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

Scope

1. The “Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee” is the “The Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Steering Committee” referred to in Chapter 6 of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Constitution.

Functions

1. This bylaw operates in conjunction with Sections 58-61 of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Constitution, which defines the function of the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee as follows (Section 59.2):

   1. management of the process of development and drafting of policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do with state-wide cover;

   2. collaborating with the responsible Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) bodies on the development and drafting of policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do with national scope, for recommendation to State Council for consideration of the National Council of the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 in its policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do approval process;

   3. reporting to State Council on all other matters referred to it by State Council; and

   4. any other policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do-related functions given to it under the bylaws.

In addition to those functions the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee shall have the following functions and powers in relation to State Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do:

1. to recommend policies to State Council for adoption;

2. to correct any formal, drafting or typographical errors in any Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do which has been adopted by State Council;

3. when authorised to do so in respect of any particular policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do, to edit a policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do to up-date it or to remove provisions which have become irrelevant;

4. ensuring wide involvement of members, Branches and other party bodies in formulation of Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do;

5. recommending specific Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do debates/issues for consideration by Branches and by State Council; and

6. directing the work of the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Sub-Committees.

1. In relation to the Federal Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do (policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do of the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626) the Committee is empowered to determine after consultation with the National Conference Committee a process for consultation with members Branches and other party bodies about the formation of Federal Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do.

2. The policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee must be advised of Local policies adopted by Branches or Regions, and shall have the power to recommend local policies for adoption, and to advise State Council of any circumstance where it considers that there is an inconsistency between a Local Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do and a State Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do.

Composition

1. The Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee shall consist of:

   1. The Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Convenor

   2. The AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Convenor or AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Secretary or AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Assistant Secretary or an Executive Member appointed by the Executive. The method for determining which of these shall be the member shall be that the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria State Convenor, unless the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria Convenor declines, in which case it shall be the State Secretary unless the State Secretary declines, and so on.

   3. Four General Members (*see procedure for election of General Members of Standing Committees)

   4. Up to two members recommended by the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee to State Council after an appropriate call for expressions of interest to party members, appointed on basis of achieving additional expertise or balance among Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee members.

   5. One federal MPMember (of) Parliament as nominated collectively by Victorian federal MPs (or their representative), who shall be a voting member for decisions on federal policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do. Where this position is filled by a representative who is not a federal MPMember (of) Parliament, that person shall not have a vote.

   6. One State Member of Parliament nominated collectively by Victorian State Members of Parliament (or their representative), who shall be a voting member for decision on State policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do. Where this position is filled by a representative who is not a member of state parliament, that person shall not have a vote.

Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Sub-Committees

1. To deal with specific policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do areas, the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee is empowered from time to time to establish or disestablish up to 3 Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Sub-Committees, each convened by a member of the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee, and consisting of that member and up to 10 other Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1) members appointed by the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee. It is the intention of State Council that these would be generalist committees, and would have responsibility for acting on behalf of the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee, for example in consulting experts, consulting members, and preparing draft policies for the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee to consider.

Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Working Groups

1. State Council may establish or disestablish Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Working Groups as it considers necessary and determine the number of members to be elected to Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Working Groups. It is the intention of State Council that these would be specialist committees, and would have responsibility for assisting the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee through research and consultation on the review and development of policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do within their terms of reference.

Schedule 1

NAME

1. The name of the group shall be [NAME] (PWGPolicy Working Group).

PURPOSE AND ROLES

1. It is the purpose of the PWGPolicy Working Group, in co-operation with the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee and as per the State Council approved policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do processes, to:

   1. develop and review policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do in the area of [specific policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do or policies] during the four-yearly substantive policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do review;

   2. monitor developments in its policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area(s), and recommend further variation to policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do as necessary;

   3. provide support to elected representatives and other spokespersons of the Greens, at their request;

   4. provide interpretation advice to the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee on any question relating to the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area(s);

   5. actthe Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 as a forum for members of the party to discuss issues in all aspects of the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area with the view of engaging members in the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do review process, engaging and informing members through discussion on interesting aspects of the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area, and providing support in the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area(s) for AGVAustralian Greens Victoria campaigns; and

   6. ensure that internal members-only discussions, including online forums, follow Greens safe-meeting practices.

