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It's hard to see who wins from the changes to the Electoral Act, which effectively make it harder to vote. Surely a democracy is strengthened by the removal of obstacles that bar access to the ballot box. That's why the key aim of the Electoral Act is to make it as convenient as possible for people to get on the electoral roll. And in the absence of any evidence of widespread voter fraud, it is obvious both convenience of enrolment and the integrity of the electoral roll can be achieved at ...

Based on an article originally published in the independent online journal Crikey on April 11th Remember the last two US presidential elections, particularly 2000, when the Republicans were accused of actively trying to disenfranchise Americans likely to vote against them... Slimy stuff -- good thing it could never happen here. Except, the Federal Government has used its Senate majority to ram through legislation to actively prevent citizens from enrolling to vote -- and its effect will be...

Expat Aussies face special enrolment/disenfranchisement issues. It's not compulsory to vote once you are outside Australia. But if you don't vote, you run a high risk of being wiped off the electoral roll. And once you have been wiped off the electoral roll, you may find yourself disenfranchised for the rest of your time overseas. That might not worry you. Some people are relieved and happy not to have to vote once they leave the country. But quite a few expat Aussies get pretty upset w...

Today, thanks to the support and donations of GetUp members, we've published a full-page Open Letter to the Prime Minister in The Australian newspaper - highlighting the costs of Guantanamo justice. The Open Letter has been the source of attention on the ninemsn website, Sky News, the ABC Midday Report , 2UE, and The Age. Click on the image of the advertisement below to open a larger version. Today we also delivered a 65,000 person-strong petition to John Howard's electorate o...

GetUp! at the ALP Climate Summit Talking about our five-point Climate Action plan GetUp's Executive Director Brett Solomon delivering the 75,000-strong petition for Climate Action by GetUp! members We're taking your global warming concerns directly to the politicians. On Saturday GetUp had a seat at the National Climate Change Summit table in Canberra, and were able to present your calls for action directly to leaders from government, business, industry...

Update Today thanks to the support and donations of GetUp members, we've published a full-page Open Letter to the Prime Minister in The Australian newspaper - highlighting the costs of Guantanamo justice. The Open Letter has been the source of attention on the ninemsn website and Sky News. As originally published in the independent online journal Crikey on March 27, 2007. After the legal drama in his initial hearing today, David Hicks surely would have reflected on the fact tha...

Some photos from our "Postcards to the PM" volunteer effort in Bennelong coinciding with the March 24 State Election. Hundreds of GetUp members volunteered to ask voters in the PM's electorate to send him a postcard with their message on David Hicks. More than 10,000 postcards were collected, and even the PM was invited to sign one when he turned up to vote! Please send your pictures to info@getup.org.au. Photo: Adam Mclean, Fairfaxphotos ...

Most Australians realise that significant action must be taken to arrest the climate change that is already taking place. Only a lonely handful of stubborn politicians and sponsored scientists cling to the idea that humans are not having a serious and dangerous impact on the world's climate, with alarming consequences for us and future generations. The solution, however, is a point of much disagreement. One of the greatest bones of contention in Australia is the role nuclear power could play...

Don't have time to sift through the spin... Here's the at-a-glance guide to where the major parties stand on Climate Action. and#10004; Their Policy supports the point X No Policy or Negative Policy Climate Action Policy Breakdown Climate Action Points The Coalition Liberals/Nationals Australian Labor PartyThe Greens The Democrats Ratify Kyoto X and#10004; and#10004; and#10004; Increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) X and#10004...

Thanks to the generous support of GetUp members, billboards were purchased around the country to put our message on David Hicks right in the face of the John Howard, Alexander Downer and Phillip Ruddock - where they couldn't be ignored. The billboards - combined with our television advertising, polls, and the mini-billboards in people's homes around the country have certainly helped raised the profile of the issue. Now we'll keep the pressure up until the government does the right thing and bri...

GetUp has helped launch an Australian Youth Climate Coalition, which brings together more than a dozen major student, environment, and youth media groups, as well as young climate lawyers and engineers. To kick-off a year of exciting activities, GetUp has helped finance the Coalition in creating a launch cinema advertisement where young people speak out on climate change. The advertisement is now showing in cinemas at Bondi Junction (in the electorate of Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull)...

Australia needs to make deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change, and we need to start now - not in the decades to come. That means developing an actionable plan to get us started on the long road ahead, something that we will present to politicians from all parties as we call on their commitments for action in the next term of Parliament, from 2007 to 2010. In November last year we launched the first version of our Action Agenda for the next Parliament, and invited you...

In the lead up to an election, it is easy to see why Australians have a generally distrustful attitude towards politicians. We are used to the political muckraking and smearing, almost expect the dirty games and blows below the belt, and are mostly unsurprised when allegations and counter allegations fly across the floor and over the airwaves. But even the most casually aware Australian must be alarmed by the blatant hypocrisy that the Federal Government has displayed over this latest ministe...

Todays announcement of a single charge against David Hicks signals that its Groundhog Day in Guantanamo. We are right back where we started. Instead of facing real charges under a fair legal process, David Hicks has again been served with an official-sounding charge that lack basis in international law, under a system designed to guarantee a conviction, destined to be challenged all the way to the US Supreme Court. Already over 17,000 of you have written postcards to Bennelong voters...

Todays announcement of a single charge against David Hicks signals that its Groundhog Day in Guantanamo. We are right back where we started. Instead of facing real charges under a fair legal process, David Hicks has again been served with an official-sounding charge that lack basis in international law, under a system designed to guarantee a conviction, destined to be challenged all the way to the US Supreme Court. Already over 17,000 of you have written postcards to Bennelong voters...

Imagine the greatest collection of rock engravings in the world - some of them six times the age of the Pyramids. A silent monument to reconciliation in Australia. A site our own Heritage Council describes as possessing unparalleled artistic, cultural, religious and historical significance. Yet most Australians know nothing about it. There are many stories behind the Dampier Islands. Weve summarised each of them for you so you can learn more about this silenced world treasure and make ...

GetUps campaign calls for a government brave enough to admit to the mistakes of the past and put in place a meaningful plan for our future - symbolised in a heritage listing from the Federal Environment Minister that protects the remaining rock carvings on the Dampier Islands and a re-negotiated lease between the Western Australian Premier and Woodside, which confirms that all future industry will be developed on one of the many other suitable, flatter sites nearby. There are many stories b...

Tonight Major Michael Mori, Terry Hicks, Philip Ruddock and the lead prosecutor for the Guantanamo Bay Military Commissions came face-to-face on SBS Insight - over David Hicks' case and how the Australian Government has handled it. See more here, and the full broadcast will be available online from the SBS website from tomorrow. If you missed it, a special repeat of the debate will be broadcast this Friday, at 7.30pm. If you've tuned in, we're curious to hear your thoughts now. We've h...

Thousands of "Bring David Hicks Home" placards have been dispatched to GetUp members around the country, and can now been seen near letterboxes, on fences, and in front windows. Send us a photo of your sign - and we'll put it up here. You can also comment on the reaction your sign has generated using the box below. We've really appreciated your feedback - and heard that they've generated lots of neighbourly, dinnertime and bbq conversations! And that a few have even gone missing (we're opti...

Brett Solomon, Executive Director of GetUp! is a guest on Australia Talks on ABC Radio National this evening, exploring ways in which protest is evolving in the 21st century. GetUps use of new technology is just one example of an international trend that is seeing protest come to incorporate a mix of interactive online activities with more traditional media and protesting activities. In the US, politics has been radically reshaped through new websites such as Meetup.com (through which How...