Page 2275 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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Assembly. I spent my 20s in a community in Nimbin—it was not quite Lismore, Mrs Dunne, but my daughter was born in Lismore Base Hospital, so I am nearly there—where we tried to build a better world. When I moved back to Canberra I became involved in lots of groups and then was a founding director of Australian Ethical Investment. So, for me, becoming a Greens member of the Legislative Assembly was simply a continuation of working for a better world.
I am retiring now because I am getting older and more cynical and, sadly, more despairing about the future. Emma Davidson, who will hopefully replace me as the Greens member for Murrumbidgee, represents generational change and new enthusiasm for the fight for a better world.
I have certainly had some successes here in the Assembly. I am most proud of my part in the Assembly passing world-leading legislation that has led to the ACT meeting a 40 per cent reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels this year. This is because we purchase 100 per cent renewable electricity for the ACT, and the legislation means there are more reductions to come towards the aim of becoming a net zero emissions community.
Canberra has a very progressive community which has elected Greens for about 25 years now. We have been part of the balance of power for many of these years, and this has meant the Assembly has agreed to things that would be radical ideas in other places. We recently passed a motion to plant a million or more trees in the ACT and to work towards 30 per cent tree canopy coverage. All parties here support 100 per cent renewable electricity, despite both the federal Liberal and Labor parties supporting fossil fuels to various extents.
The Greens have campaigned on these issues for years and it is really great to see them being acted on. As a Green I am both resigned to and pleased that one of our functions seems to be policy development for other parties. As my mother used to tell me, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
As a result of this, in the Seventh Assembly I was able to encourage the government to roll out water fountains across Canberra’s group centres, shops, parks and playing fields; ensure better protection of solar access of buildings; get poster bollards installed at group centres across Canberra so that live music and events could get better promotion; and support natural burials, which are now offered by the Gungahlin cemetery.
I believe my advocacy has led to increased consultation and notification in the planning system, although there is still a long way to go on that issue. I also raised issues which were not acted on at the time but were later legislated for, such as a ban on cage egg production and puppy and kitten farms in the ACT.
In this term I am really pleased my efforts have led to a commitment from all parties for more tree planting, establishing an integrity commission, more rights for tenants, more land being allocated to social and affordable housing through legislated targets, increased women’s rights, including medical abortions, and fairer fines legislation.
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