Prosper Australia

Frank De Jong’s confirmed appearances:

• Sat July 14th, National Greens Convention (Green Members only)
• Tues 17th, “Speculating on the Earth’s Future”, Whitehorse Greens, Place: Meeting Room 1, Box Hill Library (Entrance just to left of main library entrance in Whitehorse Rd), 7.30pm
• Wed 18th, “Costing the Earth”, Selby Community House, Wombalana Rd (Enter Charles St) MEL 75 K11, 7pm
• Thurs 19th, “Return to the Source: Preventative Policy”, Federal Campaign launch for Priya Carey, Candidate for Batman, Northcote Townhall, High St, 7pm
• Fri 20th, “The Invisible Green Hand versus the Time Famine”, True Cost Economics Forum, Swanston Hall (Melb Town Hall), corner Swanston & Collins St, 9.15 - 1pm
• Fri 20th, “International Wedge Politics”, Melbourne Greens, CII Restaurant, 470 Little Collins St, Melb
• Sun 22nd, “Campaigning on Climate Change: A Canadian Perspective”, Sydney Greens, Venue TBA, 2pm
• Tues 24th, “Climate of Change - Warming to Green Economics”, Warnambool Greens, Regal Cafe, Timor St ($10 p/h for a curry plate), 6.30pm
• Wed 25th, “Economic Rent - Where’s our Money spent?”, Earthsharing Australia, Level One, 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 6.30pm
• Thurs 26th, “Combatting Greenwash Locally - Is less bad good enough?” (PDF 93kb), VLGA, 60L Building, Leceister St, Carlton, 7-9pm
• Mon 30th, “Will Carbon Trading save the day?”, Auckland Greens, Wellpark Naturopathic College 7 Francis Street, NZ, 7.30pm,

Frank’s Biography (PDF 420KB)

All talks are free, RSVP appreciated

Visiting housing affordability expert Frank de Jong said ‘the Census shows 830,376 vacant dwellings in the country. This demonstrates that it is the private supply of land withheld by speculators, rather than the need for more urban sprawl, that is hurting the housing market’

‘Census figures confirm this by showing that housing has grown by 1.5%, and population growth only 1.2%. So where are all the extra houses disappearing?’

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Strong Link between Vacant Land and Housing Affordability Crisis

Leader of the Green Party of Ontario, Canada, Frank de Jong today launched Earthsharing Australia’s ‘I Want To Live Here’ campaign. The campaign targets the under use of existing vacant land and will record statistics on the real vacancies of land, housing and apartments. Earthsharing Australia will lobby the government to encourage greater efficiency in the land market.

Mr de Jong said, “Vacant land is an avoidable tragedy in our cities and towns. It is not the shortage of land, but lots kept vacant by land speculation that increases the cost of housing.

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“Economics - the fast track to Sustainability”

Friday July 20th

The 2007 TCE Forum will feature Frank De Jong, leader of the Ontario Greens (Canada). He is an expert on environmental economics, having coined the term ‘the invisible green hand’ of market forces. Frank has over 20 years experience in Canadian elections and will bring a balance of political know-how and economic theory.

Economics needs to direct the behaviour of consumers towards looking after the planet. Is Carbon Trading enough?

A new economic paradigm is needed to ensure a liveable planet for future generations.

Frank De Jong will give his positive keynote “The Invisible Green Hand V the Time Famine”, then 3 panels will follow:

Policy Pathways:

Carbon Trading v Carbon taxes. A crucial point in time demands we make the correct decision.

• Cameron Neil (Fairtrade Australia)
• Anna Rose (Australian Youth Climate Coalition)
• Tom Curtis (Earthsharing Australia)

Policy Possibilities:

What are the cutting edge policy options? Also, the practical examples of effective green economics at work.

• Donna Lorenz (Maunsell Engineering)
• Adrian Whitehead (Beyond Zero Emissions)
• David Spratt (Carbon Equity)

Policy Makers:

What do the politicians see as possible and pragmatic? Is it genuinely possible to make policy that will stop runaway climate change? Eg, co2 below 550eppm

• Senator Lyn Allison (Democrats)
• Evan Thornley (ALP)
• Richard Di Natale (Greens)

15 minutes question time will follow each panel.

The Venue:

Swanston Hall - Melbourne Town Hall (to the left of the main stairs, enter from Swanston St)

Time:

9.15 - 1pm

The true cost of avoiding a transition towards a responsible economic system is quickly becoming apparent. Let’s insure against the power of nature by following the money trail and scientifically re-directing it towards a profitable future for all generations.

Free RSVP necessary

Check Frank’s tour itinerary