Something to consider when you make your voting decisions later this month!!
BSB
From the Mooney Valley Leader - August 10 2010
Greens' pledge to shut Essendon Airport
Election 20109 Aug 10 @ 12:02pm by Julia Adler
Greens candidate Tim Long wants Essendon Airport shut within the next term.
THE Greens have vowed to shut down Essendon Airport - no matter which major party wins government at the election.
Do the greens have a realistic change of closing the airport? Tell us below.
Greens candidate for the seat of Maribyrnong Tim Long said the airport should be shut down in the next term of government.
“It needs to be closed for the local community and whatever that takes needs to be done,” Mr Long said.
“It needs to be done now and needs to be done in the next term of government.”
Mr Long said the airport site should be developed into a “world class, sustainable community” as a residential and commercial precinct.
Closing the airport to aviation had long been a Greens policy, he said. “It’s been our position all along.” Mr Long said.
“We don’t say things just because they are vote winners.
“Closing it conforms with numerous aspects of our polices, not least our health policies, because of the noise and air pollution.”
The pledge comes two weeks after Maribyrnong Labor MP Bill Shorten said a re-elected Labor government would not close the airport within the next term of office.
But with the Greens set to increase their numbers in the Senate at the upcoming election, but highly unlikely to form government in their own right, Mr Long said the Greens would achieve their goal by lobbying whoever came into power.
“We’ll use communication, negotiation and consultation,” he said.
“We’ll continue to talk and negotiate with all interested parties with the intention of closing it.”