The Electrical Trades Union has snubbed Labor at its National Officers conference this week, asking a federal Greens MP to open the event for the first time.

Greens Treasury spokesman Adam Bandt will be guest speaker on the first day of the ETU's two-day conference in Adelaide, starting on Tuesday. No one from the federal Labor Party has been invited to speak on either day.

It is the first time a Greens MP has been invited to speak at the event and comes after the ETU's fierce campaign against the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was overrun by Labor's support for the deal.

Mr Bandt will use the opportunity to preview details of the Greens' new energy policy, which will be released this Sunday.

He will say the Greens plan to push for Australia to expand its electricity production by one and half times over the next 15 years.

They will also argue for "transition funding" to help workers and communities that will be affected by Australia's transformation from old energy to new energy, and to look at how investments in new energy production can assist the most affected communities, such as the La Trobe Valley in Victoria.

The Greens will take both policies to the federal election.

Allen Hicks, ETU national secretary, said his union was establishing itself as an "important national voice" in energy policy and it was necessary to engage with such groups as the Greens.

He said he was encouraged by the "principled stand" the Greens had taken on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and that the amendments they had moved in the Senate - which were voted down by the major parties - were "fundamentally sound".

"The occupations we represent are heavily involved in emerging renewables technologies," Mr Hicks said.

"We want to hear from everyone who has a serious plan in this area. We know the Labor Party do have such a plan, and that the Liberals do not. And we are keen to hear what Adam and the Greens have to say," he said.

A Labor source told Fairfax Media the ETU could ask whoever they wanted to speak at their national conference.

"Labor secured a comprehensive package of legal safeguards for Australian jobs when it came to [the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement], without risking the economic benefits of the agreement," the source said. "Our goal of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030 has been welcomed by industry and unions."

Only some branches of the ETU are affiliated with the Labor Party, so it does not have that power over Labor policy that unions such as the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have.

The Victorian branch of the ETU has donated to the Greens in the past.


http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/electrical-trades-union...

Greens' Energy policy this sunday.
All ready for Turnbull's panic/early election.

____ wrote on Nov 18^th, 2015 at 9:27pm:



I thought you guys already had one 

So up to now the Australian Greens have no energy policy 

who's Adam Bandt?

cods wrote on Nov 18^th, 2015 at 10:20pm:


You still remember that 80's band?

They went backwards fast because DiNatale moved them further to the right.

So anxious are the Greens to advance the interests of their friends the Libs that DiNatale wants to move a private members Bill to change the voting method for the Senate and wipe out the microparties. THAT really stuck in the craw of a LOT of people. That Bill will be greatly to the advantage of the Coalition, the Greens’ real friends.

You try talking to Greens_10% and he won’t admit any of that. Deluded and/or brainwashed.

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 18^th, 2015 at 10:43pm:



Labor frontbench splits over Senate voting changes

Labor frontbencher Gary Gray supports a deal between the government and Greens to change electoral laws and stop fringe parties gaming Senate preferences because it would force a divided Labor Party to decide where it stands.

Mr Gray, the shadow special minister of state, supports in their entirety the recommendations by the parliament's joint standing committee on electoral matters that would ensure a candidate could not win a Senate spot with only a very small primary vote.

Of the eight current crossbench Senators, its is argued only Nick Xenophon is there because of the wishes of voters.


http://www.afr.com/news/politics/labor-frontbench-splits-over-senate-voting-chan...


Half of divided labor want to ignore the wishes of the voters.
That's how JM rolls too.

Oh, Adam Bandt? I thought it was Adam Brand.