Friday, April 20. 2007Greens Sell Out and Vote Down Anti-Nuclear BillThe credibility of the Greens Party in Victoria is in tatters after its Upper House members voted down an important anti-nuclear law. The Greens joined the Liberal, National and DLP members to vote against the Bracks Government’s Nuclear Plebiscite Bill. The Bill would give Victorians a chance to express their views, through a referendum, on any move by the Howard Government to allow a nuclear power plant in Victoria. It is astonishing that the Greens would vote against a law that improved Victoria’s defences against any Commonwealth plan to establish nuclear power or waste facilities in this state. The Greens joined with the other parties to vote against the Bill after losing its own amendments to the proposal. With the Greens voting against the Nuclear Plebiscite Bill, the bill was defeated 20 votes to 18. The Bill cannot be introduced again in the same form. This is the 30th occasion the Greens have voted with the Liberals against a Labor initiative. And this time they have joined forces with the Liberals to deny Victorians a voice in opposing a nuclear power plant in our State. In defeating this anti-nuclear law, the Greens political party has consummated the grubby preference deal they made with the Liberal Party before the State election. Labor is now the only anti-nuclear party in Parliament. The Greens, DLP, Nationals and Liberals have joined to destroy a law that would have given Victorians a say in any nuclear proposal in Victoria. The Greens have voted to make it easier for the Howard Government to build a nuclear facility in Victoria and voted to deny our local community in Brunswick & Coburg a voice against a nuclear power plant. The Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Amendment (Plebiscite) Bill would have allowed for a plebiscite if the Federal Government tried to override long-standing State laws and establish a nuclear power plant in Victoria. Trackbacks
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Settle down Chris - we all know the Bill was a stunt by Bracks to embarrass Howard - the Bill did nothing substantial. Greg Barber demanded that Bracks include in the legislation a committment to keep Victoria nuclear free and Bracks declined - now to see real sell outs lets await the ALP National Conference this weekend.
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