Mark Parnell MLC

Mark Parnell is particularly focusing on these campaigns.

For other Greens campaigns see:

The Greens SA web site

The Australian Greens web site

Senator Bob Brown's web site

Senator Kerry Nettle's web site

Senator Christine Milne's web site

Senator Rachel Siewert's web site

WorkCover Debacle - Stop the Attack on Workers Mr Rann!

The Rann Labor Government is planning to make sweeping changes to the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act to reform the WorkCover scheme for injured workers. The changes will significantly reduce entitlements for injured workers while at the same time reducing the levy payable by employers to WorkCover.

The Greens believe that these draconian changes are a direct attack on workers' rights and pay and will be vigorously opposing any moves in State Parliament to strip workers' entitlements.

Is Desalination The Answer?

Desalination is increasingly seen as the 'magic bullet' to cure our water shortages.

But is it?

Desalination is a very expensive, energy hungry and, depending on the location, environmentally damaging process to generate a water supply. For these reasons the Greens believe desalination should be a last resort technology, not a first resort.

Before we expend vast amounts of money and energy artificially manufacturing new water, we should be doing much much more with the water we have now.

Protection of Public Participation

Free speech is under attack in Australia from "SLAPP lawsuits". SLAPP stands for 'Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation'. A SLAPP lawsuit is a civil lawsuit brought primarily for the purpose of silencing community debate on a matter of public interest. Typically, this involves legal action or threats against protesters who are campaigning against inappropriate development. The "Gunns 20" case over woodchipping of native forests in Tasmania is a recent example of a SLAPP lawsuit in Australia. SLAPP lawsuits can range from defamation to the use of corporate torts like interference with business.

Genetically Engineered Food Crops

Genetic engineering is unpredictable and risky. Genetically modified (GM) foods have not been proven safe to eat. GM crops also threaten the environment and neighbouring non-GM crops through cross contamination.

Currently in South Australia a moratorium is in place prohibiting the cultivation of genetically modified food crops in SA. The state Government recently announced a proposal to extend the moratorium, which would otherwise expire on 29th April 2008.

Uranium mining in Arkaroola

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is a private sanctuary located in the northern Flinders Ranges, adjacent to the Gammon Ranges National Park. It is 610sq km in size and is of high conservation value. Arkaroola was declared a sanctuary under the National Parks and Wildlife Act by the State Government in 1996. This beautiful and iconic eco-tourism destination is now under threat from mining interests.

Ethical Superannuation

The Greens have heard from many SA public servants who do not want their retirement savings invested in areas that do not make a positive contribution to our future, such as in multinational tobacco companies.

So we've started a campaign to convince Super SA to:

1.Take a good hard look at where they are investing our money, and
2.Offer an ethical super option for its members

STOP PRESS 4th June 2008: the Upper House has passed the Greens Private Members Bill to force Super SA to offer an ethical option to public servants. Now its up the Government to not block the Bill in the Lower House.

Parliamentary Reform: Abolishing the Upper House

In November 2005, South Australian Premier Mike Rann announced that a re-elected Labor Government would hold a referendum at the time of the State election in 2010 proposing the abolition of the South Australian Legislative Council.

The Greens believe that the Legislative Council has an important role to play in reviewing legislation passed by the Lower House and holding the Government accountable. The Greens oppose the abolition of the Legislative Council.

Public Transport

With petrol prices and concerns about climate change increasing, a fast, efficient and accessible public transport system is critical for the future success of South Australia.

Yet our bus system is in crisis and our rail system is in urgent need of upgrading and extension.

The Greens believe the Government must stop tinkering around the edges, and make a sustained and serious commitment to our buses and trains.

Stop the Nuclear Cycle

Australia could soon be a major exporter of uranium, selling to countries such as India in contravention of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We could also develop a uranium enrichment plant and a major nuclear waste dump, all under the false pretence of tackling climate change and at the expense of investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Stop the SA Solar PV Rip-off!

Electricity companies in SA are using the introduction of the solar feed-in premium laws to make a windfall profit at taxpayers’ expense, at the same time as ripping off households who produce power from the solar panels on their roof.

Solar panel owners should be receiving 2 payments:

1. A payment for the electricity the households export to the grid (paid for by the energy retailer)
2. A 44c/kilo watt hour premium (paid for by all domestic electricity consumers)

Instead, some retailers, including Origin and AGL, stopped paying the first amount when the feed-in scheme commenced on July 1 this year.

This will potentially deliver a windfall profit of about $350,000 (and possibly much higher) to big energy companies - money that should be going to households as an incentive to encourage more people to install solar panels, not as a subsidy to big energy retailers.

Climate change is the most serious environmental problem facing the world. Leading international scientists agree that human activity is disrupting the planet's climate systems. Fossil fuels, used for energy and transport, are major contributors to the problem. Without significant action to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels we will cause catastrophic damage to Earth's ecosystems, triggering social and economic upheaval.

Industrial Relations

The Greens strongly support workers' rights. The Federal Government's current campaign to cut back worker entitlements and job security is strongly opposed by the Greens.

Workers are entitled to equal opportunities and fair and equitable treatment across the workforce. This includes job security and permanent employment wherever possible. Workers should also have the right to secure paid leave for the responsibilities of parenting.

The Murray River is Australia's largest river system, and it is dying. The Murray flows through nationally and internationally-list heritage areas such as the RAMSAR wetlands of the Lower Lakes and Coorong. Yet this mighty river is under severe stress. Where, under natural conditions, more than half the water that flowed into the river would flow right through to the Murray Mouth, that has now been reduced to a trickle.

Animals are now exploited on an unprecedented scale and with unprecedented intensity.
Much of this exploitation is driven by current economic policy and results in abuse of animal welfare.

Water that doesn't cost the earth

Yes, it's possible!

We need a water revolution in Adelaide. Instead of grabbing water from elsewhere, or using crazy amounts of electricity artificially manufacturing it, we should be doing much, much better with the clean water that falls onto the Adelaide plains from the sky.

The good news is that there is more than enough water for our needs, as long as we invest wisely and plan carefully. Even better news is that by capturing water and storing it underground until we need it, we can help avert major flooding and stop damaging the precious sea grasses that hold our beaches firm. We can turn our problems into solutions.

Rally for the Murray

THE LAST STAND:

Rally for the Murray

Sunday 28th September

12 Noon

At Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga

Authorised by M. Parnell, Parliament House Adelaide. Site credits.