The Queensland Greens say that 2011 has been a highpoint of the minor party’s 20 year history.
‘With Senator Larissa Waters taking her place in the federal parliament on 1 July, we finally have a voice for the Queensland environment at the national level,’ state spokesperson Dr Libby Connors said as 2011 draws to a close.
‘The challenge for 2012 will be to break into the state parliament as well.
‘Ronan Lee showed how much could be achieved during his three months in the state house as a Greens MP.
‘We want to get Greens in there for a full three year term to show Queensland voters how much can be achieved by dedicated representatives committed to Green policies and ecological thinking.’
Despite the lack of representation in the Queensland parliament, Libby Connors pointed out that the party had nonetheless been active in public forums with detailed submissions to the Floods Commission of Inquiry and to other parliamentary committees throughout the year.
Ms Connors who was arrested in April protesting outside a coal seam gas field near Tara said it had been an incredibly sad year for Queensland wildlife and the threat to Queensland’s natural resource industries.
‘The coal and coal seam gas rush is causing an immense amount of land clearing for open cut mines, gas fields, compressor stations and pipelines.
‘Wildlife deaths are going to be magnified as port development gets underway in 2012.
‘Queensland voters are going to be horrified when they witness the disastrous dredging at Gladstone Harbour repeated in the beautiful marine environments near Mackay and just to its north at Abbott Point.
‘Queensland’s coastline has been recognised for its biological importance with World Heritage Listing yet we have both the ALP in government and the LNP supporting the degradation of seagrass beds and shallow coral reef waters as the coast is transformed into coal and gas terminals and a tanker super highway.’
Ms Connors said the party was however heartened by its growth in membership and the expansion of its appeal as rural landholders, and now fishers, recognised the beneficial role the Greens play in standing up for the state’s natural resources, especially its underground water, farmlands and marine environments.
‘There really has been a notable shift in the political landscape.
‘Our rural branches pushed the party to adopt a responsible gas and mining policy back in February, making the Queensland Greens the first political
party in the state to call for a break on the crazy coal and gas rush.
‘They also produced the Greens coal seam gas TV advertisement which will be screening in regional areas in the coming weeks.
‘We recognise that the Katter Australia Party which also has concerns about coal seam gas mining is going to have an impact in rural electorates but we intend to work cooperatively with any parties that are prepared to help protect the state’s natural resources from permanent degradation.
‘Our state election campaign is up and running and we hope that our role, like that of KAP’s, will help to make the 2012 state election a memorable
one.