Policies
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES
The ACT Greens believe:
1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are Australia's First Peoples - traditional owners of this country - and have a special cultural and spiritual relationship to it
2. recognition is due to the Ngun(n)awal people as traditional owners while acknowledging the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT
3. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a right to self-determination in their own affairs and to participate in the political processes of the broader Australian community
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to equality with other Australians in life expectancy and quality of life
5. the understanding and respect shown towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by government bodies and the Australian people have a crucial impact on their capacity to achieve social equality and secure self-determination.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a legislative and regulatory framework that values the role, culture and input of the traditional owners of the land and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
2. recognition of, and respect for, the skills and knowledge of traditional owners and representatives of other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
3. greater representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in local politics and the processes of government
4. improved health, education, housing, employment and justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT
5. support for both mainstream services and targeted services to understand, respect and respond to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in all their diversity.
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS
The ACT Greens believe:
1. illicit and licit drug use has a wide range of adverse health, social and economic effects
2. alcohol and tobacco are the drugs inflicting the greatest harm on individuals, families and our society
3. a harm minimisation approach that recognises the need for cultural change and a long-term commitment across government agencies is the best way to reduce negative impacts of drug use
4. problems associated with the use of illicit drugs are best addressed within a health and social framework
5. prevention of, and early intervention in, problematic drug use is preferable to curing its harmful effects
6. a balanced mix of resources should be adopted to reduce demand, harm and supply
7. policy and programs concerning drugs, drug users and their families should be evidence-based and subject to continual evaluation
8. information and education programs are necessary for informed debate about the effects of all drugs, including prescription, non-prescription, licit and illicit drugs
9. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have a right to be engaged to facilitate maximum community control over harm minimisation policies and programs, and to gauge their effects on individuals and families.
The ACT Greens want:
1. to minimise death, disease, crime and corruption resulting from drug use
2. to reduce the harmful use of drugs
3. effective management, treatment, regulatory, and judicial responses to drug use in the community
4. effective treatment and care of people with co-morbidity (mental illness and problematic drug use)
5. to combat the high rate of blood-borne diseases resulting from drug use in gaols and other places of detention
6. adequate support and services for families with a member adversely affected by the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
ANIMAL WELFARE
The ACT Greens believe:
1. animals deserve our consideration and respect
2. bio-regional approaches are required to manage native fauna, pests, and domestic and production animals
3. where we are obliged to assert control over animals, we should ensure the highest standards of husbandry and treatment practicable.
The ACT Greens want:
1. responsible care for and breeding of domestic pets with consideration for neighbouring species
2. a wide approach to tackling domestic animal neglect and cruelty through rehabilitation, re-education and counselling as well as legislative solutions
3. the restoration, extension and linking of native animal habitats to enhance biodiversity and prepare for climate change-driven animal migration
4. the use of humane, effective, and ecologically sustainable methods to control introduced and pest animal species
5. support for sustainable farming practices causing least impact on native animal habitat, and alternatives to intensive livestock farming
6. the use of animals for scientific research to be limited to situations where there is a clearly demonstrable benefit for human or animal health
7. where it is necessary to use animals for scientific research, the use of the highest standards of care, least cruel methods, and the fewest animals possible
8. animals being transported to be subjected to the least amount of distress possible.
ARTS
The ACT Greens believe:
1. the arts and cultural activities make a vital contribution to our identity, understanding and compassion as a nation of people
2. art and cultural activities help to define our many communities and play an integral role in their development
3. the arts extend our ways of knowing and experiencing the world, and should be open and accessible to everyone to engage with, participate in and enjoy
4. the arts play a significant role in all cultures, history and heritage, from time-honoured and ancient to contemporary and new media forms
5. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures make a vital and continuing contribution to arts and culture in the ACT
6. an active and diverse ACT arts sector enlivens the ACT community and strongly contributes to its residents' quality of life
7. excellence in all levels of urban design strongly contributes to the quality of life and the sustainability of the ACT community
8. a diversity of high-level professional arts practice must be supported in the ACT.
