Congratulations to Richard Di Natale who has been preselected for the position of lead Senate candidate for The Greens Victoria.
Thanks to all Greens members and friends and colleagues who supported me in the preselection campaign. I came in second in the postal ballot of all members. I really enjoyed meeting everyone at the preselection Meet The Candidates meetings, and spending time in the company of the other six very talented Candidates. Here's a version of the speech I gave at these meetings.
However, I have been preselected for the second spot on the ticket, which is a winnable position in hte case of a double dissolution - not that that is looking likely at the moment. However, all the following material is still very relevant!
Why vote for Janet?
My edge is my experience - six years in Government as an elected representative, seventeen years in every conceivable role in The Greens, two decades of experience in grassroots campaigns - and winning campaigns! and five years work with peak advocacy organisations, as Chair of the Metropolitan Transport Forum and Vice President of the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Here's my nomination statement
But don't take my word for it. Here's what over twenty Greens and community members say about me.
What my four nominators have to say
Philip Sutton (Author Climate Code Red, Founder Climate Emergency
Network and Safe Climate Australia)
I've known Janet Rice for 25 years. She's developed her skills a lot over that time but her basic strengths have always been there, dependably and reliably. When I think of Janet what comes to mind is that she's intelligent, compassionate, strong, level-headed, principled, flexible, dedicated, humorous, with staggering stamina and ability to manage a gruelling workload, she is visionary and grounded, she's sensible and loveable. And somehow she has steadfastly built her family relationships as well. 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 climate emergency and a host of other symptoms of lack of care for the earth, its diverse life and its people.
For society to cope with these massive challenges we need extraordinarily capable politicians - people who can keep our community together, moving effortlessly between the local and particular and the big changes on the state, national and world scene.
Janet can do that. We need her in a role where she can make use of her talents to the full. That role is as our Senator.
Cr Rose Iser, (President, Victorian
Local Governance Association, Councillor, Moonee Valley City
Council )
What will Victorian voters look for in a Greens Senate candidate? In times of enormous challenges, voters will turn to someone who has both the capacity to improve Australia’s legislative responses to climate change, education, employment and financial management, and who will inspire the community to take action for change.
Janet’s impressive record as a Councillor, Mayor, Vice-President of the Victorian Local Governance Association and leader of the Metropolitan Transport Forum clearly demonstrates her talent for political leadership, detailed policy responses and winning community support at the ballot box.
Janet has demonstrated exceptional ability at galvanising diverse political views and brokering community oriented solutions reflecting the core values and policies of The Greens. Janet has earned the respect of politicians and community members across Victoria through her work at the VLGA, on Council and her community environmental activism.
Janet has extensive experience and knowledge across a vast range of federal concerns: climate change, transport, forests, water, indigenous issues, gambling, disability, the arts, multiculturalism, women’s issues, welfare services, and international human 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 in lots 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 grassroots campaigner.
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 they put 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 for preselection as Greens Victoria lead senate candidate. Honoured, as I’ve admired her committed, strategic activist campaigning since the 1980s when I first became aware of it, from the other side of the country, when she was working with the East Gippsland Coalition. Very pleased, because I love her unswerving facilitative, inclusive, celebratory methods and her wicked sense of humour.
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 within political 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 upon her credibility as a knowledgeable activist campaigner and her capacity to involve and inspire.
She is absolutely right that the climate emergency is the mega-challenge of history. So few of our current politicians get it or are game to fess up if they do.
Janet will tell and do –nothing’s more certain. She has my vote and unconditional recommendation to you.
Trackback link: