repeal WorkChoices legislation

repeal provisions against legitimate union activity (such as sections 45D and 45E in the Trade Practices Act 1974), and protect unions and workers against common law actions

have comprehensive industry-wide awards that give rights and entitlements in excess of the legislative minimums and which are determined by conciliation and arbitration before an effective and independent industrial tribunal

facilitate industry wide collective agreements that are union-negotiated and exceed the Award standards

legislatively protect the right to strike, as recognised in International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions No 87 and No 98, as a fundamental right of workers to promote and defend their economic and social interests

abolish the requirement for secret ballots before industrial action

restore unions’ right of entry to recruit members, inspect for and remedy breaches of occupational health and safety provisions, breaches of the Workplace Relations Act and relevant awards or agreements, and other activities relating to strengthening workers’ organisations

restore the right of all employees, including casual, fixed term and probationary workers, to challenge termination of employment where it is unfair, with reinstatement to be the remedy except in exceptional circumstances

abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission and repeal the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act

repeal any independent contractors legislation that strips employment rights from individuals

abolish the Office of the Employment Advocate and the Office of Workplace Services and reinstate the functions of the Industrial Relations Commission

require the Commonwealth Occupational Health and Safety Authority (Comcare) to fund additional industry liaison staff, and review provisions under Comcare so that workers receive fair treatment and benefits, and are not disadvantaged

introduce national industrial manslaughter laws

create and enforce industrial and immigration laws that stop the exploitation of foreign workers, by ensuring they receive the same pay and entitlements as a local worker doing the same job

establish minimum employment standards for trainees and apprentices

require employers to inform new and existing employees that they are entitled to join a union, and enable the provision of information about the unions responsible for the sector and industry

establish industry trust funds for protection of workers’ entitlements

use a combination of government job creation and industry policy to achieve full employment and job security for all who seek employment

ensure that relevant training and skills development is made available to all workers, including apprentices, trainees, part-time and casual employees, without loss of pay

legislate for a mandatory minimum of five weeks paid annual leave for all employees

limit the tax deductibility of any executive salaries to 25 times the minimum full-time adult wage.

The above are only some of the actions that The Greens support and would take if in office to protect workers.

Health

The Greens policies on health are based on the premise that access to quality health care is a basic human right and that individual health outcomes are influenced by the inter-relationship of biological, social, economic and environmental factors.

Governments, not market forces, are responsible for ensuring that all people have access to the resources and opportunities essential for good health. The public health system is the best way to deliver health services. They support Medicare as a universal health insurance scheme funded from progressive taxation and would adopt mechanisms to increase access to primary dental services through Medicare. Dental care is recognised, as it should be, as an integral part of the health system, with universal access to publicly funded primary dental care.

Preventative approaches, measures to alleviate social disadvantage, and universal access to an effective health care system are necessary to address inequities in health outcomes. An effective health system must be based on primary health care and preventive health care, such as health promotion, disease prevention and early intervention, in order to reduce avoidable admissions and pressure on hospitals.

Their health policy includes a commitment to:

abolish the private health insurance rebate and redirect funds to the public health system, including public hospitals

increase primary health care funding to ensure greater access to general practitioner services

ensure funding for health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that will raise their health status to a level comparable to other Australians

increase incentives for GPs and medical specialists to bulk bill

increase the number of salaried GPs in order to increase access to GP services

increase the number of well funded multipurpose community health care centres and services in regional, rural, and remote areas

enact measures, including legislation, to protect and extend the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

International relations

The Greens’ approach to international relations is in sharp contrast to that of the Coalition and Labor parties and their support for the US alliance. The Greens call for an independent foreign and defence policy for Australia. They promote peaceful, cooperative and long lasting relationships between Australia and the governments of other countries, based on mutual respect.

Its key points include:

all countries to act through the United Nations to prevent acts of genocide, and to ensure that people’s human rights are not violated by governments

trading relationships with other nations which benefit both countries, ensure just rewards for local producers, and help to alleviate poverty

development models in Pacific countries based on sustainable, environmentally sound local development, with the participants determining the pace of change

closer involvement and cooperation with the countries of South East Asia

The Greens would ensure that Australia applies the principle of equal but differentiated responsibility as enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiating post-Kyoto Protocol commitments

They propose the inclusion of a category for environmental refugees in the UNHCR Refugee Convention — an issue which is becoming more pressing as the seas rise and more Pacific islands are threatened.

The Greens support the rights of the Palestinian peoples to statehood through the creation of a viable state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel, based on the pre 1967 borders and the right of all peoples in the region to peace.

They would immediately withdraw Australian forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and continue to provide aid for the task of reconstructing East Timor.

They support the right of developing nations to economic independence and their sovereignty over natural resources such as oil, including East Timor’s sovereignty over oil and gas in the Timor Gap.

Peace and security

In a policy document devoted to the questions of peace and security, The Greens state they would end the ANZUS treaty unless Australia’s membership can be revised in a manner which is consistent with Australia’s international and human rights obligations.

Other commitments include:

renegotiate a defence relationship with our allies that promotes Australia’s independent role in our region

end Australia’s participation in the US Missile Defence program and pursue a global ban on the militarisation of space

work towards a nuclear-free Asia-Pacific region

close all existing foreign bases in Australian territory and end foreign troop deployment, training and hosting on Australian territory

ensure that decisions on defence procurement are based on Australia’s defence needs

advocate an international ban on the manufacture and use of arms that indiscriminately kill and maim, including landmines, cluster bombs and depleted uranium

oppose military conscription

oppose the use of the ADF personnel in strikebreaking activities or in policing public protest

support the right of ADF personnel to conscientiously object to particular military actions, and support the rights of citizens to protest against such military actions

The above are just a few extracts from the comprehensive range of Greens policies. As can be seen from the principles laid out in these policies and their specific proposals, they offer a genuine alternative to the pro-US alliance, pro-privatisation Coalition and Labor parties. They are certainly a force worth supporting in their own right, but also in terms of gaining the balance of power in the Senate.

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