Senate preselection '09
In 2009 I stood for preselection for the Senate for The Greens Victoria and came in second in the postal ballot of all members. Richard Di Natale was the succesfull candidate in the preselection and was elected as a Senator for Victoria at the federal election in 2010.
Here's a version of the speech I gave at the Meet the Candidates meetings that were held as part of the preselection campaign.
Here's my nomination statement
What my four nominators had to say
Philip Sutton (Author Climate Code Red, Founder Climate EmergencyNetwork and Safe Climate Australia)
I've known Janet Rice for 25 years. She'sdeveloped her skills a lot over that time but her basic strengths have alwaysbeen there, dependably and reliably. When I think of Janet what comes tomind is that she's intelligent, compassionate, strong, level-headed,principled, flexible, dedicated, humorous, with staggering stamina and abilityto manage a gruelling workload, she is visionary and grounded, she's sensibleand loveable. And somehow she has steadfastly built her family relationships aswell. She is truly a remarkable person.
Why should we choose Janet to represent the Greens and Victoria in the Senate?
Victoria, Australia and the world faces the most testing time ever due to our climateemergency and a host of other symptoms of lack of care for the earth, itsdiverse life and its people.
For society to cope with these massive challengeswe need extraordinarily capable politicians - people who can keep our communitytogether, moving effortlessly between the local and particular and the bigchanges on the state, national and world scene.
Janet can do that. We need her in a rolewhere she can make use of her talents to the full. That role is as ourSenator.
Cr Rose Iser, (President, VictorianLocal Governance Association, Councillor, Moonee Valley CityCouncil )
What will Victorianvoters look for in a Greens Senate candidate? In times of enormous challenges, voters will turn to someone who hasboth the capacity to improve Australia’s legislative responses to climate change,education, employment and financial management, and who will inspire thecommunity to take action for change.
Janet’s impressiverecord as a Councillor, Mayor, Vice-President of the Victorian Local GovernanceAssociation and leader of the Metropolitan Transport Forum clearly demonstratesher talent for political leadership, detailed policy responses and winningcommunity support at the ballot box.
Janet has demonstratedexceptional ability at galvanising diverse political views and brokering communityoriented solutions reflecting the core values and policies of The Greens. Janet has earned the respect of politiciansand community members across Victoria through her work at the VLGA, on Council andher community environmental activism.
Janet has extensiveexperience and knowledge across a vast range of federal concerns: climatechange, transport, forests, water, indigenous issues, gambling, disability, thearts, multiculturalism, women’s issues, welfare services, and internationalhuman rights.
Janet is a polished presenter, genuine listener and wonderfully honest and sincere politician. Voters will find what they are looking for in Janet Rice.
Andrea Millsom ( National Election Campaign Committee and Victorian Communications and Election Campaign Committee)
Janet and I were both young activists in the mid 80s, passionate about saving the magnificent forests in the east of our state, and then both moved onto transport and bicycling campaigns. Janet went to being active in politics, as a key person who took on the work of establishing the Greens in Victoria and Australia. She saw the need, and had the vision. She put in years steering our fledgling party through its first, precarious decade, then put inlots more years on Maribyrnong Council, including as Mayor.
Through all the years I have known her, she hasn't changed. She is still dependable, bubbly, optimistic, intelligent, and ready to do the hard work. She has a great strategic brain, is an incredible team-builder, and I don't know anyone who is a better grassrootscampaigner.
I am in the privileged position of attending Australian Greens meetings over many years and have seen the work of our Senators up close, have seen their courage and tenacity, and the hours theyput in. Janet is just the kind of person we want to put beside them. She has the knowledge, skills and the commitment to make a great contribution as a Senator.
Bro Sheffield-Brotherton (38 years eco-activist experience, Coordinator,Glen Eira and Bayside Local Government campaigns 2008.)
I am honoured and very pleased Janet Rice asked me to nominate her forpreselection as Greens Victoria lead senate candidate. Honoured, as I’veadmired her committed, strategic activist campaigning since the 1980s when Ifirst became aware of it, from the other side of the country, when she wasworking with the East Gippsland Coalition. Very pleased, because I love herunswerving facilitative, inclusive, celebratory methods and her wicked sense ofhumour.
The span and depth of Janet’s campaign experience is extraordinary –climate change, forests, planning/transport, human rights, multiculturalism,disability, participatory budgeting – a great base for an aspiring senator.
Her grassroots campaign skills underpin demonstrated achievement withinpolitical structures, including groundbreaking work in Maribyrnong Council,Victorian Local Governance Association and Metropolitan Transport Forum.
In elections, Janet has a proven capacity to harvest votes based uponher credibility as a knowledgeable activist campaigner and her capacity toinvolve and inspire.
She is absolutely right that the climate emergency is the mega-challengeof history. So few of our current politicians get it or are game to fess up ifthey do.
Janet will tell and do –nothing’s more certain. She has my vote andunconditional recommendation to you.