2. While the PWGPolicy Working Group does not have the responsibility for developing or implementing political strategy in the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area(s), or implementing specific initiatives, action plans or campaigns, these will be developed in consultation with the PWGPolicy Working Group where time permits.

LIAISON

1. The PWGPolicy Working Group will consult, as relevant and appropriate, with:

1. the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee;

2. constituent groups of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria;

3. comparable Greens groups in other states and territories, the federal party, and international Greens groups; and

4. other individuals with expertise or interest in the policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do area.

1. The Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee or State Council may request a report or research on any policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do matter within its area, at any time during the life of the PWGPolicy Working Group.

TERM OF OPERATION

1. The PWGPolicy Working Group will commence operations when endorsed by the State Council meeting.

2. The PWGPolicy Working Group is an ongoing working group.

MEMBERSHIP

1. Any financial members of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria shall be eligible to stand for election to the PWGPolicy Working Group.

2. State Council will elect [number] PWGPolicy Working Group members annually from among all the members of the party. In addition, the parliamentary portfolio holder or spokesperson shall be a member of the PWGPolicy Working Group. Where appropriate and determined by State Council, a local councillor selected by the local council representatives shall be added to the PWGPolicy Working Group.

3. Where an extraordinary vacancy exists after an election has been held, PWGPolicy Working Group members may be appointed by approval of the State Council.

4. Members have an obligation to actively participate in and contribute to the development or review of a policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do.

5. A membership attendance list will be kept and registered with the State Secretary.

6. Attendance and participation at meetings, as per meeting procedures below, is open to all members of the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria.

7. A PWGPolicy Working Group member will cease to be a member following absence from three consecutive meetings without notice, provided that the Convener may grant special leave of absence from meetings of the PWGPolicy Working Group to any member.

OFFICE BEARERS

1. Members of the PWGPolicy Working Group shall annually elect from among themselves a Convener and Secretary.

2. Where an extraordinary vacancy exists, an office bearer may by appointed by agreement of the PWGPolicy Working Group.

MEETINGS

1. The PWGPolicy Working Group shall meet at least once per quarter, either in person or remotely.

2. Notice of meetings will be advertised in advance through the AGVAustralian Greens Victoria e-bulletin, and per email to branch secretaries and members registered with the PWGPolicy Working Group.

3. A quorum of any meeting of the PWGPolicy Working Group shall be at least half of PWGPolicy Working Group members.

4. A meeting agenda will be provided to all PWGPolicy Working Group members and other AGVAustralian Greens Victoria members registered with the PWGPolicy Working Group prior to the meeting, and will be confirmed at the beginning of the meeting.

5. Actions agreed and decisions made at a previous meeting will be taken as ‘not for further discussion’, unless a specific agenda item with a written proposal is forwarded to the Convener prior to the meeting.

6. Decisions are generally made by 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 of all present at a meeting. However, in the event that 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 cannot be reached, a 75% majority of PWGPolicy Working Group members present can be taken as the decision.

REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY

1. A list of decisions made by the PWGPolicy Working Group will be minuted and distributed to members of the PWGPolicy Working Group and to the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee.

2. The Convener will keep the State Council and Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee informed of progress and activities as appropriate, with an annual written report on the group’s activities.

3. The Convener must respond to any written correspondence from the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Convener or State Secretary.

4. In the event that the PWGPolicy Working Group fails to meet its minimum meeting and reporting requirements, or in any instance where the PWGPolicy Working Group is seen to be breaching party rules, the State Council may choose to dissolve the group.

5. The PWGPolicy Working Group shall not make any public statements without the prior approval of the relevant AGVAustralian Greens Victoria spokesperson.

POLICYa statement of principle and intent about what government should do CONTENT CHANGES

1. Any agreed recommendations for policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do changes by the PWGPolicy Working Group are to be presented to the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee for review and presentation to State Council for ratification. Whether the recommendations have been agreed by 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 or by the standard 75% vote shall be indicated to the Policya statement of principle and intent about what government should do Committee.

Modification History

Action	Body	Date
Approved	State Council	2012-06-23
Amended	State Council	2013-11-09
Amended	State Council	2015-05-30
Amended	State Council	2019-06-01
Amended	State Executive	2019-08-15