Antinuclear

Senator Christine Milne – a strong voice for rural Australia and progressive business

Tough negotiator Milne to carry cause into the regions, BY: SID MAHER  The Australian April 14, 2012 “…….Senator Milne, in accepting the leadership from her predecessor, nominated climate change as the key issue confronting the nation in the 21st century and signalled she would seek to build support for the Greens in rural and regional areas in her new role.

She lashed the “rapacious” mining industry, arguing “we are seeing the biggest assault on the environment in Australia that we have seen for a very long time”. She attacked the willingness of the ALP and the Coalition to “cave in to the few who want to push out of the way environmental protection”. Rallying the party faithful, Senator Milne said the departure of Senator Brown represented an opportunity to recommit to the Greens and commit to the party’s objectives. She said
the party would build on Senator Brown’s legacy and praised his compassion and advocacy of the “need for a more caring, inclusive
society”. She said Australia needed an economic narrative that involved sustainable environmental outcomes and to “support the kind of society we want”.

Senator Milne said rural and regional Australia had a critical role to play in terms of providing food security in a global context, also citing its potential to participation in the provision of renewable energy and energy sustainability.

Senator Milne, who grew up in rural Tasmania, said: “I’m going out there as a country person, to say to other country people it’s time that the Greens and country and rural Australia really worked together.” She flagged working more closely with “progressive business”, signalling she will seek to encourage renewable energy companies to be
more vocal and boost corporate social responsibility. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tough-negotiator-milne-to-carry-cause-into-the-regions/story-fn59niix-1226326234831

April 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics