Brisbane Meeting Of Assessors For Affirmative Action

As most of you would be aware, a group of us gathered on Wednesday and publicly handed in a letter to Kevin Rudd's electorate office. We created a group name "Assessors for Affirmative Action". We highlighted our problems and concerns. Some people also submitted personal letters. We generated media interest (radio, print and TV).

As you are probably aware, the Greens have been very supportive in highlighting our issues. Christine Milne's office issued an update early this morning, to those who have been corresponding with her office. Part of the update includes this

Finding solutions to fix the Green Loans program must now become a key focus. Christine and the Greens, are of the firm view that the Green Loans program is too important to be let fail, not least because the impacts on thousands of Australians like you are far too severe to be simply ignored. You can see Christine's press release on the matter here:

http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/green-loans-scheme-too-important-fail.

Many of you have taken the time to send through possible solutions, which I am now working through to collate them as fast as I can. But the most effective solutions will be ones that have the credibility and authority of you as assessors behind them, as a group. I know there is a poll on the ABSA website suggesting options, and some other threads discussing possibilities. It's time if at all possible for one or a small group of you to put your hand up and help pull that all together, and put it out to as many assessors as possible.

ACTION: - work together to discuss possible solutions; and send us a set of options endorsed by as many of you as possible. That way we can put your group plan to the government.

So, our next gathering will be to focus on the solutions. I have booked the Brisbane City Council City Library from 3:30 - 5:30pm. We will do a workshop using a technique called World Café, to collate a list of solutions from assessors in the Greater Brisbane region. This will be then passed onto Christine Milne's office and Kevin Rudd's electorate office on another date. Afterwards, we can make our way to a cafe / pub to chat further.

So in summary,
Brisbane City Library 266 George Street, Brisbane.
Community Meeting Room - Ground Floor (ask staff for directions).
3:30pm - 5:30pm (social gathering afterwards).
Bring your ideas and solutions!

Cassie McMahon.
Call 0404 677 781

Green Loans Scheme Too Important To Fail

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne

Thursday 11th February 2010, 3:31pm

Energy Efficiency

The Green Loans Scheme is a critically important step in building Australia's green economy, creating jobs for the future and saving householders money. It is too important to be allowed to fail.

Following the his moves to fix problems the insulation roll-out over recent days, Miniter Garrett must now urgently move to fix the problems besetting the Green Loans Scheme.

The Green Loans scheme is an excellent idea gone badly awry, but it can be fixed if the Minister turns his attention to it," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne said.

The Prime Minister must get personally involved in order to fix this debacle which, alongside the insulation roll-out and the rooftop solar bungling, is costing lives and livelihoods across the country.

I am offering to work with the industry bodies, small business people, concerned individuals and the government to work out the best and most appropriate long term fix.

It is clear that Mr Garrett has to immediately instruct his department to roll out an up-to-scratch nationally accredited training program.

He must give the call centre adequate funding to operate effectively and ensure that the online booking system is brought online.

Given the fabulous community demand, he must adequately fund the program to match that demand.

And he must make sure that the program is fair, ensuring that no one company or group has greater access to bookings than any other.

There are big unanswered questions as to how this can be made to work, but with the right will I am convinced it can.

The fabulous project of greening Australia's homes and jobs is too important to be allowed to fail."

Senator Milne was joined today at Parliament by two assessors from the Canberra community, Rob May and Robert Sanchez, both of who are calling for the government to urgently fix the Green Loans program.

This information is supplied by GLP Assessor at 'http://glpassessor.blogspot.com'.