The Docklands Declaration

We, members of The Australian Greens Victoria gathered in Docklands on 23 July 2023, declare as follows—

PREAMBLE

Since its formation, our Party has been committed to doing politics in new ways, and to embodying the changes we want to see. Achieving this requires acknowledging our shared humanity and engaging in debate respectfully, including with our political opponents and with those who we have not yet convinced. At all times, we want to distinguish ourselves, in our public statements and actions, and in our internal party behaviour, from other political actors. Abuse, manipulation and half-truths are not the way we win support or deal with each other.

At their best, Greens in public office have demonstrated how even the most profound differences can be robustly yet respectfully communicated. The approach of party elders such as Bob Brown and Christine Milne inspires many Australians, not just Greens. Their work expanded what was considered possible in Australian politics, establishing our Party’s reputation as champion of the right of those with minority views to be heard.

The Party must practise privately what it preaches publicly. There will always be, and there should always be, disagreement within the Party. Differences of opinion regarding policy, strategy and tactics must be aired openly, with no issue declared off-limits and all members entitled to exercise their own judgement. Only with a contest of political ideas, and an informed, deliberative and respectful resolution of that contest by our diverse membership, can our Party hope to convince the broader electorate of the merits of our policies.

We make this declaration because our Party’s success relies on its membership being able to practise politics democratically, without being dictated to by the loudest voices or by members who hold public office. We make this declaration because we want our Party to succeed.

PRINCIPLES

Subject to the Constitution of the Party, party membership and all party offices are open to any person who agrees to pursue the Party’s purposes, even though they may disagree with one or more of its policies.
Members are free, within the Party, to discuss, disagree with, and propose the making or changing of any party policy or decision. Members do not need permission from anyone to do these things, nor do they need any particular identity.
Members are united by their support for the Party’s purposes. They resolve their differences by working together, not by abusing party processes or publicly denouncing dissenters.
Members who hold public office or a party office have a particular responsibility not to abuse the privileged position that the members have seen fit to grant them. They must not conceal the truth from members, use their influence to silence dissent, or incite attacks on other members.

PLEDGE

We pledge steadfastly to uphold these principles and to be vigilant in their defence.

We call on all members – particularly State Councillors, members who hold public office, and candidates for these positions – to join with us in making this pledge.

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MEMBERS WHO MADE THE DECLARATION ON 23 JULY 2023 AND MEMBERS WHO HAVE MADE THE PLEDGE SINCE THEN

