[Greens-Media] Greens welcome more women in Parliament for better democracy

[Queensland Greens Media]

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QUEENSLAND GREENS MEDIA RELEASE
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Wednesday 12th September 2007


GREENS WELCOME MORE WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT FOR BETTER DEMOCRACY


The Greens congratulated Anna Bligh on her appointment as Premier of 
Queensland today, and Grace Grace on her pre-selection for the seat of 
Brisbane Central.

“Queensland desperately needs more women in Parliament,” said Australian 
Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, Larissa Waters.

“I hope that as Premier, Ms Bligh will be an active listener to the 
community and serve the best interests of all Queenslanders, not just 
the big end of town.

“The Greens call on Anna Bligh to re-consider Peter Beattie’s hasty 
decisions on Council amalgamations and Traveston and Wyaralong dams, all 
of which were strongly opposed by the communities they affected.

“When Premiers stop listening to their constituents as happened with 
Traveston and the amalgamations, people lose confidence in the system of 
representative democracy. It is a sad day for democracy when people stop 
speaking out because they expect to be ignored.

“The strength and hope of the Mary Valley community and of the rural and 
coastal communities fighting the Council amalgamations should be a clear 
signal for Ms Bligh to urgently re-consider these ill-considered 
proposals, and to restore the proper function of democracy in Queensland 
through meaningful community consultation.

“If elected as a Greens Senator for Queensland in the federal election, 
I give a rock solid commitment to listen to all Queenslanders and hear 
their concerns. I have worked in the community sector for the past five 
years and people feel disempowered and ignored. I will work to give 
ordinary Queenslanders back their voice,” said Ms Waters.

Of all the Greens Senators to date, six out of seven have been women – a 
record unmatched by other parties. Three of the four sitting Greens 
Senators are women.

If Ms Waters is elected as Greens Senator for Queensland, she would 
become the tenth female Senator for Queensland in 61 years.

Currently 27 of the 76 sitting federal Senators are women, just over one 
third. Only three of Queensland’s sitting 12 Senators are women.

“I congratulate Anna Bligh and Grace Grace on their courage and success 
in entering the male-dominated world of politics. I expect both of these 
strong women to contribute well to future of Queensland,” concluded Ms 
Waters.



For more information:

Larissa Waters,
Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland
0421 844 280