GREEN LIGHT CANDIDATES

Chris Tomlins

Blair McFarland

Click on the image to download

Click on the image to download

Here’s how you can make climate a compelling issue locally.

Hand out Traffic Light A5 How to Vote cards at polling booths. Phone or text 0427 580 803 to arrange for print ready artwork tailored for your electorate. You can then print the How to Vote card using your home printer or for larger numbers use the services of a commercial printer.

This is particularly effective to help add extra reach to Green Light independent campaigns and draw in swinging voters. Vote Climate One’s assessment of candidates has the elevated status of being fiercely independent.

Check out our how our team Federally assesses Candidates and Parties

Green Light Candidates

Chris Tomlins (Aboriginal Party)

UNCLE CHRIS TOMLINS, ARRERNTE ELDER

“I am Peltherre Agnillinga Agkmoura, one of the most ancient names on the planet.”

Uncle Chris Peltherre Tomlins’ mother was a Warlpiri woman; his father was an Arrernte man.“Through my father I claim that Arrente, my sisters go Warlpiri, through my mother. Its through my father that I have that status, especially because my father was born on the country on which he is buried and on which I now live.”

Uncle Chris has been involved in the land rights movement since the early 80s and was instrumental in establishing and running Yipirinya, a bilingual, two-way learning primary school for bush kids in Alice Springs. “I took my activism skills out of politics and legalities, into the healing and the people movement, the people’s healing.”

Since attending the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as a delegate of the Freedom Summit in 2015, Chris has been travelling the countryside as a voice for Country and an activist of peace, lending his support to many actions, often involving the protection of sacred sites.

“These sacred sites are our spiritual connection, they are our stories of creation, before man and woman. They are about Mother Earth and all the animals that were here before us.

Uncle Chris is a custodian, a peaceful protector of his country and and a passionate activist. Among other things, he supported actions such as ‘Close Pine Gap’, Indigenous Sovereignty, and recognition of the Frontier Wars.

Pine Gap is the extensive US military and intelligence base that occupies Aboriginal lands of the Arrernte people, the original custodians of country. The Arrernte were never asked for their permission to build Pine Gap on their land.

Uncle Chris wrote in a letter: “It’s not only Black Australia that has a sovereignty issue. The Arrernte people have been the custodians and peaceful protectors of their country for thousands of years. Our sovereignty is contained in our songlines, stories and dances, which have been handed down over thousands of years.

“As the lawful custodians we are responsible for what occurs on our land and the harm it brings to the rest of the world. The activity of the facility at Pine Gap has implicated us in criminal military actions, which threatens the dignity of all people, implicates us in war crimes and generates instability and conflict around the globe as a consequence of US imperialism.”

SELF– DETERMINATION

The right of Self Determination for indigenous people were brought into Australian law in 1972. It is based on the traditions of self – governance and decision- making processes of indigenous peoples.

The Native Title Act 1993 (sect. 251B) requires compliance with traditional decision- making processes under Aboriginal custom and law.

When elected, I will implement this law to bring decision making back to our aboriginal elders and community leaders. We are cultural people, and we need a seat at the table. Self- Determination is about making choices for our children and grandchildren. We need resources allocated to bring decision making back to communities, back to families. It’s time for all of us to look to ourselves, find the necessary help and sort out our own issues. I ask non-Aboriginal Territorians to do the same- examine your government, your communities. Let’s explore the issues together, come together and work together locally to deal with the problems plaguing our households and communities, towns and territory as a whole.

KIDS ON COUNTRY

I agree with the Chief Minister that the problem children in Alice Springs need to be sent back out to their homelands, many of them are not Arrernte and don’t reside here permanently. But we need resources and support for communities and the homelands/outstations that have been neglected through almost 20 years of military occupation.

The courts must again recognise Aboriginal law and custom. This will make it possible for the police to work with magistrates and community leaders to set up the appropriate process to get kids safely back on country, where they belong. We need to re-educate government officials and NGO’s on why trusting us with our kids is the only way forward.

It is time to end the occupation of remote Aboriginal lands and reestablish regular meetings with the elders’ councils. This is what we did in the 80’s and 90’s. This is what Central Land Council use to facilitate. Perhaps its time land council was broken up into its tribal estate groups and the decisions made inside the communities, not in Canberra.

Self- Determination is for all Territorians. Our families and kids are all suffering from decisions being made outside of our communities, from outsiders and or people with little to no interest in our children’s future. Lost income, reduced tourism, the rise in drug and gang antisocial behaviour and crime. These are all issues that need to be addressed from within our community, by the appropriate people.

THE 2007 NORTHERN TERRITORY EMERGENCY INTERVENTION REMAINS IN PLACE

This is a race-based legislation which has no place in a modern commonwealth. It must end. There can be no Self- Determination whilst the intervention is in place. Since its implementation in 2007, the situation in the territory has got worse for everyone.

Blair McFarland (Greens)

I’m a husband and father, and I’ve lived and worked in Mpartnwe Alice Springs for 40 years. 

In 2024, I was made the NT Australian of the Year in recognition of my work managing a multi-million dollar program to stop substance misuse in our community. This work saw a 95% reduction in petrol sniffing sustained for more than 10 years. 

I have seen how bad government policy ruins the lives of generations of First Nations people,  – policy that keeps people in poverty. 

These social issues need to be addressed as seriously as the climate crisis but instead the old parties give away billions of dollars to a dying fossil fuel industry, and pocket donations from big alcohol and gambling companies. 

They got us into this mess and are clueless how to get us out. It’s time for a change.

We can’t keep voting for the same dodgy politicians and expect a different result.

This election, Lingiari can vote for proven experience to fix our issues. Only the  Greens can be trusted to listen to people and put the community over vested interests.

CHANGES TO TRAFFIC LIGHT ASSESSMENT GUIDE WARNING

The team at Vote Climate One may change our Traffic Light voting advice right up to shortly before election day. For instance it is very difficult to access ranking information from parties or candidates who have no public email, phone number or little internet profile. In these cases, we apply the precautionary principle with a Red Light ranking until further information and commitment to climate rescue comes to hand.

Please contact us if you have local information which could effect our rankings. Phone Rob 0n 0427 580 803

The major parties have let the Australian public down when it comes a serious policy commitment to action on the ecological and climate crisis. Consequently, we have assessed both the Labor party and the Coalition as Red Light parties. Nevertheless, in relation to our Traffic Light Voting guides, the Labor party has been ranked orange ahead of the Coalition which remains a stubborn Red Light proposition.

The House of Representitives

Labor is ranked Orange for the House of Reps. The opportunity for a Green Transition, sparked by the influence of a progressive cross bench holding the balance of power in a Labor minority government, is our bet bet for climate rescue.

The Senate

Likewise our senate Traffic Light Voting Guides also promote Labor ahead of the Coalition using an Orange Light status. This stategy will help discourage the worst senario for climate action which would result from a combative Coalition/right wing party majority in the senate.