The ACT Greens want:
1. increased community-wide participation in arts and cultural activities, with well-frequented venues across the ACT
2. opportunities for artists to develop their abilities to the highest possible level
3. a vibrant, diverse and sustainable ACT-based professional arts industry
4. strong, well-regarded, tertiary arts training courses and cultural institutions
5. recognition of, and appreciation for, the work of artists based in our region by the ACT and other Australian communities
6. a whole-of-government approach to arts policy
7. arts and cultural programs to contribute to and sustain lifelong learning
8. our built environment to embody ecologically, socially and culturally sustainable architecture and design of the highest order
9. our history and heritage to be meaningful to current and future generations.
BIODIVERSITY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The ACT Greens believe:
1. biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem processes maintain Earth's life support systems, including the climate system
2. the protection and conservation of biodiversity is essential for the wellbeing of all life on Earth, including human life
3. the loss of Australia's biodiversity poses an unacceptable threat to human and ecosystem health, and dramatically reduces our ability to cope with major ecological threats such as climate change
4. protected areas are vital to the preservation of biodiversity in the ACT, and therefore to our health and wellbeing
5. habitat loss and fragmentation, together with the spread of alien invasive species exacerbated by climate change, are the greatest threats to the biodiversity of the planet.
The ACT Greens want:
1. to maintain and enhance the resilience of local and regional ecosystems
2. Canberra to remain the "bush capital"
3. optimum water, soil, and air quality in the ACT and a reversal of existing land degradation
4. natural resource management based on sound environmental research informed by the precautionary principle
5. integrated regional management of vulnerable native habitats
6. an ACT community that is aware of the importance of ecosystems and the services they provide.
CARERS
The ACT Greens believe:
1. carers make a substantial social and economic contribution to the ACT community
2. caring is a potentially rewarding role that should be undertaken by choice, and not as a result of inadequate social or health services
3. relationships involving the provision of care are a partnership in which both parties have the right to quality of life
4. carers have the right to equity in opportunity, particularly in relation to participation in education, employment and community activities.
The ACT Greens want:
1. increased recognition and respect for carers
2. support for the health and wellbeing of carers
3. stronger rights for carers, including the right to make choices and optimise their quality of life
4. a coordinated, well-resourced and strategic response to meet the needs of carers and the people they care for.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
The ACT Greens believe:
1. children and young people are to be respected and valued for who they are now, as well as who they may become in the future
2. children and young people have the right to live in a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment in which they can thrive
3. children and young people have the right to live free of physical and emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination
4. it is unacceptable for children and young people in the ACT to lack food, clothing and housing adequate for health and safety
5. the focus of decisions that affect children and young people must be their best interests
6. children and young people are entitled to express opinions and to have them taken into account by decision-makers, appropriate to their age and maturity
7. children and young people have the right to relax and play, and to join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and other recreational activities.
The ACT Greens want:
1. protection and promotion of the rights of children and young people in the ACT, consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
2. continual enhancement of the extent to which Canberra is a child-friendly city
3. effective mechanisms for children and young people to express their needs, opinions and aspirations to the ACT Government and the broader community
4. a reduction in the incidence and impact of poverty, disadvantage and homelessness amongst children and young people in the ACT
5. promotion of the health and wellbeing of children and young people
6. children and young people to be valued as active citizens of the ACT.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. it is necessary to limit global warming to a maximum of 2�° Celsius, and our global, national and local climate change strategies must reflect this need
2. emissions reduction should be our primary method of addressing climate change
3. reforestation is necessary to absorb greenhouse emissions
4. immediate action is required to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and make the transition to ecologically sustainable energy systems
5. all government agencies, businesses, organisations and individuals in the ACT community have a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
6. economic instruments should be used as a means of addressing climate change
7. the cost of reducing energy use and greenhouse emissions should be equitably distributed across the ACT community and Australia, and internationally
8. ACT energy policy should adopt multiple strategies to reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and improve the sustainability of energy production
9. the pricing of energy should incorporate the full social, health and environmental costs of production, transport, transmission and use.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a reduction of the ACT's greenhouse gas emissions to at least 35 % below 1990 levels by 2020 and to at least 80% below by 2050 in accordance with latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change advice
2. a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) of 15% by 2012 and 25% by 2020
3. the construction of all long-lived infrastructure to be consistent with reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050
4. ACT emissions reduction targets to be rapidly updated in accordance with increased scientific understanding of the impacts of climate change.
5. a stronger ACT Climate Change Strategy in order to achieve significant and measurable reductions in greenhouse gases by 2012, as our fair contribution to achieving the Australian greenhouse gas target
6. all new dwellings in the ACT to have zero net emissions by 2016
7. increased energy efficiency through mandatory energy efficiency standards for new building development, and extensive retro-fitting programs for existing building stock
8. a nuclear-free ACT and Australia
9. a "polluter-pays" strategy to encourage greenhouse gas reduction with appropriate assistance for those in need
10. to mitigate the expected impacts of climate change on the ACT.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The ACT Greens believe:
1. community engagement provides a meaningful role for the community to be involved in government decision-making at a range of levels
2. ACT Government decision-making, legislation, policy and programs should be informed by ongoing community engagement
3. the full range of informative, consultative, participatory and deliberative community engagement processes should be utilised
4. it is necessary to match the scale of community engagement processes appropriately to the potential impact of ACT Government legislation, policy and programs
5. community engagement requires adequate, balanced, and timely involvement of a diverse range of groups to be effective and meaningful
6. the ACT Government has a responsibility to ensure community engagement processes are transparent
The ACT Greens want:
1. the ACT Government to become a national leader in participatory governance
2. mutual trust, respect and increased cooperation in decision-making between the ACT Government and the ACT public
3. free, timely and accessible information to ACT residents and stakeholders about ACT Government activity
4. maximum participation of community organisations and individuals in public debate without fear of retribution
5. to include marginalised groups in community engagement activities.
COMMUNITY SECTOR
The ACT Greens believe:
1. community sector organisations provide essential services for the most disadvantaged in the community, and deserve respect for their advocacy.
2. the community sector must be resourced and supported to identify and respond to community need in creative and socially useful ways.
3. the community sector plays an essential role in generating and promoting public debate.
The ACT Greens want:
1. increased viability and resilience in the ACT community sector
2. to maintain appropriate levels of accountability in the community sector, while reducing administrative burdens for community organisations
3. support for the role of community organisations in the development of public policy and advocacy
4. community sector employees to receive wages and employment conditions that are commensurate with public sector employees who have similar responsibilities.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. the diversity of cultures in the ACT community greatly enriches our society and should be celebrated
2. all ACT residents, whatever their background, have the right to live free of discrimination, and to engage in and share their culture within universally recognised human rights
3. the ACT Government has a duty to eliminate discrimination, promote social and political inclusion and ensure that services provided or funded by government are culturally sensitive
4. the ACT should be a safe and welcoming place for asylum seekers and refugees.
The ACT Greens want:
1. an ACT community that accepts and celebrates cultural diversity
2. the elimination of discrimination, and equality of opportunity for people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds
3. people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to actively engage in democratic processes and Government decision-making
4. an appropriate response to the unique needs of asylum seekers and refugees who settle in the ACT.
PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. people with a disability have a right to independence, self-determination and choice in their lives
2. people with a disability, and their families and carers, are entitled to the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians in:
2.1. quality of life
2.2. optimum health, social and economic wellbeing
2.3. participating in family, social and community life
2.4. education, training and meaningful employment.
The ACT Greens want:
1. consultation with people who have a disability, and respect for their diversity
2. equal legal protection for people with a disability, and the abolition of discrimination
3. stronger rights for people with a disability, including the right to individual autonomy and quality of life
4. a coordinated, well-resourced and strategic response to meet the current and future needs of people with a disability
5. services provided to people with a disability to be of high quality.
ECONOMICS
The ACT Greens believe:
1. economic policy exists to meet financial, social and environmental objectives
2. economic policy must take into account the needs of future generations
3. it is essential that economic policy works to reduce negative externalities and recognises scarcity of resources
4. markets, where they function freely, have an important role to play in the allocation of resources. However, governments have responsibility to regulate markets and to correct market failures
5. the overall tax burden should be equitably distributed.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a balanced budget over the business cycle
2. an ACT economy that serves social and environmental needs
3. financial accountability and transparency in public, private and community sectors
4. a more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable private sector in the ACT
5. the ACT Government's net worth maintained or increased.
