given that a day earlier, Premier John Brumby announced another greenhouse gas intensive coal fired power plant for Victoria.
[ Jun 23, 08 ]
Wednesday July 16th 2008 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, upstairs at Acquum, 364 Victoria Street, North Melbourne (Restaurant is just up from Queen Victoria Market). $20 Entry: includes wine-tasting from 4 eco-friendly Victorian wineries and nibbles - please RSVP to events@makemelbournegreen.com.
[ May 31, 08 ]
It’s hard to go too far in Kensington without seeing a No Road Tunnel sign up - sometimes you can see five houses in a row, all proudly proclaiming their opposition to the project.
Last weekend, about 300 people turned up to hear Greens MP Greg Barber put forward some of the arguments against the tunnel. A broad mix of the community and several other groups were there, including people from the Kensington Association, and independent and several groups with vested interest. Cathy Oke was introduced as the lead Greens candidate for Melbourne City Council, and Kensington resident Donna Lancaster was introduced as a candidate for the Council.
Greens MP Greg Barber and Greens Lord Mayor candidate Adam Bandt have also released a YouTube video talking about the campaign against the tunnel - take a look. You can find more information on the campaign for better transport options for Melbourne at http://www.wrongway-goback.com/.
[ May 12, 08 ]
The Greens are excited and proud to publicly announce their Deputy Lord Mayor candidate for November’s elections.
Introducing Melbourne’s next Deputy Lord Mayor… Councillor Kathleen Maltzahn.
[ May 7, 08 ]
Please consider coming to the Melbourne City Greens trivia night, for an evening of socialising and fun, and of course trivia and fundraising — with your help the next Lord Mayor of Melbourne will be Green!
Contact events@makemelbournegreen.com for more information or to book a table or seat.
[ Mar 12, 08 ]
The Melbourne Times, Page 3, March 12 2008:
So, can a Green grab the lord mayor’s job?
By Bianca Hall.
Industrial relations lawyer and Greens candidate Adam Bandt will today launch his campaign to unseat lord mayor John So.
The 35-year-old is no stranger to politics. At last year’s federal election, he made the long-held ALP seat of Melbourne marginal, losing to Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner by just 4.71 per cent.
