Greens Sell Out and Vote Down Anti-Nuclear Bill

It is astonishing that the Greens would vote against a law that improved Victoria’s defences against any Commonwealth plan to establish nuclear power or waste facilities in this state.

The Greens joined with the other parties to vote against the Bill after losing its own amendments to the proposal. With the Greens voting against the Nuclear Plebiscite Bill, the bill was defeated 20 votes to 18. The Bill cannot be introduced again in the same form.

This is the 30th occasion the Greens have voted with the Liberals against a Labor initiative. And this time they have joined forces with the Liberals to deny Victorians a voice in opposing a nuclear power plant in our State. In defeating this anti-nuclear law, the Greens political party has consummated the grubby preference deal they made with the Liberal Party before the State election.

Labor is now the only anti-nuclear party in Parliament. The Greens, DLP, Nationals and Liberals have joined to destroy a law that would have given Victorians a say in any nuclear proposal in Victoria.

The Greens have voted to make it easier for the Howard Government to build a nuclear facility in Victoria and voted to deny our local community in Brunswick & Coburg a voice against a nuclear power plant.

The Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Amendment (Plebiscite) Bill would have allowed for a plebiscite if the Federal Government tried to override long-standing State laws and establish a nuclear power plant in Victoria.