EDUCATION
The ACT Greens believe:
1. high-quality, free and equitable education is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy
2. learning is a lifelong process fostered in both formal education and informal settings, from early childhood through adult life
3. everyone should have access to an education that meets their needs and aspirations and gives them the skills and capacity to participate in society
4. it is the responsibility of government to ensure the provision of high-quality, well-resourced and safe learning environments that are open to all students
5. a responsive and relevant education system is underpinned by community involvement and recognises that parents and guardians play a critical role in the education of their children.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a vibrant and viable public education system that attains world-class standards of excellence and reflects the diversity of the broader community
2. all schools funding to be based on need, and allocated in a transparent and accountable manner
3. an end to the gap in academic achievement associated with students' socioeconomic status
4. a public education system that encourages and supports the efforts of all students to reach their potential
5. to maintain and further develop of a high-quality professional teaching force to meet current and projected needs of the community
6. high-quality early childhood education in a range of settings
7. high school and college systems that engage with, and provide opportunities for, all young people to extend their knowledge and capabilities in ways that enrich their lives
8. a range of accessible programs offering new opportunities to adults at all stages of their life, including those re-entering the workforce and adjusting to changed circumstances
9. strong links between schools and their communities.
FAMILIES AND CHILD PROTECTION
The ACT Greens believe:
1. families are essential to the wellbeing and strength of our community
2. supportive family relationships enhance individual wellbeing and resilience
3. children and young people deserve the best possible start in life, including family relationships that are nurturing and free from abuse, violence and neglect
4. public investment in quality health, education and family support services, particularly in the early years (0 to 8 years), is a sound investment in the future
5. parents deserve choice and support to balance their family commitments with their involvement in the workforce and community life
6. some families are vulnerable, and may require support or intervention to protect children and young people or reduce the risk of harm
7. children deprived of their family, or unable, for their best interests, to stay in that family, are entitled to care and protection under government supervision, with respect for their individual rights, needs, religion, culture and language
8. children and young people who do not live with both of their parents have the right to know, and maintain meaningful relationships with, their non-resident parent(s) and extended family, where this is practicable and safe.
The ACT Greens want:
1. consultation with families, children and young people to identify their needs and inform the development of services and supports available to them
2. increased investment from both the ACT Government and the Australian Government in family support services, including intensive and coordinated support to vulnerable families
3. the introduction and expansion of family-friendly work policies, including maternity and parental leave and flexible working arrangements
4. adequate and appropriate interventions to ensure the safety of children and young people and prevent and respond to the serious issues of child abuse, neglect and domestic or family violence
5. effective, safe and high-quality services for ACT families, children and young people.
FIRE MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE
The Greens believe:
1. bushfire has been an integral part of the Australian environment for thousands of years
2. global warming is likely to increase both the severity and frequency of bushfires in the ACT region
3. the risks associated with living in a bushfire-prone landscape need to be recognised and anticipated in urban planning and infrastructure decisions
4. fire management plans should incorporate measures to protect biodiversity and be consistent with ecosystem maintenance
5. community awareness about bushfire hazard, fire risk and arson is an essential part of any fire management strategy
6. a strong ACT Government response, including an appropriately resourced and coordinated firefighting service, is essential to protect both human life and the natural environment.
The ACT Greens want:
1. an ACT community aware of and prepared for the risks of living in a bushfire prone landscape
2. bushfire management strategies that preserve ecosystem functioning and biodiversity to the greatest extent possible
3. bushfire services to be adequately resourced, coordinated and supported to meet the needs of the ACT community
4. firefighting strategies and activities to be informed by the best available scientific research and associated data, and to use the best available techniques and technologies.
GENDER EQUITY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. a person's gender should not restrict their opportunities for reaching their full potential
2. discrimination, harassment and violence on the basis of gender are unacceptable and should be eradicated
3. whole-of-government strategies are required to address gender discrimination.
The ACT Greens want:
1. an end to gender-specific discrimination, harassment and violence
2. to identify and address disparities in social and economic wellbeing related to gender
3. equitable participation of women in public life, leadership and decision-making
4. respect for the rights of women locally, nationally and internationally.
