Why vote Green in the Victorian Election?

Why vote Green in the Victorian election?

Here’s why. And if you like the answers, or this video which explains The Greens’ vision for Victoria, pass them on – because you’re far more influential among your friends, family and colleagues than any amount of political advertising.

Top 10 Reasons to Vote Green in the Victorian Election

1. The Greens stand up for what’s right, not just what’s easy. Whether it’s protecting our environment, introducing universal dental care or advocating for better education for all, The Greens are driven by values, not polls.

2. It’s the party changing Australian politics. The Greens are the third largest and fastest growing political party in Victoria. Last federal election, 1 in 7 Victorians voted Green. This election, the Greens are poised to win our first lower house seats in the Victorian Parliament, and double the Greens representation in the Victorian upper house.

3. For public transport that comes when you need it. The Greens will deliver a system that takes you where you want to go, when you want to go. This means more frequent trains and trams to cut overcrowding, all night services from entertainment areas, and buses that connect to trains. The Greens will establish a single public transport authority to connect transport across the whole state.

4. Provide future generations with clean water. It’s about having the political will and vision to better manage the water we have. The Greens will focus on securing Victoria’s precious water supplies through better capture and treatment of rainwater, protecting our catchments and improving water efficiency standards.

5. To tackle climate change and reduce pollution. The Greens want a price on carbon pollution and investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency for a strong, sustainable economy. The Greens also want to ensure jobs, by supporting re-training programs for Victorian workers moving from coal power stations like Hazelwood, to new industries like manufacturing wind turbines.

6. For better schools. For years, Victoria has spent less on school education than any other state in Australia. The Greens will introduce two years of free publicly-funded kindergarten. We’ll also invest properly in our State’s education from pre-school to university – reducing class sizes and TAFE fees.

7. For a focus on preventative health, better mental health services, and shorter wait times. The Greens understand that healthcare is about more than just hospitals. We prioritise funding for preventative healthcare and early intervention mental healthcare.

8. The Greens have vision. Bob Brown first spoke to the Senate about climate change 14 years ago, well before it became the world's most talked about issue. During Bob's speech, his Labor and Liberal colleagues actually laughed. Today, they are following his lead. In Victoria and around Australia, The Greens focus on what’s right for the next generation, not just what's popular for the next election cycle.

9. For a more powerful vote. Your vote for The Greens is a powerful one. Just look at what has been achieved in the last few months since Adam Bandt has sat in the lower house in Canberra. Now imagine the difference The Greens in the Victorian lower house could make.

10. Because politics can be different. The issues that matter need a lot more of ‘yes’, not more of the familiar ‘no.’ The Greens are about solutions, not just problems and factional party politics.

Together, we can let everyone know that this state election the voters of Victoria do have a choice. Please forward this email, and check out our video which briefly explains The Greens’ vision for Victoria.

Be Strategic, Vote Smart, Vote Green for Eastern Victoria

Moe community activist, Cheryl Wragg, today announced she had been endorsed by the Greens for the Upper House electorate of Eastern Victoria in number 2 spot on the Greens ticket.

Ms. Wragg said: “I am encouraging people in Gippsland to vote strategically in the upcoming State election. Their upper house vote means they can hold to account whichever Party wins control of the lower house. Many decisions taken by successive Victorian governments over the last fifteen and more years have badly hurt a lot of Gippsland people. It’s time people in our region gave themselves an insurance policy against more of the same by voting Green in the upper house.”

In addition to voting for a lower house representative, voters also decide on the upper house region of Eastern Victoria which has five parliamentary representatives. Currently, two of these positions are held by the Labor Party, two are held by the Liberal Party, and one is held by the National Party.

Ms. Wragg said: “By voting for the Greens upper house ticket, Gippsland voters can break the stranglehold of the major parties over the electorate of Eastern Victoria. The upper house reviews government legislation and actions, and holds the government to account. If there’s one thing Gippsland communities are crying out for, it’s accountability from governments. So many important decisions have and are being taken that directly affect this region and our communities – Gippslanders must be part of that process, that conversation, and where necessary, that argument. That’s why I’m standing up as part of the Greens Upper House team so that, together, we can stand up for Gippsland and Eastern Victoria.”

Greens Eastern Victoria Upper House candidates are: Samantha Dunn (1), Cheryl Wragg (2), Penelope Swales (3), Francine Buckley (4), and Andrea Millsom (5).

