Bob Brown
No doubt you have been following the debate in your Parliament about the Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package.
The Greens are your voice in Parliament, so it’s important we hear directly from concerned Australians like you. I thank you for your kind words, suggestions and correspondence.
We recognise the government’s stimulus package is important to deal with the financial downturn. We have therefore worked co-operatively and responsibly to improve the package with amendments that deliver a better return for taxpayers.
The Greens have achieved initiatives which will create thousands of green jobs in communities across Australia, and provide greater financial assistance and support for unemployed and low-income Australians.
Our amendments provide a big environmental and social dividend. Through our urging, the national government is moving, like none before it, to apply energy efficiency standards to future housing, bringing Australia closer to best practice in America and Europe. This will lead to cheaper, greener and more comfortable housing for thousands of Australian families.
There is a multi-million dollar package for refurbishing Australia’s neglected heritage buildings and the biggest ever commitment to bikeways, with more to come.
We believe a reduction in payouts to fund the amendments is better than incurring further debt. The Greens would prefer that the cash payouts, except to poorer Australians, had gone to infrastructure with long-term benefits and job creation and we will continue to apply scrutiny and constructive criticism to the $42 billion outlay.
If you want to find out more, or wish to be kept updated of progress, please visit our website.
Yours sincerely,
Senator Bob Brown
Leader of the Australian Greens
Authorised by Australian Greens Senators Bob Brown, Christine Milne, Rachel Siewert, Scott Ludlam and Sarah Hanson-Young, Parliament House Canberra, 2600
www.greensmps.org.au
