There are times when something you read or hear provokes a near visceral response, a heat swell in the chest that needs an out. I am certain many TT readers and posters understand this; the sense of irritation and frustration that goes with giving a damn and knowing there are those who don’t or, if they do, it’s motivated by self-interest …
I tried to resist responding to Matthew Holloway’s article ( Greens take a right step in Labor waltz ), thinking, what’s the point? The angry people will stay angry and won’t take kindly to having their take on the world challenged by the source point of their harsh judgment. But, I do feel compelled to present an alternative, reasonably informed view …
Having sat down to write in a state of pre- judgment, the author has grabbed at a couple of perceived betrayals of principle to mount an argument that the two Greens in Cabinet are sell outs, without integrity.
As Tim Morris says, we are all entitled to share our views, but a sense of balance is also helpful in life.
It was a risky decision for the Tas Greens to go into government with Labor, and to accept Cabinet positions – but with the Liberals refusing to talk and too few Labor members to make an effective Ministry, I don’t know that we had too many other choices.
So, we’ve had to shoulder real responsibility and some days, just personally, my back aches from the weight of it – especially as I know there are those whose values I share who are furious with us for taking this plunge. Those who really believe we have been corrupted …
There are semi-regular calls for us to pull the pin, but can the Greens walk away now? What are the real choices here? A fresh election and likely a Liberal majority government?
No chance of saving any of the 572 000 hectares now on the table for protection … As the Greens’ Environment spokesperson, no chance of working cooperatively with Environment Minister Wightman to get non- biodegradable plastic shopping bags off this lovely island, and to progress the creation of a comprehensive system of no-take Marine Protected Areas in our waters. As Human Services Minister, no chance of seeing through the greening up and reform of a near-broken state housing system to deliver better outcomes for our tenants and the communities they call home.
Of my four portfolios, the author mentions only one action for which I am responsible – the decision to shave indexation to not-for-profits who deliver essential social services in housing, community and family services and disabilities from 3.3% to 2.25% p.a. (The Child and Family Centres do not come under my portfolios).
After wrangling with some wholly unpalatable and painful savings options over a number of months of decision making, I believed this to be one of the least worst of choices. Btw – Indexation wasn’t paid at all when the Liberals were in government.
We still provide significant funding to service providers – $146 million for example, directly to disability service providers this financial year, and I sourced an extra $500 000 (internally) recurrent for Individual Support packages. These funds deliver quality care and support to around 6000 Tasmanians living with disability. I am also proud to say that Tasmanians living with disability will soon be better served, empowered and protected when the new Disability Services Act 2011 is enacted on 1 January next year.
Late last year, with funds the Greens had secured for a reformed Community Equipment Scheme in the 2010-11 State Budget, I was very pleased to announce with the Premier that we had cleared the Category One waiting list for necessary equipment and assistive technologies.
We are also in the process of delivering a more transparent and equitable unit pricing framework in disabilities – something the sector has been crying out for, for years.
Of course, there will be no true justice to people living with physical or intellectual impairment until the COAG Select Council on the National Disability Insurance Scheme – of which the Treasurer and I are members – delivers what it must, and ends the unfair rationing of disability services across the country.
In Human Services, with a budget savings task of around $13 million, I sought to ensure the pain was shared and hopefully somewhat diffused, in the interests of the tens of thousands of often highly vulnerable people who need help with housing, support services and life-skill building.
Through the budget process, we secured an extra $825 000 a year to support our 34 wonderful Neighbourhood Houses and an extra $6 million towards energy efficiency upgrades for low-income private and public housing renters.
Through a policy shift and by re-focussing part of the Housing Tasmania maintenance budget, we are already delivering $8 million in house-warming, power-saving improvements to around 3000 households this year.
Good policy and practice and pretty green, I reckon ….
All of this is done in discussion with my Denison branch of Greens’ members, as well as the wider party membership. I am also bound by the Greens’ Charter, willingly and with a great sense of responsibility. I am directly answerable to the people of Denison, the people I serve with honour as Minister and my party – this I know.
And, while I can’t talk about what happens inside Cabinet or our Party Room, I can tell you I speak up often in both those forums as a Green.
On the prison officer stand downs last year; for a social justice advocate I am surprised Mr Holloway takes such a one-sided view. Read the Hansard of October 2010 or the Minister’s public statements. Inmates were being subjected to a series of unsanctioned lockdowns – a number kept in their cells for days at a time – by some prison officers and the unions who represent them.
No great friend of the Greens, Greg Barns has described Nick McKim as the best Corrections Minister in the country – precisely because he speaks of, and seeks to act in the interests of, inmates’ human rights.
Sure – in the bigger political context, we face some real and difficult challenges … We are attached to a currently unpopular ALP at a time when the State’s finances expose a near $2 billion funding black hole over the next four years. While the Greens have no deep aversion to temporary debt arrangements to see Tasmanians through the hard times, Labor and the Liberals do.
We are trying our best within the reality of the times. I don’t expect the frustrated and embittered to believe that, but it’s true. The State is well short of the money it needs and there’s the future to think of. It would be irresponsible to pretend that sustainability isn’t also a fundamental in State Budget planning. That’s the easy way for a convenient length of time, the way majority parties usually do government.
There are only two of us in Cabinet, five out of 25 on the floor of the House. Our powers and our influence are limited … but all 5 of us work hard for Tasmania and the Greens.
Finally, I have read a few posts implying I have morphed into some sort of Labor moll … It’s no shining character reference. I never was a member, refused to sign up when I was working as a media adviser for Duncan Kerr because – while I respected its history of social justice – I could never hold to the old party’s industrial philosophy and corrosive pragmatism, its lack of sincere commitment to environmental stewardship.
I joined the Greens in 2002 because I am energised by, and believe in, the party, and more .. I love this island with all my heart. I am very sorry to read that some people think this love is a fickle thing …. Great love isn’t fickle. It endures through all. Try a refresher from Shakespeare on love. It’s easier than reading Hansard …
Cassy O’Connor
Greens Member for Denison
First published: 2011-10-31 05:00 AM