GOVERNANCE
The ACT Greens believe:
1. the ACT Government should be a leader and innovator in good governance
2. a healthy democracy requires frank, transparent and accountable practices in executive government
3. parliamentary rules, conventions and structures must keep pace with changing community expectations
4. judicial independence is vital to maintaining the separation of powers
5. a culture of honest and dedicated service to the community is as important to good governance as official rules and procedures.
The ACT Greens want:
6. a parliament that seeks to openly and honestly represent the interests of all ACT residents
7. open, accessible and transparent government with strong parliamentary oversight of executive powers
8. an independent, respected and well-resourced judiciary
9. an ACT Public Service that provides accurate and full advice to the government of the day without fear or favour.
GREENING OF GOVERNMENT
The ACT Greens believe:
1. ACT Government activities and decisions have significant consequences for resource use and the environment
2. the negative environmental impacts of ACT Government activities and decisions must be identified, accounted for and ameliorated
3. ACT Government purchasing and investment should be ecologically sustainable and socially just
4. opportunities must be provided for open and independent review of ACT Government decisions with significant environmental impact and resource use.
The ACT Greens want:
1. adequate accounting for environmental costs and benefits in decision-making
2. public accountability for the environmental impacts of ACT government decision-making and purchasing
3. sound environmental research, informed by the Precautionary Principle, to underpin ACT Government decision-making where there is a risk of environmental impact
4. ethical investment of public funds
5. ACT Government purchasing decisions to be guided by the environmental impact over the item's life cycle
6. major ACT Government activities to be carried out under the guidance of an environmental management plan.
HEALTH
The ACT Greens believe:
1. access to quality health services is a basic human right
2. health is a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
3. individual health outcomes are influenced by the inter-relationship of biological, social, economic and environmental factors
4. an effective health system must be based on both primary and preventive health care
5. the ACT Government's health policy should be based on national standards, with implementation and service delivery that is responsive to local community needs
6. strategic and resource decision-making in the health sector must involve a partnership between the government, community, health care consumers and health service providers
7. people have the right to be engaged in maintaining their health and in their own health care, including access to full information about their health status, and impartial advice about care options
8. all health care service providers must respect the human rights of those who use their services and minimise preventable harm to people in their care
The ACT Greens want:
1. a safe and clean environment that promotes health and wellbeing
2. a whole-of-government approach to achieve improved health outcomes for individuals and communities, from pregnancy and birth throughout life to elder care
3. universal access to bulk-billing general practitioners and primary dental care, and improved access to bulk-billing specialists
4. minimal waiting periods for surgery, including elective surgery
5. to eliminate the health inequities suffered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
6. community health threats to be identified and targeted before they have significant impacts
7. a high-quality professional health workforce with the capacity to meet current and projected needs of the community
8. a health system that is responsive to feedback from community and health workers
9. ACT women to have access to impartial high-quality information and services in the areas of reproductive health, childbirth, and pregnancy termination
10. to improve the quality of life for those people living with or affected by mental illness
11. people suffering terminal illness to be respected in their choices regarding their treatment
HOUSING
The ACT Greens believe:
1. access to safe, secure and affordable housing is a human right and an essential prerequisite to social equity
2. affordable housing requires a whole-of-government approach
3. the ACT Government has a duty to provide sufficient public and community housing to meet current and projected demand
4. the current rate of homelessness in the ACT is unacceptably high and must be reduced as a matter of urgency
5. the ACT housing market has failed to provide all members of our community with adequate affordable housing; regulation to achieve adequate affordable housing is in the public interest
6. security of tenure enhances quality of life and economic wellbeing, and is integral to the effective provision of social housing and the regulation of the private rental market
7. new housing developments should minimise environmental impact, be public transport friendly and facilitate community interaction
8. all housing should be ecologically sustainable.
The ACT Greens want:
1. access to safe, secure and affordable housing for all ACT residents
2. a mix of housing that provides affordable options for everyone
3. public housing options that cater to the diverse needs of tenants and provide adequate support to people with special housing needs
4. greater resources and support for tenant participation in public housing policy and management
5. increased investment in housing which is affordable both to purchase and maintain
6. to improve the utilisation of the existing housing stock
7. housing that optimises the use of water and energy efficiency technologies
8. all new dwellings in the ACT to have zero net emissions by 2016.
