Global Climate Change Action

It is a great concern that in the last few federal elections we have seen political parties springing up on single issues.

These single issue political parties strip votes from existing parties which have well formulated (all encompassing) policies. To me, they are a political distraction and a delusion.

If you really wish to waste your vote then handing it one of them is the way to go.

Climate change is an issue that affects everything and everyone, it is not a "single issue".

A good example of single issue political parties... "Fishing parties"... I love to fish and I love to share the fresh fish I catch with my family. I am definitely not against fishing (or the benefit to local economies that local trawling provides).

Exclusion zones on the Great Barrier Reef limits the places that one is able to drop in a line. Exclusion zones also limit where our local trawlers are
able to go. This can be of short term benefit to the LOCAL fish population, so long as these exclusion zones go hand in hand with protection of our entire oceans.

There is not much point in limiting our own backyards when massive trawlers are raping our ocean depths... leaving NOTHING behind. The single issue of enforcing exclusion zones is of no use when our oceans are exploited by massive multi-national floating factories, with political indifference.

Similarly, protecting pockets of remnant forest while vast tracts of land are levelled beyond recognition, is never going to create "sustainable" forestry.

Similarly, looking after our "carers" whilst single mothers are forced out into the workforce leaving young children alone at home to raise themselves, is never going to be a sustainable solution for society in general, specially in the long term.

Closing our boarders on refugees will not stop the desperate and drowning when their traditional lands are washed into the oceans.

Similarly, fistfuls of money to those who wish to extend their genes cannot curb our global population growth.

High inflation and high interest rates sit very uncomfortably beside those struggling to keep (or find) employment, make ends meet and put food on the table. I am NOT better off under "Workchoices", and have yet to meet anyone who is, with the exception of employers. If employers cannot survive without Workchoices, how did they survive pre-Workchoices?

Preference Flows in the Senate are all important. Single issue parties can hold or take the balance of power in the Senate. Stripping votes away from Political Parties whose policies effectively cover all the issues.
See the Australian Electoral Commission's state by state "Group Voting Tickets" and you will see how voting for single issue parties will effect the outcome in the Senate (PDF Files):
http://aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2007/candidates/gvt.htm#gv...

When looking at all the issues that effect me, there is no alternative to the "sustainable" policies of the Australian Greens.

This election, I sincerely hope that the rest of Australia finally wakes up.

Anne Goddard