The National Conference of the Australian Greens, meeting in Melbourne today, has decided the Greens will take on Pauline Hanson and the Government's GST as prime targets in the election campaign.

"One Nation is dangerously anti-environment. It is prepared to open up national parks to logging and mining and is deliberately keeping its anti-environment policies under wraps," Greens Senator Bob brown said today.

"Public challenges to Pauline Hanson over issues such as mining at Jabiluka, and mining and logging Queensland's World Heritage Fraser Island have met with silence. Ms Hanson failed to answer my request for her environmental policies.

"Literature supporting One Nation condemns conservationists and the creation of national parks to protect forests in New South Wales.

"The Greens are also determined to put the environment on the big parties election agendas. Polls consistently show the environment as a major concern for voters throughout Australia but Labor and Liberal, like One Nation, want it off the agenda.

"Throughout the campaign the Greens will actively pursue the leaders and environmental spokespeople of other parties with triangular Green placards carrying environmental messages. Major issues include Jabiluka, woodchipping of forests, air and water pollution.

Categorical opposition to the GST

The Greens conference condemned the GST and instead proposed taxes on waste and pollution, and taxes on specific financial transactions.

"The GST will hit the poor community service organisations from life saving clubs to overseas aids groups. Unlike the Democrats, the Greens opposition to the GST is categorical. After lengthy study the Greens have determined that you cannot have a GST that is socially just," said Senator Brown.

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