How the Greens (WA) is Organised

• Membership
• Office Holders
• Regional Councils
• General Meetings
• Representatives Council
• Quick Decisions
• Process
• Procedures
• Parliamentarians

Membership

• Member

  Purpose: Full Membership with intent to participate. Members may not be members of another political party.

  Rights: Members of the Greens (WA) may attend any meeting of the Greens (WA). May contribute to decisions by vote or consensus amongst groups to which they belong or are appointed. May vote in internal ballots and may nominate to be an office bearer or for preselection to public office. Members have rights to information and association.

   

• Supporter

  Purpose: Member who wishes to show support but with limited participation. Supporters may not be members of another political party.

  Rights: Same as a member except that they cannot be office bearers or vote internally (for exceptions read the constitution).

   

• Associate

  Purpose: Involvement and participation without official membership of the Greens (WA) for personal reasons or because of membership in another political party.

  Rights:Same as a member except that they cannot be office bearers, vote internally or nominate for preselection to public office.

   

• Newsletter

  Purpose: Receive the Newsletter out of interest or desire for information.

  Rights:Any member of the general public can observe Greens (WA) meetings.

   

• Friend

  Purpose: People who have volunteered their services to the Greens (WA) in the past and may do so in the future.

  Rights: Any member of the general public can observe Greens (WA) meetings.

   

• Affiliate

  Purpose: Organisational show of support entitling the affiliate to participation. Political parties may not become affiliates to the Greens (WA).

  Rights: Non-individual rights of members. Affiliated organisations may send a delegate to Representative Council meetings as a Special Interest Group.

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Office Holders

Office Holders are elected and carry out functions as required by the constitution. The roles are Convener, Secretary and Treasurer. Apart from the obvious duties they all carry out responsibilities with respect to electoral lawas. The Office Bearers of the Greens (WA) are listed in the current Newsletter

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Regional Councils

The Greens (WA) is comprised of Regional Councils based on the federal lower house electoral regions.

Regional Councils require seven members to be accredited otherwise they function as Working Groups of Reps. Council. All members and supporters resident within W.A. are allocated to the Regional Council within which they reside unless they nominate otherwise.

All Regional Councils have a convener, treasurer, secretary and permanent representative to Reps. Council. Regional Councils have full powers of the Greens (WA) within their geographical regions and may open accounts, as constrained by the constitution.

Local Groups

Regional Councils may be comprised of Local Groups (preferably approximating state electoral divisions). These may have powers allocated by but not exceeding the appropriate Regional Council.

For details of Regional Councils, Local Groups and their contacts and meetings, see the current Newsletter. Regional Councils are encouraged to be involved with the local community and community groups, so the Greens (WA) philosophy and policy is reflective of the community at large rather than imposed from above.

Working Groups

Regional Councils and local Groups may each establish Working Groups. for information on Working Groups within Regional Councils or Local Groups, please contact the appropriate Regional Council or Local Group.

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General Meetings

The Greens (WA) holds General Meetings which facilitate communication between members and the structure of the Greens (WA). General Meetings are an opportunity to share, discuss and recommend. There is an Annual General Meeting and a number of Ordinary General Meetings each year. These meetings are where appropriate reports ar tabled, such as office bearer annual reports. There is provision for members to call Special General Meetings. Special General Meetings may be used as part of the reform process of the Greens (WA)'s constitution.

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Representatives Council

Reps. for Short.

Manages the affairs of the Greens (WA). It is comprised of representatives from Regional Councils, special Interest Groups, Working Groups, Members in Public Office and the Office Holders of the Greens (WA). Should the process of consensus not reach a decision then representative from Regional Councils may vote.

Working Groups

Representatives Council may establish Working Groups. Working Group responsibilities include producing a Newsletter, developing Policy drafts, helping with Administration, providing an avenue for members who hold public office at all levels of government to continue interacting with the party and other roles that the Reps. Council decided.

Working Groups, their co-ordinators, and the next scheduled meeting are in the current Newsletter.

Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Groups have been formed on the authority of The Greens (WA) for purposes of affirmative action on behalf of disadvantaged sectors of the community and particular policy interests. Special Interest Groups may send a delegate to Representatives Council meetings.

For Special Interest Groups, their contacts and meetings, see the current newsletter.

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Quick Decisions

The Quick Decision Making Group (QDMG) makes decisions of such urgency that they must be resolved before the next scheduled Representatives Council meeting. The QDMG is subordinate to Representatives Council and must make decisions by consensus only. The Office Holders and three other nominated people are on the QDMG.

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Process

The Annual General Meeting and election of office bearers are the two main annual events. You will be notified by mail or in the Newsletter by the Convener or Secretary as appropriate.

Ordinary General Meetings are held within 13 weeks of any general meeting and members are notified as for the Annual General Meeting.

Representatives Council Meetings, the Newsletter and most working group meetings are monthly events. Deadlines for subsequent Newsletters are encolsed with each Newsletter, as are the dates of most other meetings. For further information, contact the Convener about Representatives Council Meetings and the Co-ordinators of Working Groups for confirmation of dates, locations and agenda issues.

Some groups have more regular meetings: contact Regional Councils and Special Interest Groups for their meeting cycles.

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Procedures

Some general points about meeting and decision making procedures within the Greens (WA).

• The Greens (WA) advocates affirmative action for women.
• Anyone may attend any Greens (WA) meeting.
• Decisions are made by consultation, and consensus is a priority.
• Members have a right to send a proxy to meetings.
• Voting and postal ballots may only be made as by the constitution or under the auspices of a Regional Council.

Exceptions are constitutionally determined.

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Parliamentarians

Parliamentarians vote according to their conscience, not along party discipline lines. Parliamentarians are readily accessible and report back to all layers of the Greens (WA) - Membership, Regional councils, Representatives Council, etc. - as well as to their constituents.

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