Category: Sustainable Settlement and Agriculture

The Generator is founded on the simple premise that we should leave the world in better condition than we found it. The news items in this category outline the attempts people have made to do this. They are mainly concerned with our food supply and settlement patterns. The impact that the human race has on the planet.

The election campaign has become a tight contest, with the coalition back in front on primary votes.

admin /26 July, 2010

THE election campaign has become a tight contest, with the Coalition back in front on primary votes.

Furthermore, Tony Abbott has narrowed the leadership gap on Julia Gillard.

The latest Newspoll, conducted exclusively for The Australian, reveals voters have turned against Labor’s proposal for a citizens assembly on climate change and that the women’s vote advantage for Australia’s first female Prime Minister has disappeared.

Population debate overshadows housing shortage: economist

admin /26 July, 2010

Population debate overshadows housing shortage: economist

By finance reporter Rebecca Hyam

Updated 1 hour 24 minutes ago

New homes being built at Gungahlin in Canberra's north. Soil mound and construction work.

BIS Shrapnel says new home construction is likely to be flat over the coming two years (ABC TV News)

An economic forecaster has suggested the debate over a sustainable population for Australia is overshadowing the problem of the nation’s housing shortage.

BIS Shrapnel is tipping domestic construction activity to slow in the next few years, as the impact of the government’s stimulus measures fade.

The forecaster’s senior economist Jason Anderson says the current political debate is too focused on future population growth.

He says it should be looking at addressing the current under-supply of residential housing that is creating an affordability crisis for Australians.

GET- UP takes enrolment issues to High Court

admin /23 July, 2010

I wish Get-Up success in this landmark High Court Case.

 
There are over a million residents who will be able to vote if this action
 is successful. Every Australian resident should have the right to decide
 who will govern our country. It should be their democratic right.
 
 The Get-up membership is currently around 375.000 and growing.
  It is non-political.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Simon Sheikh – GetUp <info@getup.org.au>
Date: Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 7:04 PM
Subject: We’re Going to the High Court
To: nevilleg729@gmail.com

Dear NEVILLE,

Two days ago I wrote to you with a question: should we pursue legal action to defend Australians’ right to vote?

An overwhelming 86% of GetUp members voted yes – so just moments ago, GetUp filed our case for online enrolment in the Federal Court.

In addition to this, we’re filing a related case in the High Court of Australia challenging the constitutionality of the Howard Government’s 2006 Amendments to the Electoral Act. This is the piece of legislation that led to the situation we faced early week, where people had only one business day to enrol to vote.

Both cases are potential legal landmarks, and both have serious prospects of success. And already, the cases have received serious media coverage, including on last night’s edition of Lateline.

Rise of the Greens could spell the strange death of Labor Party

admin /20 July, 2010

Rise of the Greens could spell the strange death of Labor Party

Bob Brown 100719

Greens Leader Bob Brown pictured at Sydney Airport, prior to travelling to Adelaide this afternoon. Picture: Sam Mooy Source: The Australian

ABOUT six years ago, I suggested that Julia Gillard take over the leadership of the federal parliamentary Labor Party.

Although my call owed more to the reckless idealism of youth than some Nostradamus-like ability, Gillard’s parliamentary prowess was obvious, notwithstanding her association with the Medicare Gold policy and Latham’s catastrophic leadership more generally.

But this was also an attempt to think outside the political square. Labor patently required a new generation leader so as to make a clean break from the Hawke-Keating era, regardless of that period’s many achievements.

Moreover, a female leader, albeit childless, hailing from the Left and a ranga to boot, had the potential to destabilise John Howard’s political sense of gravity. And despite progressive doom and gloom, Howard wouldn’t govern in perpetuity. Something had to give.

GET-UP MEETINGS Re election 2010

admin /20 July, 2010

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Michelle Shackleton – GetUp <info@getup.org.au>
Date: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Subject: Meet up on Thursday?
To: nevilleg729@gmail.com

Dear NEVILLE,

Here’s something we truly didn’t expect: 202 separate GetTogethers planned by GetUp members across the country this Thursday night! We’ve been flooded with people who want to get involved in this election — but you still have an opportunity to get involved this Thursday night in your neighbourhood.

What’s a GetTogether? It’s a group of GetUp members meeting over a cuppa to agree on a simple local action plan from here until polling day to make sure carbon pollution, mental health and refugees are on the agenda. Our 202 hosts really need your input and advice before signing off on their local plans. It takes just 90 minutes, it’s easy, and you might meet some new friends (or see some old ones).

Please click below to see the details of the event happening near you:

www.getup.org.au/community/gettogethers/series.php?id=28

Whether we live in the safest electorate or the tightest marginal seat, every one of us can make a difference in the next 5 weeks. It begins by taking part in your local ‘Election Action GetTogether’.

Here are 3 reasons why you can make a difference if you turn up and decide to stay involved:
1 – we will help you contact local papers, radio and television to generate media attention for your actions;
2 – even if your local electorate isn’t likely to change this year, every Senate race in the country is up for grabs so your area could impact the crucial Senate balance of power; and most importantly
3 – if they’re going to represent us, every politician needs to know that we’re here to hold them accountable.

I hope you’ll join GetUp members for your local ‘Election Action GetTogether’:

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