HUMAN RIGHTS
The ACT Greens believe that:
1. universally recognised human rights must be respected, protected and observed in all jurisdictions
2. economic, social, cultural, environmental, civil and political rights are interdependent and indivisible
3. cultural, religious, gender and other differences often give rise to specific needs and circumstances that must be considered in order to ensure equal rights for all
4. careful, transparent deliberation is required in all cases where a balance must be struck between individual and community rights.
The ACT Greens want:
1. respect for and fulfilment of obligations for human rights locally, nationally and globally
2. advanced legislative and procedural human rights protection in the ACT
3. the ACT to continue its role as a leader among Australian jurisdictions in fulfilling human rights obligations
4. the ACT legal profession to contribute positively to the growing body of human rights jurisprudence.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
The ACT Greens believe:
1. the ACT Government should provide a fair and equitable industrial relations system to workers not covered by the federal system
2. accessible independent systems must be provided for conciliation and arbitration of workplace disputes
3. ACT workplaces should be non-discriminatory and provide equal opportunity for all workers
4. workers have the right to:
4.1. organise and collectively bargain, and to be represented by a union where they so choose
4.2. a safe workplace, and to be treated with dignity and respect
4.3. work/life balance.
The ACT Greens want:
1. greater equity in employment conditions across the ACT public, private, and community sectors
2. equal pay for equal work
3. an end to discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace
4. balance between paid work and personal time, and fair remuneration for overtime
5. procedures that promote collective negotiations for workers, with particular priority for vulnerable working people
6. workers to understand their legal rights regarding their employment
7. appropriate employment for people with special employment needs
8. greater enforcement of protections for casual workers
9. a safe and secure workplace for all workers
10. access to appropriate compensation in occupational health and safety cases for all workers.
INDUSTRY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. ACT Government decision-making in relation to industry should be consistent and have a long-term view
2. a systematic public policy approach to industry, based on a strategic plan, is essential
3. business, government and the community sector can best achieve mutually beneficial outcomes by working together
4. business should play a role in turning Canberra into a world-class, sustainable, internationally recognised city
5. business and industrial development in the ACT should meet financial, social and environmental best practice benchmarks.
The ACT Greens want:
1. responsive relationships between business and government based on mutual respect and understanding
2. a long-term strategic plan for industry in the ACT by 2012
3. a highly localised business and trade sector
4. a robust and sustainable goods and services sector in the ACT
5. a comprehensive retail strategy to encourage diversity in the retail market by 2012
6. standardised best practice guidelines measuring social and environmental impact formulated in consultation with industry.
JUSTICE
The ACT Greens believe:
1. everyone has the right to a safe and peaceful existence
2. the rule of law and judicial independence are fundamental to a democratic society
3. equality before the law can only be achieved when there is recognition of the ways in which cultural, social and economic factors structure choices and influence people's capacity to access justice
4. equal access to the legal system and achieving just outcomes requires targeting policies and resources to overcome social, economic and cultural inequalities
5. fundamental principles of criminal law, including innocence until proven guilty, open courts, habeas corpus and the right to remain silent should be preserved and upheld
6. a preventive approach addressing systemic causes of crime should be pursued wherever feasible
7. incarceration is only appropriate as a sentencing option of last resort, and remandees should not be detained longer than necessary
8. the justice system must be responsive to the changing needs of the ACT community, particularly regarding mental health issues
9. safety, health and rehabilitation of victims and offenders, and the reduction of recidivism and trauma, should be given high priority in the justice system
10. children and young people require protection in all areas of the justice system
11. families and extended families of young people in the juvenile justice system should be supported and able to participate in proceedings where appropriate
12. law reform should occur in a timely and coordinated manner, based on sound research and engagement of the legal sector and the broader community.
