THE FULL PROPOSAL

PROPOSAL TO THE 2008 GLOBAL GREENS CONGRESS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Background
At the first Global Greens Conference in Canberra, 2001, structures were established to continue the work of the Global Greens under the stewardship of the Global Greens Coordination and the various regional networks from which the GGC members are drawn. These people have worked tirelessly for 7 years without any dedicated resources, completely dependent on their own fundraising efforts. The 2008 Congress is occurring through the sheer dedication and commitment of this small group of people, together with the wonderful support of the various parties and numerous Greens around the world - a testament to the power of Global Greens’ ideas and actions to act as sources of inspiration to Greens everywhere.

Now we are reaching the stage where our ambitions far exceed our capacities. It is time to move to the next stage in the development of the Global Greens. Much work lies ahead. Decisions made at this conference will need to be followed up and implemented. This work will continue to the next conference and beyond. To successfully implement our action plans will require a level of organisation not currently in existence, including consolidating the networks of collaboration established at this Congress.

First and foremost there is a need for ongoing information sharing between us, and for capacity building of the weaker parties and groups among us. A Global Greens Secretariat can provide support to our member and aspiring member groups, by acting as a clearing house for such information exchange, and can generally assist and support the capacity building needed to forge our movement into an effective, globally networked organisation capable of influencing the agenda for global change.

The Australian Greens are offering to host a Global Greens Secretariat in Australia. As a contribution toward the funding of this Secretariat, the Australian Greens have decided that elected Australian Greens at local, State and federal level will be asked to contribute one percent of their base electoral salary to an account specifically to fund the Global Greens Secretariat. Likewise, members of the Australian Greens will be asked to make a similar contribution. With the assistance of the Australian Greens Global Issues Group additional funding options will need to be investigated by the Secretariat when established.

We propose
1. That a Global Greens Secretariat be established. The Australian Greens offer Australia as the location.
2. That elected Greens everywhere be asked to donate one percent of their salary for the Secretariat.

Proposal adopted at Australian Greens National Conference, Sydney, February 2008:
That this meeting agree:
a) that the Australian Greens propose to the 2008 Global Greens Congress that a Global Greens Secretariat be established and Australia is offered as the location;
b) that elected Australian Greens at local, state and federal level be asked to contribute one percent of their base electoral salary to an account specifically to fund the Global Greens Secretariat; and
c) that the Australian Greens propose to the 2008 Global Greens Congress that elected Greens everywhere be asked to donate one percent of their salary for the Secretariat;
d) that members of the Australian Greens be invited to make a similar contribution;
e) That additional funding options be investigated by GIG and the secretariat when established
Agreed by consensus