December 09, 2020
Climate negotiator’s maiden speech draws colonisation link
Greens’ co-leader James Shaw says the party has helped to get a more diverse range of voices heard in parliament and across society.
It’s 21 years since Green MPs first entered parliament in their own right, and Mr Shaw says in that time they have moved from being seen as fringe voices to being an essential part of government.
Yesterday’s maiden speech from Green MP Teanau Tuiono tied it all up by drawing links between climate change and colonisation.
"That understanding, that appreciation of the links is something that has not been in the mainstream up until this point but it is starting to come through and I think it's important people do hear that in parliament. I think it will be a while before people truly understand it and get to grips with it but it is good to see it become part of our discourse now," Mr Shaw says.
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