The ACT Greens want:
1. accountable, consistent and transparent administration of justice
2. an ACT justice system with sufficient resources to process cases in a timely and fair manner
3. equitable access to justice for those coming into contact with the legal system, with adequate support services to facilitate just outcomes
4. victims of both civil and criminal wrongs to receive the necessary social and professional support to facilitate their recovery
5. Legal Aid to have the capacity to ensure all ACT residents can access both criminal and civil justice systems
6. a tort law system that promotes the prevention of personal injury and adequately compensates those injured without requiring the community to bear an excessive insurance burden
7. a criminal justice system that meets community needs through fulfilling the human rights of victims, alleged and convicted offenders, witnesses and others affected by crime
8. access to preventive programs for those at risk of engaging in criminal activity
9. a police force, operating under a unified set of ACT and Australian Government guidelines, that appreciates, and is responsive to, the needs of the community
10. practical and adequately resourced programs within the justice system that can respond appropriately to cultural differences and issues associated with gender
11. alleged and convicted offenders suffering from mental illness to be diagnosed and treated within a health framework and in a timely manner
12. evidence-based corrections programs aimed at minimising recidivism and safeguarding the community and health of offenders
13. to significantly reduce the number of young Indigenous people in custody in the ACT.
OLDER PEOPLE
The ACT Greens believe:
1. a well functioning society values all of its members and recognises the contributions that older people1 make
2. older people have the right to full participation in social, economic and public life
3. older people have the right to high-quality health and aged care services regardless of their income, status, background, or location
4. older people have the right to feel safe and live free of abuse, neglect and violence.
The ACT Greens want:
1. promotion of positive ageing
2. protection for the safety and rights of older people
3. older people to be consulted and engaged in the formulation and implementation of policies that affect their wellbeing
4. a coordinated, well-resourced and strategic response to meet the changing needs of older people
5. acknowledgment of, and respect for, the diversity of older people
6. facilitation of the social inclusion and involvement of older people in community activities.
SEXUALITY AND GENDER IDENTITY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. freedom of sexual orientation and gender identity are fundamental human rights
2. people have the right to assume their self-identified gender
3. acceptance and celebration of diversity are essential for genuine social justice and equality
4. discrimination on the basis of sexuality and/or gender identity is unacceptable.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a legal and regulatory environment free from discrimination on the basis of sexuality or gender identity
2. an ACT community that accepts diversity of sexuality and gender identity
3. a reduction of the disproportionate representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in 'at risk' circumstances
4. access for people with needs related to their sexuality and gender identity to the range of health and support services they require
5. equitable, respectful and sensitive provision of all health and mental health services to address the specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
SMALL BUSINESS
The ACT Greens believe:
1. small business makes an important contribution to the economy and society of the ACT
2. the ACT Government must support the small business sector and help it to grow
3. small business should be supported to meet social and ecological best practice
4. small business must be given the opportunity to participate in decision-making affecting the ACT economy.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a resilient, dynamic and sustainable ACT small business sector
2. simplification of ACT Government charges, regulations and compliance costs as they apply to small business
3. small businesses to become more viable and competitive in the ACT economy
4. a social and ecological responsibility charter for business, including coverage of the small business sector
5. the ACT Government to provide an economic environment conducive to a flourishing small business sector.
SOCIAL EQUITY
The ACT Greens believe:
1. a fair and democratic society relies upon equity of opportunity and social cohesion
2. everyone in the ACT should have access to the resources and support they require to participate in the life of the community and reach their potential
3. poverty and systemic social disadvantage undermine social equity and should be eliminated
4. community not-for-profit organisations fulfil an important role in social inclusion and the provision of social services.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a coordinated, well-resourced, short- and long-term strategic response to poverty and social disadvantage in the ACT
2. more and better services for people in the ACT affected by poverty, including those who are homeless
3. to work in partnership with community not-for-profit organisations on the front line of preventing and responding to poverty and homelessness.
SPORT
The ACT Greens believe:
1. sport and physical recreation assist in the maintenance of mental and physical health
2. the staging of sporting events and the building of sporting facilities should minimise ecological impacts
3. sporting excellence should be encouraged and recognised, and opportunities for improvement and competition provided
4. sport and physical recreation are important sources of economic activity and employment.
