1. Principles:

The Australian Greens believe that:

a) Parliament is the central authority of representative and responsible government;

b) each person should have one vote, that all votes should be of equal value, and that proportional representation best reflects the wishes of the electorate in the composition of Federal Parliament and State and Local Governments;

c) each citizen has both the right and the responsibility to participate in the processes of government;

d) Australia's constitution and democratic structures should help to build an ecologically sustainable and socially just society, with a global consciousness and a long term perspective;

e) Australia's constitution should express our aspirations as a community and define our rights and responsibilities asindividuals and as members of the community, as well as establish the powers and duties of government; and

f) Australia's constitution and public institutions need fundamental change, which should be brought about through an ongoing participatory process.

The Australian Greens are concerned about the present nature and rate of privatisation and corporatisation of local government services including:

waste management;

water supply;

sewerage; and

electricity supply.

While the number of women involved in local government is greater than in other spheres of government, their participation is limited and should be increased.

2.3 Short Term Targets

In recognising that local government must play an expanded and more autonomous role while

maintaining its accountability if we are to achieve a truly democratic system of government in

Australia, the Australian Greens propose:

a) financial support for those elected to local government, in recognition of the part they must play in decision-making;

b) increased involvement of local government at other levels of government;

c) that State of the Environment reporting include criteria for measuring the environmental impact of developments;

d) that those people who are found to have acted in a corrupt way be barred from ever holding public office again and as well, that they forfeit any superannuation payments they may have made while holding that office and that they lose the right to any termination payments for which they would otherwise have been eligible;

e) that local councils require all new buildings, subdivisions and developments to conform to Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) principles;

f) a regular flow of information to the community via community radio, newsletters and noticeboards to give equal voice to a range of ideas and to encourage community participation in local government;

g) that all spheres of government take immediate steps to familiarise all citizens with their rights and with all aspects of the present electoral system; and

h) that there be appropriate and adequate consultation to better gauge opinions on issues of concern.