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Victorian Liberal Leader Michael OBrien is laying the blame for todays Black Lives Matter protest in Melbournes CBD squarely at the feet of Premier Daniel Andrews.

As protesters began to gather in front of State Parliament early on Saturday afternoon, Mr OBrien was at the back of the building and said the Premier should have followed the example of the NSW government and gone to court to stop the event.

Protesters have gathered in the CBD.Credit:Joe Armao

The Liberal Leader said Mr Andrews has encouraged what looks set to be the largest public gathering in the state since the COVID-19 pandemic emergency began, by sending "mixed messages" earlier in the week about whether people should attend.

The Premier, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton all had a clear message by Thursday, that attending the rally was not safe with cases of COVID-19 still being detected in the community and that people should find another way to protest.

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Liberals blame Andrews as thousands gather for Black Lives Matter - The Age

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The ACT government says the opposition has massively underestimated the cost of its ambitious pledge to plant 1 million trees over the next decade if it wins the next election. The announcement on Friday by Opposition Leader Alistair Coe came as part of the party's pledge to ensure there was green space within a 10-minute walk from all Canberra homes. Mr Coe said Labor had slashed the ACT's tree canopy from 30 per cent to 21 per cent. The promise to plant a million trees is yet to be fully costed, but Mr Coe said the Liberals would rely on families, community groups, schools and local businesses to help deliver it. He said each plant should cost between $10 to $20. "A million trees will be a collaboration of the public realm as well as the private realm," he said. "The devastating bushfire season and coronavirus has reminded us how precious our natural environment is for the health and wellbeing of local communities. "Our long-term vision is to plant 1 million trees and preserve precious green space to ensure all Canberra families and community groups can enjoy the benefits of the fresh outdoors." Mr Coe said the policy was based on consultation with local communities. "Especially when you're in the Woden town centre or Gungahlin town centre, it is clear there is a shortage of green space," he said. "People right across Canberra are desperate for more green space." But City Services Minister Chris Steel said Mr Coe's costings were way off the actual cost of planting a million trees. He said the $10 to $20 per tree figure given by the opposition was based on a small plant size, and did not include maintenance costs. Mr Steel said the actual cost per tree would be more like $380. READ MORE: "Unfortunately the Canberra Liberals' plan has no detail, is completely uncosted and goes to show they're completely inexperienced with government," he said. "$10 to $20 per tree would see a tube sock planted in an urban environment that would be trampled and simply would not reach maturity in an urban environment." He said the government was committed to increasing the amount of green space in the city. "ACT Labor believes green space is critically important to the character of our city," Mr Steel said. "We have been increasing the amount of park land that is available." Mr Steel said the government would plant tens of thousands more trees in the coming years, and wanted to increase tree canopy to 30 per cent. Opposition environment spokeswoman Elizabeth Lee said planting a million trees would improve the overall quality of life of Canberrans. "The most obvious benefits of trees are the role they play in carbon reduction, their shade and protection that can reduce temperatures in urban areas and of course, their natural beauty befitting our proud heritage as the bush capital," she said. "One million trees will strengthen and protect Canberra's air quality and green spaces for generations to come." Mr Coe has been tight-lipped about what other environmental policies the Liberals would take to the October election, but said the party would be focused on delivering "very tangible improvements to Canberra's environment". The Liberals have already promised to freeze residential rates in their first term of government and start abolishing payroll tax if they win this year's election.

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The ACT government says the opposition has massively underestimated the cost of its ambitious pledge to plant 1 million trees over the next decade if it wins the next election.

Mr Coe said Labor had slashed the ACT's tree canopy from 30 per cent to 21 per cent.

The promise to plant a million trees is yet to be fully costed, but Mr Coe said the Liberals would rely on families, community groups, schools and local businesses to help deliver it.

He said each plant should cost between $10 to $20.

"A million trees will be a collaboration of the public realm as well as the private realm," he said.

"The devastating bushfire season and coronavirus has reminded us how precious our natural environment is for the health and wellbeing of local communities.

"Our long-term vision is to plant 1 million trees and preserve precious green space to ensure all Canberra families and community groups can enjoy the benefits of the fresh outdoors."

Mr Coe said the policy was based on consultation with local communities.

"Especially when you're in the Woden town centre or Gungahlin town centre, it is clear there is a shortage of green space," he said.

"People right across Canberra are desperate for more green space."

But City Services Minister Chris Steel said Mr Coe's costings were way off the actual cost of planting a million trees.

He said the $10 to $20 per tree figure given by the opposition was based on a small plant size, and did not include maintenance costs.

Mr Steel said the actual cost per tree would be more like $380.

"Unfortunately the Canberra Liberals' plan has no detail, is completely uncosted and goes to show they're completely inexperienced with government," he said.

"$10 to $20 per tree would see a tube sock planted in an urban environment that would be trampled and simply would not reach maturity in an urban environment."

He said the government was committed to increasing the amount of green space in the city.

