Greens say we need independence on crime statistics
“The latest release of crime statistics by Victoria Police highlights the need for an independent agency to manage, collate and publish such information,” said Greens Justice spokesperson Sue Pennicuik today.
“On releasing the figures, Acting Chief Commissioner Lucinda Nolan said family violence reporting had driven up the overall crime rate for the past 18 months and that the increase in the crime rate was also due to more detected drug offences and other offences,” said Ms. Pennicuik. “But we don’t have an independent assessment of the statistics and what is driving the crime rate up.”
State Government’s school funding plan is not credible
The document that the Victorian Government dropped out of nowhere last weekend, ‘Victoria's Plan for School Funding Reform’, is not a plan at all, Greens MP and Education spokesperson, Sue Pennicuik said today.
“It is little more than an ideological statement, containing no concrete, evidence based measures that would make school funding fairer or ensure that all Victorian students receive a quality education," Ms Pennicuik said.
Ms Pennicuik said the plan itself doesn’t provide any figures – the Premier has just asserted the figure of $400 million per year.
“This is a bit rich from a government that has ripped around $550 million out of the education budget, cut vital programs such as VCAL and the education maintenance allowance – hitting disadvantaged students the most, and closed regional offices that support government schools.
Victoria should butt-out tobacco investment
Victorian Greens Health Spokesperson Colleen Hartland has announced that The Greens will seek to put an end to Victorian Government toxic tobacco investments.
"A year long campaign by The Australian Greens health spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale, has resulted in the Future Fund’s announcement that it will no longer invest in tobacco companies. Now it's Victoria's turn" said Colleen Hartland.
"The Victorian Greens are investigating amending the Victorian Funds Management Corporation Act to prohibit the Victorian Government from investing in Tobacco companies."
“The Victorian Government is investing more than $100 million in Tobacco companies. We should not be profiteering from such a toxic product.”
Clean Up Australia with a 10c refund system
Victorian Greens spokesperson on Waste Management, Colleen Hartland, will get her hands dirty volunteering on Clean Up Australia day on 3rd March, but says that we should stop rubbish before it hits the ground with a 10cent refund scheme.
“This Sunday I will be joining thousands of volunteers across the Victoria and the country spending the day hauling rubbish out of our creeks, parks, beaches and roadsides,” said Colleen Hartland.
“But a lot of that rubbish wouldn’t be there if we could return our drink bottles, cans and cartons for a 10c refund, like they have in South Australia and the Northern Territory.”
Government accepts 20,000 excuses re transport tickets
New figures obtained in Parliament by Victorian Greens Leader Greg Barber show the 'no excuses' public transport advertisements are misleading, since over twenty thousand people who were booked in 2011-12 on a ticketing issue had their notices withdrawn by the Department, or penalties waived by a court.
"Terry Mulder's whole 'get tough, no excuses' line on fare evasion is hollow. Ticket inspectors sometimes get it wrong. Special circumstances sometimes apply and the courts form their own view. That's why 11.5% of all tickets aren't enforced - a pretty poor hit rate by any standards."
"There were twenty thousand valid excuses, all while the 'no excuses' advertising campaign was screaming along."
"This is consistent with previous years. Ticket inspectors are not getting any more reliable."
Government votes against accurate count of attendance at Formula One Grand Prix - Greens
Government members voted against a motion this week to require the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) to undertake a full and accurate count of attendance at the Formula 1 Grand Prix being held in Melbourne on 14 to 17 March and to publicly release this information.
Victorian Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik, who moved the motion, said “I’m astonished the government didn’t support my motion, given its constant assertions that it is open and transparent."
Greens support live music and national SLAM day 2013 - Pennicuik
This Saturday, 23 February is national SLAM Day, the third anniversary of the Save Live Australian Music (SLAM) live music rally in Melbourne in support of live music.
“The live music industry boosts the state’s economy by approximately $1 billion and employs over 30 000 full-time employees,” Greens Arts spokesperson, Ms Pennicuik said.
“There are approximately 550 live music venues in Melbourne and 1000 venues state wide bringing enjoyment to thousands of Victorians every week,” she said. “Unfortunately, it can take just one complaint about noise coming from a live music venue for it to be forced to install expensive soundproofing and potentially force its closure which we have already seen in many venues.
Fear mongering re wind farm values is wrong
Victorian Greens Leader Greg Barber says the anti wind lobby claims on property prices are unfounded slander, easily shown up as wrong by local experts and international studies.
"If anyone would know about wind farms and property prices, the local real estate agent would. They've got all the inside info on real, actual land sales," said Greg Barber MLC
"There are tens of thousands of wind turbines around the world and the studies done there show the same thing. Turbines don't affect property values."*
Inquiry canned - truck truth lost in haze of diesel smoke
An attempt by The Greens to reveal the impacts and cost of a projected doubling of truck numbers on Melbourne’s streets has been shut down by the Baillieu government.
“The Baillieu government has refused an Inquiry which would reveal the true impacts and costs of the projected doubling of trucks on Melbourne’s streets. What are they afraid will be uncovered?" said Greens MP for the Western Suburbs Colleen Hartland.
"This act by the government shows that trucking giants and port industry profits are dictating policy, to the exclusion of community health and easing the pain of traffic congestion."
Let's set the record straight with a Truck Inquiry - Hartland
Greens MP Colleen Hartland will move a motion in parliament today for an Inquiry into the impact and cost of truck traffic on our community and to identify solutions*.
"Truck traffic in the inner West continues to increase and is expected to double by 2025. Despite this growing truck problem, we've seen no action from the Baillieu government in their 27 months. They have failed to come up with a freight strategy or a rail freight target, and the shovel-ready Westgate Ramps truck bypass remains 'under review'," said Colleen Hartland, Greens MP for the Western Suburbs.
"On each and every one of these 800 days of Ted Baillieu's inaction residents have endured streets choked with trucks, being kept awake at night, and constant exposure to carcinogenic diesel pollution which also harms our kids respiratory health."