The ACT Greens want:
1. improvement in public health through increased access to sport and recreational activities
2. inclusive programs to encourage the broadest possible participation in sport and recreational activity
3. maximum community control and management of sporting and recreation facilities
4. a reduced insurance and administration burden on sports organisations
5. increased transparency in sports funding decisions
6. best practise public safety in and around sporting facilities
7. major sporting events to remain in the ACT
8. an end to the association between sport and the advertising of alcohol and tobacco
9. an end to the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport, and for athletes to be well informed of their dangers.
TRANSPORT
The ACT Greens believe:
1. everyone in the ACT has the right to access effective public transport
2. the ACT transport system should be ecologically, socially and financially sustainable
3. reducing the reliance on car travel must be the basis of sustainable transport planning
4. walking, cycling and public transport should be timely, accessible, reliable and safe
5. ACTION should remain publicly owned
6. effective public transport is an essential response to the challenges of housing affordability, social exclusion, climate change and peak oil
7. the current level of transport-related injuries and fatalities is unacceptably high
8. cooperative governance between jurisdictions is required to reduce the ecological impact of moving people and goods to and from the ACT.
The ACT Greens want:
1. an active, sustainable and public transport culture in the ACT
2. affordable, accessible and appropriate transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the ACT community
3. public transport patronage to increase by at least 5% per year between 2008 - 2012
4. urban and regional planning to include integrated transport design
5. ACT public transport operations and service delivery to meet world's best practice standards
6. the Sustainable Transport Plan for the ACT to reflect our emissions reduction obligations under national and international agreements
7. to contribute to a sustainable transport plan for Australia.
URBAN PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
The ACT Greens believe:
1. planning systems should be based on a long-term vision of urban sustainability and subject to regular reviews in light of the challenges associated with climate change
2. urban planning should promote inclusiveness, equity, and a sense of community and place
3. Canberra's character as the 'bush capital' should underlie planning and development policies and programs
4. ACT urban planning processes should encourage innovation, creativity and excellence
5. it is generally preferable to retro-fit and renew than to demolish and rebuild
6. urban planning has an integral role to play in making Canberra a child-friendly city.
The ACT Greens want:
1. implementation of urban planning and design that is ecologically sustainable
2. construction of Greenfield developments to minimise the emission of greenhouse gasses and other pollutants
3. ACT Government planning regulations to equitably address the challenges of climate change
4. urban development in which transport infrastructure, community facilities, government and commercial activities are well integrated
5. housing developments that are consolidated around town and commercial centres, and serviced by an effective public transport network
6. planning and development processes that are transparent, subject to review, and coordinated between ACT, NSW and Australian Government authorities
7. a coherent, well-resourced, consultative neighbourhood planning process.
WASTE
The ACT Greens believe:
1. the goal of 'zero waste' is an essential strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the use of scarce resources
2. waste should be considered as a resource, and the ACT Government should encourage the community to use it productively
3. waste management strategies should be based on the hierarchy of avoiding waste generation, reducing waste and then reusing and recycling waste
4. the full long-term environmental, social and economic costs must be taken into account in decisions about the creation, management and disposal of waste.
The ACT Greens want:
1. waste to be recognised and treated as an economically valuable resource
2. all members of the ACT community to have the knowledge and resources they need to contribute to waste avoidance, minimisation and recycling
3. current landfill resources to be used for maximum energy production and waste water diversion
4. an end to the use of landfills for unsorted waste disposal.
WATER
The ACT Greens believe:
1. water, regardless of its source, is valuable and scarce and all sectors of the ACT community have an obligation to use it sustainably
2. water policy should protect human health and conserve and maintain ecological health
3. water management should be coordinated at all levels of government and engage local communities
4. investment in water infrastructure must be based on sustainability of water supply, and incorporate measures to protect ecosystems and their function
5. pricing of water should incorporate the full social, health and environmental costs of extraction, transport and use.
The ACT Greens want:
1. a comprehensive water management strategy that is based on a vision for long-term water security and responsive to the challenges of climate change and Canberra's changing demographic structure
2. public ownership and control of ACT water resources
3. drinking water in the ACT that meets or exceeds World Health Organisation and national drinking water standards
4. water treatment options in the ACT that are safe, energy efficient, appropriately scaled, and matched to water use
5. improved health of watercourses and ecological water systems including, adequate environmental flows.
