Media Releases by the Country Alliance

POLICY ASESSMENTS AND COMMENTARY

http://voteclimate.org.au/FED07-Policy-Analysis;, ACF Score-Card ;

Country Alliance - Victoria

POLICY ASESSMENTS AND COMMENTARY

21/11/06 Victorian election: Environment groups release policy score card; Media Release ACF < TWS< FOE< EV< VNPA< GREENPEACE

New party seeks honest folk to speak up

By Mathew Murphy, The Age
August 18, 2005

The newest party on the Victorian political scene arrived yesterday minus banners, streamers or even any candidates.

In fact the official launch of the Country Alliance consisted of two independent MPs, a reluctant party spokesman and a man in a cowboy hat.

Country Alliance spokesman Russell Bate said the party, a brainchild of the Bush Users Group, had now been registered and had just signed its 800th member.

He said the next step was finding quality candidates.

"Anyone who is honest, decent and feels strongly about rural values — give us a call," Mr Bate said. "Oh and hopefully moderately articulate and reasonably presentable. Either sex, it doesn't worry us."

Independent MPs Craig Ingram and Russell Savage used the launch to blast the Nationals, saying the party had failed to look after the interests of country Victoria, prompting the need for a new voice.

Premier Steve Bracks joined in the chorus. "I will tell you why groups like the Country Alliance get set up," he said. "It is because people get let down by (the Nationals) and people like Barnaby Joyce.

"He goes around yelling and screaming and of course he rolls over now and says it is OK to sell off Telstra."

Yet the Nationals yesterday welcomed the launch of the Country Alliance, saying the Bracks Government had failed the bush.

• With Rachel Kleinman

New country party enters Victoria's political arena

August 15, 2005 - 8:15AM

A new political party will be registered in Victoria this week to provide an alternative voice for country voters.

The Country Alliance is also aiming to keep the Greens from gaining control of the upper house in next year's state election, party spokesman Russell Bate said.

"Our constituents include four-wheel drivers, regional business people, shooters, the timber community and farmers who are all concerned about changes to the way the upper house of parliament will work after the next state election in November next year," Mr Bate said.

He said the Victorian Electoral Commission had advised his party of its intention to publish a notice of its decision to register the party on Thursday.

Mr Bate said the party feared the introduction of proportional representation could hand control of the upper house to the Greens.

"Our constituents are the original conservationists who have actively promoted the responsible use of our resources," Mr Bate said.

"However there is a big difference between responsible conservation and the minority of environmental extremists who we are concerned about."

- AAP