The Tasmanian Greens today said that the State’s pioneering power-sharing arrangement, that brokered a national first with Greens in Cabinet, has established a positive prototype that has delivered stability and progressive policy outcomes, and which is attracting growing national attention in light of the Federal election outcome and the Victorian state election where the Greens surge is also apparent.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP, who addressed the Party’s National Conference being held in Launceston over the weekend, said that while it is to be expected that the initial public focus is upon the actual details of power-sharing models, there has been less attention given to the new type of political dialogue that these arrangements make possible.
Mr McKim also highlighted the example of Tasmania leading the way in forging a collaborative approach to resolving the forests conflict with its Stakeholders Roundtable approach, and welcomed the motion passed by the Conference calling for the Federal government to instigate a similar national forests peace talks process.
“It’s no surprise that during the initial stages of a power-sharing Parliament most of the public discussion is focussed upon details surrounding the particular model, and less attention is given to the new form of a more inclusive and collaborative political dialogue that is made possible,” Mr McKim said.
“This aspect of a new political dialogue warrants greater attention as, to be frank, it must be forged in order for a power-sharing model to succeed. This is a key lesson for the current Federal parliament, and for any other states which are presented with a balance of power situation such as Victoria where it is looking very likely.”
“With power-sharing parliaments comes greater opportunities for all parties, but the test is whether they are prepared to accept the increased responsibility to engage constructively in the accompanying new political dialogue.”
New Political Dialogue: Opportunity, Challenges and Responsibility
“No matter which Party is in government, and whether it is a majority government or not, there will always arise political crisis, seen and unforseen policy challenges, whether its energy retailers warning they are about to go to the wall or disquiet over the State’s Secondary College system.”
“The Greens recognise we have a responsibility to roll up our sleeves and work to deliver solutions to these real-life problems, as that was our commitment made to the Tasmanian people, just as much as we may enjoy the policy outcome opportunities of being in balance of power.”
“So in light of Aurora’s financial predicament, for which we were not responsible, we rolled-up our sleeves, and negotiated the current independent inquiry into Tasmania’s Energy Sector, conducted by an Expert Panel, and negotiated that an interim report of the Greens’ proposed Cost of Living Strategy be prioritised for release in January. These all deliver on Greens’ policies, continues stability, and importantly provides for both short and long term solutions for the community.”
“We also accepted our responsibility to develop and utilise a new political dialogue when negotiating the post year 10 reforms. By doing so we were able to deliver on key aspects of our policy commitments, and provide a solid opportunity for a smooth transition in time for the 2011 school year.”
“The new political dialogue requires a mature approach to break the short-term politically opportunistic cycle of playing negative ‘wedge-politics’, and to instead identify opportunities to work constructively and collaboratively to achieve good public policy outcomes.”
“Frankly, I think the Tasmanian Liberals have yet to demonstrate the maturity, nor the understanding that they also have a responsibility to engage constructively in the new political dialogue, and that belligerent brinkmanship is out-dated.”
Policy Differences: Mature Approach Needed
“Crucially, in Tasmania, the Greens did not negotiate policy positions when accepting two Cabinet positions. This means that in both Cabinet and in the Parliament we are free to advocate, pursue and deliver Greens’ policy.”
“The beauty of the mechanism by which we can absent ourselves from Cabinet on matters which conflict with Greens’ policy positions, is that policy differences can be acknowledged without the matter in question escalating into some form of unwarranted crisis that diverts time and energy from other important matters.”
“It would be utterly foolish and simplistic in the extreme to think that there will not be policy differences, and therefore the responsible thing is to ensure that there is a consistent, and mature mechanism by which those differences can be acknowledged.”
Forestry Peace-Talks
“Prior the March state election, who could have envisioned Labor and Greens MPs seated at the table receiving negotiated agreed Forest Principles from key environment NGOs and timber industry representatives?”
“There is a significant shift in the community which now expects, and is prepared to give a go, genuine, good-faith and mature discussions to resolve problems to mutual satisfaction.”
“The stakeholders involved made a huge effort to work constructively towards a common goal of securing a restructured and viable forest industry, which has a greater chance of succeeding due to the co-operative government arrangements.”
“Tasmania is now poised to grasp a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a timber industry all Tasmanians can be proud of, that protects our unique wild forests, and continue to diversify the state’s economy to the benefit of all Tasmanians.”
“What better legacy than if this prototype is also able to be utilised to grow the Tasmanian forests peace talks into a national forests peace wave? This work undertaken by industry and environmentalists should inform similar tailor-made processes to spread the forest peace to Victoria, NSW and beyond,” Mr McKim said.
Tasmanian Greens’ policy outcomes achieved so far, include:
1. Post Year 10 education reforms: Passage of legislation to deliver a restored Post year 10 Secondary Colleges system in time for the 2011 school year.
2. Independent Energy Expert Panel to examine Tasmania’s energy sector and advise on developing a State Energy Strategy.
3. A tripartite state taxation review:- currently underway.
4. Cost of Living Strategy, to be developed by the Social Inclusion Commissioner – currently underway.
5. Interim Cost of Living Strategy Report to be delivered in January – focussing on Greens’ proposal for 2-Part electricity concessions.
6. Investigation into alternative Water and Sewerage pricing mechanism to avoid 2012 price spike.
7. An Elder Abuse strategy to prevent the elderly suffering financial, emotional and physical abuse.
8. Parliamentary Inquiry into the implementation of a $1 pokies bet limit.
9. Parliamentary Committee investigating the State’s Child Protection system.
10. Referral of the Children’s Commissioner’s appointment to the Auditor-General.
11. The state architect working on a liveable community policy for all new social housing and retrospective liveability principles for existing communities and housing stock.
12. Increased investment in state rail.
13. Nearly $20 million extra for Parks and Wildlife over the next few years.
14. More money for a revamped community equipment scheme.
15. Funding to further lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and intersex community support, and to meet Tasmania Together goals.
16. Autism support and early diagnosis.
17. An extra 15.2 million for disability services: Increased focus on services reform transition and a Disabilities Gateway program.
18. A-Team pilot scheme to support children with Asperger’s Syndrome.
19. Dumping the divisive Tarkine loop road.
20. Commitment to a statewide ban on canal estate developments.
21. Tasmanian Charter of Rights progressing through Discussion Paper stages.
22. Tripartite commitment to restore House of Assembly MP numbers to 35.
23. Hobart Light Rail Feasibility Study.
24. An extra $7.5 million over two years to upgrade Public Transport.
25. Park & Ride facilities expansion: Kingston underway.
26. Cycleway Development Fund.
27. Forest Carbon Study.
28. Climate Change Adaptation unit.
29. Bass Strait Islands Renewable Energy Fund.
30. Peak oil study.
31. Renewable Energy Loan Fund.
32. Tamar River Catchment Management Study.
33. Devonport Imaginarium Science Centre.
34. Improved palliative care services for the North.
35. Expansion of North West cancer services – recruitment of one dedicated oncologist for the north-west, plus recruitment for second dedicated oncologist expedited.
36. Sow Stall ban: phase out commitment.
37. Lake Margaret Tourism Feasibility Study.
38. Support for Rosebery health and sport facilities.
39. Geoscience projects support on the West Coast.
40. Labor commitment to investigate Greens’ Scottsdale Diversified Timber Mill proposal.
41. and work continues in other key policy areas…watch this space…
