2015 achievements
2015 was our first year in state Parliament! Together with the community, here's what we achieved.
In 2015 we finally saw the back of the terrible East West toll road. Massive congrats to everyone who campaigned in the lead up to the election -- you made this happen!
And when Labor renewed some coal licenses, we (and environment groups) kicked up enough of a stink that they decided to cancel a coal export project and review Victorian public funding of coal projects. Win!
The Greens have worked on this for 8 years, and now the Government has finally agreed to a Parliamentary inquiry which will hopefully lead to law changes to give people dignity in death. We also successfully lobbied the Government to ban smoking in outdoor dining areas - yay for clean air!
Unfortunately it was voted down by both Labor and Liberal, but we'll continue the fight in 2016.
Yep - we did that! Also, Parliament passed a Greens amendment to allow same-sex couples to have a ceremony at the registry office when they register their relationship. Love = beautiful.
Without the Greens, the law banning cattle from national parks would not have passed.
We got funding re-instated for some important homelessness projects, and also started a campaign demanding Labor invest more in public housing. You'll see more of this in 2016.
Which felt a bit like...
And if you thought that was all, think again! We also:
- Campaigned on unconventional gas at three by-elections and through a Parliamentary inquiry, leading to the Liberals, Nationals and Labor changing their positions and increasing our changes of a permanent ban next year!
- Campaigned to save two important heritage buildings in Melbourne - the Palace Theatre and the Princess Mary Club. It's now up to Labor to save these incredible places.
- Campaigned successfully for a Victorian Renewable Energy Target (the Government has agreed, but now we'll wait and see whether they deliver a target that's big and bold enough to start the transition to new, clean energy. Thanks to Yes2Renewables and others who also worked for this).
- Voted to pass laws to stop women being harrassed outside fertility clinics, and to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.
- Spoke out about the need for a school in the Docklands, and for changes to the law to protect the community-feel of high-rise apartments.
- Launched our Plan for a Liveable Melbourne.
- Helped hundreds of residents with important issues - such as getting maintenance in their public housing and getting a pedestrian crossing built in North Melbourne.
We reckon that's all worth celebrating.
It's been a huge year, and we couldn't have done it without our supporters. Thank YOU for your hard work.
Have a great summer break, and see you in 2016.