Penny's media releases this week

This week I put out two media releases - one acknowledging the importance of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, and the other calling on Minister Langbroek to reconsider his position on the Gonski recommendations for education funding reform. You can read them using the links below.

Greens Welcome National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence

Greens urge Minister Langbroek to reconsider position on Gonski education funding reform

Too Precious To Lose

A vote for Penny and the Greens on September 14 is a vote to protect Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the income it generates for all Australians through tourism and sustainable fishing.

Greens release updated education policy

Last week I attended the Australian Greens National Conference and Policy Conference in Sydney.  I spent three of the four days of Conference working on the Australian Greens Education Policy.  Working on this policy was some of the most rewarding work I've ever done.  At the end of the process, we have a policy that stays true to Greens principles and which sets out an agenda for making real strides in improving educational outcomes in this country.  The policy was released by Senator Christine Milne on the Monday of Conference.  Stay tuned for the release of the Greens full policy platform for the 2013 Federal Election.  Media Release

Independent Public Schools

Yesterday the Qld LNP Government announced the names of the first 26 schools granted ‘independent’ status as part of their Independent Public Schools reforms. 

Today on my Tumblr blog I've posted links to the report by Curtin University into the WA Independent Public Schools experience (on which the Queensland reforms are modelled) and the Australian Education Union's recent research report into devolution and education.  I've also posted a copy of my February 2012 Queensland State election campaign media release on the LNP's then proposed education reforms.

Greens are not extreme

Members from the Labor and Liberal sides of politics, as well as the mainstream media, often paint the Greens as extremists.  Read this article by Andrew West in today's Sydney Morning Herald to find out why it just isn't so.