Australian Greens National Council Statement on Telstra

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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01 June 2002
 
Australian Greens National Council Statement on Telstra
 
At our National Council meeting today the Greens delegates unanimously
supported a motion reaffirming opposition to the sale of Telstra. 

The motion reads: 

The Australian Greens reconfirm our opposition to the privatisation of
public utilities including Telstra. 

Funding for environmental programs is a core activity of Government and
therefore must not be contingent on the sale of public assets but should
instead be funded from ongoing general revenue. 

There was a brisk debate relating to Bob Brown's proposal that the issue of
logging forests and woodlands be considered in relation to Telstra. Senator
Brown said his action had come out of his personal passion against the
record rate of destruction of forests, woodlands and wildlife in Australia.
He supported the motion on Telstra unanimously passed by the Council. 

The Greens share Senator Brown's frustration at the appalling destruction of
Australia's old growth and High Conservation Value forests and the record
rate of native vegetation clearance being undertaken with the approval of
the Federal Government and State and Federal Labor. The Greens are also
staunch opponents of the privatisation of public utilities. 

The Greens note that Senator Brown has not said that he would vote for the
sale of Telstra but would, as always, be guided by the party's view. 

Neither Bob nor Senator elect Kerry Nettle or any other Green MP will vote
for the further sale of Telstra. 

Further information: Ben Oquist 0419704095 


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