Marcus Adams

Sophie Aitken

Dr Michael Alexander

Keith Altmann

Jill Anderson

Warwick Armstrong

Matt Armstrong

Richard Aspland

Don Astbury

Brewis Atkinson

Michael Awad

Jenny Backholer

Philippa Bailey

Robert Bakker

Judith Baldacchino

Cr Dr Olivia Ball

Susannah Ball

Greig Bannister

April Baragwanath

Marcus Barber

Dr John Bardsley

Doxia Baris

Alan Barlee

Judy Barlee

Richard Barnes

John Barnes

Gillian Barnett

Robyn Barrand

Jenny Barrett

Dr Margie Beavis OAM

Tim Bedford

Rowena Beecham

Christina Bell

Anne Beuchat

Michel Beuchat

Dr Emmaline Bexley

Lara Bickford

Ann Birrell

Viv Blanksby

Dr Michael Block

Andy Blunden

Julia Blunden

Carol Boglis

John Bowman

Lindy Boyd

Andy Breaden

Bridget Brennan

Jennie Brennan

Ron Breth

John Brownstein

Susan Buckley

Lee Burton

Daniel Caffrey

Paul Caine

Judy Cameron

Robert Cameron

Jenny Campbell

John Campbell

David Capon

John Carpenter

Penny Carruthers

Cr Peter Castaldo

Liz Chase

Qiqi Chen

Jean Christie

Ian Christoe

Sally Clarke

Alison Clarke OAM

Mandy Coats

Chris Cogger

Robert Colman

Valerie Conboy

Andrew Conley

Grant Conn

Jo Connellan

Jeff Cooke

Emily Corcoran

Ray Cowling

Dr John Cox

Diana Crombie

John Curtis

Robert Dart

James Davidson

Cyndi Dawes

Rose De la cruz

Ingrid de Neve

Cr Dr Anjalee de Silva

Ron Dean

Sarah Dekiere

Mary Dracup

Patricia Dressel

Cheryl Duffin

Emma Einsiedel

Joe Erftemeyer

Sally Everitt

Geoff Fagan

David Feith

Lindy Fergeus

Cr Dr Josh Fergeus

Kelly Fergeus

Dr Peter Ferguson

Clare Ferguson

Dr Stephen Fisher

Philip Flanagan

Bill Ford

Peter Forell

Duncan Forster

Helen Fox

John Fraser

Patricia Fraser

Gabriel Fuller

Salvatore Furfaro

Linda Gale

Alana Galli-McRostie

Cr Gavin Gamble

Gisela Gardener

Robin Gardner

Cr Wes Gault

Sam Gaylard

Prof Peter Gell

Phillip Geschke

Paul Gleeson

Matt Goodman

Rob Gordon

Jocelyn Gray

Pete Greenland

Barbara Griffiths

Ian Grundy

Seona Gunn

Dr Reynie Hafner

Bob Hale

Dr Bill Hampel

Cr Tom Hannan

Margaret Hansford

Hilary Harland

Helen Harris OAM

Cr Stephen Hart

Julie Hart

Colleen Hartland

Michael Hassett

Belinda Haydon

Freya Headlam

Barney Hearnden

Kim Henderson

Jenny Henty

Karl Hessian

Dr Holly High

Deborah Hiller

Steven Hirth

Trevor Hoare

Alf Hooley

Chris Hooper

Mark Hooy

Priscilla Hough-Davies

Dr Victoria Howlett

Meg Humphrey

Robert Humphreys

Bruce Hurley

Christine Ireland

Eric Ireland

Dr John Iser

Cecilia Jagan

Angele James

Earl James

Trish Jardine

Meredith Jelbart

Steve Johns

Ann Johnson

Aaron Johnstone

Dan Jordan

Astrid Judge

Petra Kahle

Mark Kasprzyk

Chris Kearney

Inge Kearney

Daydd Kelly

Lionel Kemp

Paul Kennedy

Edmond Kennedy

Michelle Kennedy

Prof Sandra Kentish

Meredith Kidby

Sheena Knowles

Stephen Koci

Robert Kozlovski

Paul Lamb

Michael Lambkin

Helen Lamont

Mark Landmann

Richard Lane

Dr Penelope Lane

Dave Lane

Susan Langridge

John Larin

Rosemary Laurens

John Learmonth

Jane Leitinger

Paul Leitinger

Cr Rohan Leppert

Dr Andrea Lindsay

Jeremy Lines

Dr Colin Long

Sam Long

Hilary Lovibond

Carole Lubbock

Dr Alexander Lugg

Mara Luglio

Mon Lukas

Cheryl Lundin

Kathy MacKendrick

Pat Mackle

Dr Cam MacRae

Eric Mainard

Kathleen Maltzahn

Jeannie Marsh

Denise Martell

Janet Massey

Stephen Matich

Helen Matich

John Mawson

Fiona McAlpine

Ken McAlpine

Patrick McConville

Sue McCulloch

Dr Malcolm McKelvie

Cr Alida McKern

Hugh McKinnon

Bruce McPhate

Michael Meaney

John Merory

Peter Mewett

Shalra Mewett

Susan Meyer

Elizabeth Mitchell

Cr Anab Mohamud

Paul Morland

Sally Moseby

Greg Mountjouris

Annie Mullarvey

Bob Muntz

Dr Kevin Murray

Dr Janet Murray

Dr Dave Nadel

Kate Neely

Rex Niven

Bill O’Loughlin

Stephen Oakes

Ian Onley

Nancy Otis

Anna Parker

Trevor Parker

Justin Parker

Prof Alison Parkes

Glenys Parslow

Graham Parton

Jamie Paterson

Graham Patterson

Dr Phillip Payne

Annie Pearce

Dr Yuchen Pei

Stephen Pepper

Helen Pereira

Susan Perron

Dr Sharron Pfueller

Jenny Pitts

Dr Rodney Polkinghorne

Dr Gideon Polya

Diane Poolton

John Poppins

Dr Helen Poppins

Les Pradd

Jeremy Press

Tom Price

Annie Price

Rhonda Pryor

Teresa Puszka

Therese Quinlan

Wendy Radford

Rose Read

Jill Redwood

Thess Reeders

Alysia Regan

Gareth Rego

Dr Bob Rich

Jolanda Rich

Dr James Ricketts

Bruce Rivendell

Simon Roberts

Diane Robertson

Dan Robinson

Helen Robinson

Clare Roczniok

Meredith Rogers

Dr David Rose

Stuart Rosson

Martin Rush

Michael Ruyg

Geraldine Ryan

Chris Ryan

Guenter Sahr

Peter Sanders

Dr Jill Sanguinetti

Laurence Savage

Gurm Sekhon

Peter Selby-Smith

Dennis Severin

Michael Shaw

John Shortridge

Prof Amanda Sinclair

Anthony Smark

Ros Smith

Heather Smith

Jacinta Smith

Luke Smith

Libby Smith

Colin Smith OAM

Jenny Smithers

Richard Snow

Adam Southon

Dr Clem Stanyon

Rupert Steiner

Dr Larry Stillman

Don Stokes

Robert Stringer

Mary Stringer

Mary Sweeney

Damian Sweeney

Tom Tabart

Jos Tait

Howard Tankey

Dr Catherine Tate

Igor Tesic

Ralf Thesing

Dr Ian Thomas

Coralyn Thompson

Jenny Tilleard

Dr Deborah Trengove

Robyn Tumelty

Steven Turland

Ken Turner

Sylvia van der Peet

Eva van der Vlies

Anselm van Rood

Ashley Voigt

Margaret Waddington

Lynne Waddington

Susan Walker

Colin Walker

David Wall

Peter Walsh

Brian Walters AM SC

Philip Warner

BR Wasterval

Eve Wasterval

Dr Ray Watson

Noel Wauchope

Graeme Webb

Barbara Weimar

Dick Wellard

Alison Wellard

Glen White

Karl Williams

Derek Wilson

Melanie Wiltshire

Anne Wood

Dr Julie Woods

Jan Workman

Joseph Zammit

Leon Zembekis

Dr Linda Zibell

Jenny Zimmerman

Helen Zournazis

Cr Dr David Zyngier