the campaign trail

Wednesday night saw the start of the campaign for the Greens in Eastern Victoria. Greens and supporters came from far and wide to listen to myself and Green’s Senate candidate Richard Di Natale talk about Green Jobs and the Green Economy.























It was a great night, I appreciate the support given to Richard and I as we embark on our election campaigns.















I look forward to travelling around Eastern Victoria to talk to the community about how the Greens can help them secure their future.

excerpts from my speech:

"Climate Change, global warming is the greatest crisis facing us. Climate Change is a time of great challenge but it is also a time of great opportunity. Human beings have a great capacity and in our short time on this planet we have achieved many great things.

Before us now we face the greatest challenge, we have the technology, we have ability, we have the knowledge but what we need is leadership and the political will to drive change.

….To respond to climate change requires changes on many fronts, renewable energy a big one for Victoria. Our state is so very dependant on coal fired energy, which is contributing vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Imagine a government that provided incentives to those workers, a future in renewable energy, a transition plan out of old fossil fuel technologies to a bright new and secure future manufacturing in the renewable energy sector.

Victoria is very well placed to develop a renewable energy sector, we already have a heavy industry manufacturing region in the Latrobe Valley with infrastructure already in place, it is time to revitalise this region of Victoria. The Latrobe Valley has a declining population, a lower than average amount of young people live there as they leave the area to seek jobs elsewhere. The privatisation of power industry has seen the gradual decline in employment in the valley, no apprenticeship opportunities for young people, no skilling up of our future generation and a region that is struggling to retain its viability and vibrancy as a community.

Imagine a government prepared to put serious money into revitalising the renewable energy manufacturing industry. And it will take government money, the industry will not move by itself, it hasn’t to date and it won’t in the future. Without serious government intervention and changes to policy and regulation it won’t happen. The Greens are committed to a renewable energy future and revitalising Victoria as a hub of renewable manufacturing.

….The fundamental driver to all of this, is a commitment to real targets to start to reverse our ever increasing greenhouse gas emissions. 5% isn’t going to cut it, this is a time where we need leadership from government and real action on climate change. It is the Greens who are committed to targets that will drive changes across our economy and save the planet.

Transitioning to green jobs will see expansion in education and training, manufacturing, construction and public administration. That’s a lot of employment opportunities across a range of sectors, that’s a bright future for our young people who want a job to secure their prospects and who want to actively participate in doing something to reverse global warming.

We don’t have long to respond, we cannot afford to wait, we need the change now, we need Greens in government pushing for green jobs and a green economy. It is the Greens who have the political will to see it happen, securing a sustainable and just future for all Victorians.
Protecting the climate is a job for everyone."