National Affairs

National Councillors

1. State Council will appoint two National Councillors annually. National Councillors may have an alternate if they are not present at any given National Council meeting. The alternate will be appointed by State Council from among the National Conference Representatives.

2. All National Councillors have the task of acting in the best interest of the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626, but must do so with an understanding of the informed opinions of their state branch and its constituent bodies.

3. The roles of the national councillors will include:

   1. To attend monthly National Council meetings.

   2. To attend, report to and follow directions of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Council.

   3. To attend, report to and follow directions of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Executive.

   4. Be familiar with and communicate regularly with AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State office bearers and the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Executive.

   5. To consult and be informed by relevant state standing committees, and AGVAustralian Greens Victoria representatives on Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 Working Groups.

   6. To ask the state convenor to initiate a Quick Decision Making Group meeting if a decision is to be made by National Council on:

      1. Expenditure or commitment to expenditure outside of an agreed AGAttorney-General budget; or

      2. Any matter that has legal implications; or

      3. When the decision is likely to impact disproportionally on the interests of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria.

   7. To be responsible for acting as the National Conference Committee’s primary point of contact with members of other states’ delegations to National Council and Conference, on matters pertaining to Victorian positions on proposals before National Council and Conference, except where decided otherwise by the Committee.

4. National Councillors must attend at least 8 meetings of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria executive per year and must provide reports available to members on the occasions of meetings of State Executive and State Council. Relevant issues arising should be promptly brought to the attention of relevant office bearers, standing committee convenors or the most senior staff member.

5. National Councillors must provide verbal reports (default) or written reports (if attendance is not possible) to each meeting of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Council on Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626’ current issues and decisions, which will be listed for discussion.

Eligibility to Serve as a National Councillor

1. The two National Councillors will be appointed as a single ticket. That is to say, State Council will appoint one team of two Councillors from among those teams who have nominated, as opposed to separately electing two councillors.

2. In order to nominate for the position of National Councillor, both members must belong to one or more of the following eligible groups:

   1. The first seven elected National Conference representatives elected at the State Conference

   2. The current 4 State Office Bearers

   3. The immediate past State Office Bearers

   At least one member must belong to the group described in 7a.

3. In nominating for the positions of National Councillors, the team of two eligible members must specify which among them will serve as the primary representative on the State Executive, and which will actthe Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 as convenor of the National Conference Committee.

4. In the event that a National Councillor ceases to hold office but the other National Councillor does not cease to hold office:

   1. At the next meeting of the State Council, that meeting shall make a determination to confirm a nomination made by the remaining National Councillor of any elected National Conference representative or member otherwise eligible under clause 7 of this by-law to join the National Councillor team, in a vote requiring 75% of votes cast to be in favour.

   2. In the absence of (a) occurring at that meeting, a new election shall be held for joint tickets for both National Councillor positions, with the eligibility outlined at clause 7(a) of this by-law expanded to include all current National Conference representatives, and with the remaining National Councillor continuing in their role until such time as the results are declared

National Conference Committee

Status

1. The National Conference Committee is a Standing Committee of State Council, established in accordance with clause 43.4 of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution.

Roles and Powers

1. In accordance with clauses 42.2 (a) and (b) of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution, State Council representatives to the Committee the powers and responsibilities to:

   1. decide all matters relating to the Victorian position on proposals to National Conference meetings, and manage such contribution at such meetings, in line with this bylaw;

   2. subject to any other bylaws, consult directly with AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Branches and members on all matters relating to National Conference, except where, in relation to Federal Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do, the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Steering Committee has agreed to, and informed the Committee of, a consultation process;

   3. facilitate the exchange of information between the AGAttorney-General and its working groups and the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria and its Branches and members as it relates to the relevant national conference;

2. Additionally, the Committee has the powers and responsibilities to:

   1. recommend to State Council the removal of any National Conference representative, including the Convenor, from their office, if in the opinion of the Committee it is believed, based on evidence, that the representative has failed to fulfil their responsibilities as outlined in this bylaw. Such a recommendation will be decided by secret ballota secret ballot that uses a single transferable vote quota-preferential voting system, allows the option of not allocating further preferences, uses Robson Rotation, and provides an option of voting to ‘Seek Further Candidates’;

   2. perform other functions as specified in this bylaw

   3. perform other functions as determined by State Council.

3. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Treasurer and the Senior Most Staff Member will provide advice to the National Conference Committee on the budgetary implications for the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria on any of the proposals to be considered by either National Council or Conference as soon as possible but by no later than the date of the next National Conference Committee meeting;

Membership

1. The Committee membership will consist of:

   1. The 2 National Council representatives;

   2. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria representatives to the National Conference (which may include the 2 persons mentioned above);

   3. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria representative to the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Coordination Committee (or ‘alternate’ representative, but only for any meeting that the representative is not able to attend); and

   4. One State Parliamentarian;

   5. One Greens Local Government Councillor;

   6. One of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Convenor or AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Secretary, as determined by them;

   7. One of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State or Assistant State Treasurer, as determined by them.

2. Right of attendance at Committee meetings shall be extended to:

   1. A representative of the Victorian Federal MPs;

   2. AGVAustralian Greens Victoria representatives to all National Working Groups, Committees and Panels not already listed; and

   3. AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Office Bearers not already listed.

3. Those with the right of attendance at Committee meetings who are not members may participate in discussions at Committee meetings but will not be permitted to participate in the making of decisions.

4. Other AGVAustralian Greens Victoria members may attend as observers, and should inform the Committee Secretary of any intention to attend.

Victorian Positions Document

1. A Victorian Positions Document shall be produced by the Committee prior to each National Conference meeting. The purpose of the document is to transparently state the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria position on all known proposals before the relevant National Conference meeting, and state which member shall be the primary Victorian negotiator for each of those positions.

2. The Victorian Positions Document will be created in accordance with the following process.

3. The Committee will meet to create a draft Victorian Positions Document, which will propose a position on all known matters on the agenda of the relevant National Conference meeting, and specify which member of the Committee will be the primary negotiator for each position. The positions on proposals will generally be written in such a way so as not to preclude negotiated changes to the proposals at the relevant National Conference meeting.

4. The draft Victorian Positions Document will be distributed to State Councillors along with the National Conference proposals themselves accompanied with a request that State Councillors consult their Branch members, and specify those key items of importance that guidance is particularly being sought on.

5. Any feedback from State Councillors will be distributed to all Committee members;

6. Whenever a State Council meeting falls before the relevant National Conference meeting, the presentation of the Draft Victorian Positions Document must feature on the agenda of that State Council meeting.

7. The State Council will debate the Draft Victorian Positions Document in plenary or workshop, and amendments may be made.

8. After any amendments have been agreed to, the Victorian Positions Document as a whole will be put to the State Council for endorsement.

Accountability

1. The Victorian Positions Document shall not be binding on any representative to National Conference. However, it must form the basis of attempting to build consensusthe circumstance in which no member of the party body who is in attendance objects to the proposal being passed, having been given the opportunity to do so at the National Conference, unless circumstances arise which were not foreseen at the time of its adoption. Any position included in the Victorian Positions Document must be explained to the National Conference during the first substantive discussion of the relevant matter.

2. All National Conference Representatives must attend meetings of a Victorian Delegates Caucus, convened by the NCCNational Conference Committee Convenor, as and when they are convened, and the decisions of that Caucus will be recorded.

3. Where meetings of the Committee occur during a National Conference meeting it is acknowledged that detailed minutes may not be kept. However a written report for presentation to the next regular meeting of the Committee that clearly states the outcomes of all proposals and how these outcomes compared to the positions in the Victorian Positions Document will be prepared. This report will form the basis for the report to State Council of National Conference meetings.

4. Any representative who blocks, or votes for or against a position which is contrary to both of the Victorian Positions Document and a decision of the Victorian Delegates Caucus must provide an explanation that blocking or vote at the next State Council meeting.

Victorian National Conference Representatives

1. The elections for the National Conference Representatives may be held either before (during the other postal or electronic ballots) or at the Annual State Conference.

2. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria will not appoint more National Conference representatives than the number specified in the AGAttorney-General Constitution.

3. The Committee Convenor will be responsible for holding proxy votes for National Conference representatives who are not present at any given National Conference meeting, and proxy vote in accordance with the decisions of the Committee or the Victorian Delegates Caucus.

4. Should any National Conference representative position/s fall vacant, the Committee will appoint an acting National Conference representative as relevant to actthe Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 until the next State Council meeting, at which point an election will be held for a replacement. The election will be open to all members.

5. If however the National Conference representative position/s fall vacant and there are respectively no National Council or Conference meetings scheduled between the time that the vacancy arises and the anticipated date of the Annual State Conference, the position will remain vacant until the Annual State Conference.

6. The work of National Conference representatives will be conducted through and regulated by the Committee, in accordance with this bylaw.