For further comment, contact Cheryl Wragg ph. 51 27 3790


Biographic Details: Cheryl Wragg

Cheryl Wragg was born in Yallourn and grew up with her family in Moe. She attended South Street Primary School and Moe High School. After completing her HSC in 1978, Cheryl studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne. She was the first person in her extended working class family to achieve a university degree, completed in 1985. Cheryl has had a varied and interesting professional career.

Immediately after graduating, she worked as a care attendant in a residential setting assisting adolescents and children with cerebral palsy. Starting in the late 1980s, Cheryl worked as a senior researcher and policy advisor in the union movement specialising in heavy engineering and manufacturing industry development/job creation, and State vocational education and training policy. Since then, Cheryl has worked as a manufacturing industry consultant in the Victorian State public service, as a vocational curriculum designer, as an industrial researcher within the tertiary education sector, and within the community sector as a utility advocate and campaign organiser.

Cheryl is a committed volunteer activist. During the last ten years she has participated in utilities consumer advocacy with the Energy Action Group Inc.; with her father, George Wragg, as an antiasbestos advocate bringing ABC Four Corners to the Latrobe Valley for the making of ‘Power Without Glory’, later becoming Secretary of Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support Group Inc. (GARDS) 2001-2002; and since September, 2008 as a founding member and elected Secretary of Moe and District Residents Association Inc. (MADRA Inc.).

Cheryl is a recent member of the Greens Party. She believes the Greens provide the best and most responsive political advocacy and representation today for working class people and their communities. Her membership of the Greens is testament to her values not changing while her vote has. Cheryl is committed to industry development including an energy industry plan that delivers jobs justice for the Latrobe Valley, economic security and an improved outlook for the central Gippsland region and its communities.

Cheryl lives in Moe with her husband, Peter Gibbons, and their family dog, Bella. Cheryl’s interests include reading, art, walking and enjoying time with family and friends.

For further comment, contact Cheryl Wragg ph. 51 27 3790

preferences explained - make your vote work for you

Top 10 Reasons to Vote Green this Saturday

1. The Greens stand up for what’s right, not just what’s easy. Whether it’s protecting the environment, introducing universal dental care, opposing the war in Iraq or advocating for refugees to be treated humanely, the Greens are driven by values, not polls.

2. It’s the Party everyone’s heading to. The Greens are the third largest political party in Australia, with five national Senators, 22 State MPs and more than 100 local Greens councillors already playing a positive and constructive role across Australia. More than a million Australians voted Green in 2007, and we're the fastest-growing party in the country.

3. Break the deadlock in the Senate between the Government and the Opposition. Last time the Government of the day also got control of the Senate, we got WorkChoices. Or, Tony Abbott's Coalition could easily win control of the Senate, which would deliver Australians nothing but three years of deadlock. We deserve a Senate that will work for us and deliver strong, sensible action – not just spin.

4. Provide future generations with clean air, clean water and a stable climate. The Greens will tackle climate change by putting a price on carbon for big polluters in the next term of government. It’s time we created new clean energy jobs and started investing in the economy of the future.

5. Make legislation better. When the Coalition tried to block the stimulus package that kept Australia out of recession, the Greens passed it with added environmental and small business benefits. The Greens will do the same thing to improve the mining super profits tax.

6. The Greens have vision. When Bob Brown first spoke to the Senate about climate change 14 years ago, his Labor and Liberal colleagues actually laughed at him. Now the Greens are the only party working to end all forms of legal discrimination against Australians based on sexuality. The Greens focus on what’s right for the next generation, not just the next election cycle.

7. An environmental party. The Greens have always worked to protect Australia’s magnificent natural environment for future generations – whether that’s protecting our native forests and their wildlife, or our pristine beaches and marine ecosystems.

8. An environmental party and much, much more. The Greens stand for much more than just cutting carbon pollution, securing our water supplies and protecting our environment. Think better public schools, more funding for hospitals and fixing our broken mental health system. The Greens also drive great new ideas, like building high-speed rail between Australia’s major cities, which is now gaining momentum but would never have gotten up otherwise.

9. For a more powerful vote. Another Labor or Liberal candidate will just vote the way they’re told. With the Greens, every vote is a conscience vote. If you’re disappointed with Labor but don’t want Tony Abbott, you can send a powerful message to Julia Gillard. And if your Greens candidate doesn’t win, your vote will simply go to the next candidate of your choice at full value.

10. Bob Brown. A genuinely decent politician and the most experienced party leader in Parliament.

Together, we can let everyone know that this Saturday, the voters of Australia do have a choice, and who we vote for matters.