Greens announce their contribution to a new government
Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today announced nine policies the Green Party expects to contribute to a
Labour-led government following the November 27 election.
Speaking at the Green Party's national launch at the Marine Rescue Centre in Auckland this afternoon, Ms Fitzsimons
said: "New Zealanders need a vision and practical leadership and the Greens can provide both. There are a number of
unique contributions we would hope and expect to make to a Labour-led government. They are the practical, achievable
steps voters can expect if they give us their support."
The steps are:
* A halt to genetic engineering: No further approvals to genetic engineering field trials or releases until the findings
of the Royal Commission have been studied and implemented.
* Go organic: An advisory service for growers, the changing of research objectives for the Public Good Science Fund and
a mortgage guarantee scheme for those wanting to convert their farms.
* Stop the logging: An immediate cancellation of all the West Coast timber contracts that have been signed in a
deliberate attempt to tie the hands of a future government, and a renegotiation of those pre-existing signed earlier in
good faith. Pine should be made available for processing on the coast instead.
* Energy Efficiency: Communities, businesses, local government and citizens groups could be discussing their part in
NZ's energy strategy within a few months and the first energy performance standards could be in place in a year.
* More funding for conservation: In the first budget we would argue strenuously for increased funding for DOC,
especially for pest control to protect threatened species.
* Sustainable transport: A significant shift of funding from new roading to public transport and a reduction of car
dependency in cities.
* Ecological tax reform: We need a shift in what we tax - away from goods like work, income and enterprise and on to
bads like waste, pollution and toxics.
* Alternatives to prisons: An end to building more prisons and a commitment to habilitation and restorative justice.
* Sustaining fishing communities: A publicly funded multi-stakeholder process for fisheries management.
"Because we are appalled at growing poverty alongside a grossly rich elite; because we want to ensure decent housing, a
public health system, stop the punitive work-for-the-dole, and lighten the burden of student loans we have made it clear
that we will not support a National-Act government," Ms Fitzsimons said.
Jeanette Fitzsimons: 025 586 068