7. National Conference representatives will adhere to all decisions of the Committee or the Victorian Delegates Cacus.

Victorian National Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Coordination Committee Representatives

1. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Steering Committee (PSCPolicy Steering Committee) shall appoint Victoria’s representatives to the National Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Coordination Committee (AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee), or choose to return this responsibility to State Council from time to time.

2. Victorian representatives to the AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee shall, subject to any relevant confidentiality agreements, provide all general meetings of the PSCPolicy Steering Committee with brief written reports, setting out:

   1. the issues or proposals being considered by the AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee, and in particular any contentious proposals or issues;

   2. any important decisions made;

   3. their intentions in relation to any issues which are or are likely to become contentious, or which have been decided;

   4. any other matters of such importance they believe should be considered by the PSCPolicy Steering Committee or its equivalent successor committee;

   5. any other matters that the PSCPolicy Steering Committee may request from time to time; and

   6. their attendance, non-attendance, participation or non-participation in the deliberations of the group on which they serve.

   7. Copies of these reports will be provided to the Committee.

3. Victorian representatives to the AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee shall, subject to any relevant confidentiality agreements, provide all members of the PSCPolicy Steering Committee and the National Conference Committee Convenor with all agenda papers and minutes of all AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee meetings forthwith upon receipt.

4. Victorian AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee representatives shall take direction from the PSCPolicy Steering Committee regarding AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee matters. Any direction shall allow Victorian AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee representatives the flexibility to negotiate consensusthe circumstance in which no member of the party body who is in attendance objects to the proposal being passed, having been given the opportunity to do so decisions at AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee meetings.

5. Victorian AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee representatives shall not contradict decisions of the PSCPolicy Steering Committee when negotiating and voting on AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee decisions.

6. The PSCPolicy Steering Committee may terminate any AGVAustralian Greens Victoria member’s AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee delegacy on the grounds that the representative concerned has failed to fulfil their responsibilities as outlined in this bylaw.

Victorian Representatives to Other National Groups

1. This section of this bylaw will apply to all Victorian representatives to all National Working Groups, Committees, Panels and other centrally-established Groups (together referred herein as “National Groups”) not already listed in this bylaw.

2. Victorian representatives to every National Group shall be appointed at or before (during the other postal or electronic ballots) the Annual State Conference on an annual basis except where State Conference or Council decides otherwise. The State Secretary will keep a register of election dates to ensure that elections are scheduled and advertised appropriately.

3. Victorian representatives to National Groups shall provide the Committee with the minutes of all meetings of their Working Group forthwith upon receipt.

4. Victorian representatives to National Groups shall provide the Committee with a brief report no longer than fourteen days after each formal meeting (including non-face-to-face meetings) of the group on which they serve, or otherwise twice each year if the groups do not generally meet, setting out:

   1. the issues or proposals being considered by the National Group, and in particular any contentious proposals or issues;

   2. any important decisions made;

   3. their intentions in relation to any issues which are or are likely to become contentious, or which have been decided;

   4. any other matters of such importance they believe they should be considered by State Council or Executive; and

   5. their attendance, non-attendance, participation or non-participation in the deliberations of the group on which they serve.

5. The Committee Secretary will ensure that important issues raised in reports from Victorian representatives to National Working Groups are included in reports to State Council and Conference meetings.

6. The Committee Convenor will be responsible for ensuring that important matters before these Committees and Working Groups are being properly addressed by the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria.

7. Victorian representatives to National Groups shall be guided by, and shall not contradict decisions made by, the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Council or Committee when negotiating and voting on decisions made by the National Group that they are the representative to.

8. The Committee may choose to recommend to State Council the termination of any AGVAustralian Greens Victoria member’s National Group delegacy on the grounds that the representative concerned has failed to fulfil their responsibilities as outlined in this bylaw.

Definitions

AGAttorney-General Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626

AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Australian Greens Victoria

MPMember (of) Parliament Member of Parliament

NCCNational Conference Committee National Conference Committee

AGPCCAustralian Greens Policy Coordination Committee Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Co-ordination Committee

PSCPolicy Steering Committee Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Steering Committee

Modification History

Action	Body	Date
Approved	State Council	2009-06-21
Amended	State Executive	2010-01-28
Amended	State Executive	2010-03-11
Amended	State Council	2010-04-17
Amended	State Council	2011-02-26
Amended	State Council	2012-04-21
Amended	State Executive	2012-08-09
Suspended	State Conference	2015-09-05
Amended & Endorsed	State Council	2015-10-17
Amended	State Council	2019-06-01
Amended	State Executive	2019-08-15
Amended	State Council	2019-09-07
Amended	State Executive	2019-09-19
Amended	State Executive	2021-04-15