"ACT Labor believes green space is critically important to the character of our city," Mr Steel said.

"We have been increasing the amount of park land that is available."

Mr Steel said the government would plant tens of thousands more trees in the coming years, and wanted to increase tree canopy to 30 per cent.

Opposition environment spokeswoman Elizabeth Lee said planting a million trees would improve the overall quality of life of Canberrans.

"The most obvious benefits of trees are the role they play in carbon reduction, their shade and protection that can reduce temperatures in urban areas and of course, their natural beauty befitting our proud heritage as the bush capital," she said.

"One million trees will strengthen and protect Canberra's air quality and green spaces for generations to come."

Mr Coe has been tight-lipped about what other environmental policies the Liberals would take to the October election, but said the party would be focused on delivering "very tangible improvements to Canberra's environment".

The Liberals have already promised to freeze residential rates in their first term of government and start abolishing payroll tax if they win this year's election.

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ACT government says the Canberra Liberals' pledge to plant a million trees is uncosted and unrealistic - The Canberra Times

These people burning and looting American cities are not protesters, they are professional looters and rioters. Stealing from stores and burning cars and stores is not a protest. It is an outright criminal activity.

Most of these looters and fire bugs are very anti-white racists. They hate all police because they want the nation to fall into lawless anarchy.

How does stealing honor the memory of George Floyd or bring any sort of comfort to his friends and family?

When a fairly small town like Bemidji , Minn., can lockdown with a curfew because of rioters, you know these thugs have went way overboard. This is more like a civil war than a meaningful protest.

Mayors, governors and the president have to step up and take charge or this thing will get much more worse. I never thought that the horrible coronavirus would be put on the back burner replaced by looting and rioting. Unbelievable. Is this what the liberals in Hollywood and in the media wanted? Well, they got their wish. Just sickening.

Kovach lives in Nevis, Minn.

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Letter: It looks like liberal Hollywood and the media got their wish - INFORUM

The Liberal MLAs are set to shift from collaborative players to critical ones.

Sonny Gallant, leader of the Third Party, says the Liberal caucus is withdrawing from direct participation in decision-making and input with the governing Conservatives and Official Opposition Green Party.

Gallant, in an opinion piece penned to The Guardian, states elected members have two primary roles: representing constituents and holding government accountable.

Premier Dennis King has won praise for governing in a strong spirit of collaboration with the Greens and the Liberals since winning a minority government in April 2019.

The three parties had appeared to be working particularly well together over the past three months to find the best approaches to deal with the ongoing pandemic.

Gallant says the province found itself in a "situation we had never been in before'' in March, and the six Liberal MLAs saw the need to work with the other two parties to best address the COVID-19 crisis.

However, he says the Liberal caucus is now stepping out of that rather friendly, cozy relationship. Time now, he adds, to start suggesting ways government can do things differently.

"We just felt as a group and as a team that we change our approach,"he told The Guardian late Wednesday afternoon.

Gallant says the Liberal caucus plans to take on a more direct role in making sure that the province is ready for a potential second wave of COVID-19.

Islanders deserve to know that we have a good stockpile of personal protective equipment,"he states in the opinion piece.

"They also need to see a plan that will deal with the backlog of health care services that has built up and that safe steps are being taken to care for a potential round of patients affected by the virus."

Green Leader Peter Bevan-Baker says he is disappointed, but not surprised, by the Liberals looking to rock the boat rather than paddle along in unison.

Bevan-Baker suggests the Liberal caucus appears to be returning to the old, more combative way of doing politics.

He believes, though, it is entirely possible to hold government to account while constructively and co-operatively working together to get legislation enacted.

I really feel it is a shame that the Liberals feel that they can no longer contribute to the collaborative model that we have been pioneering here on Prince Edward Island,"says Bevan-Baker.

He says the collaborative approach to P.E.I. politics for more than a full year has been successful in advancing an agenda that benefits all Islanders.

He adds that in the past on P.E.I., the Liberals and Conservatives would simply take turns waiting for their turn to govern.

Bevan-Baker says he does not know the key to the Green party forming the next government under this current atmosphere of collaboration.

"That is a great question, and I wish I knew the answer to that,"he said in a telephone interview with The Guardian Wednesday.

He says he and his fellow Green MLAs are always ready to stand up and offer critical input.

He adds his party will have plenty of opportunity to distinguish itself from the Liberals and Conservatives in the months ahead.

Gallant, meanwhile, raises concern that the Greens will ease up on criticizing government in favour of seeking deals and accommodations that meet their political agenda".

Government House Leader Sidney MacEwen was contacted by The Guardian for this story but did not return the call by deadline.

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P.E.I. Liberals plan to leave collaboration to Green party and governing Conservatives - The Journal Pioneer

The liberal coalition Win Justice sidelined its usual army of clipboard-wielding activists who swarm neighborhoods to register voters and build a get-out-the-vote database for 2020.

The coronavirus crisis also put a crimp in the plans of political activists and advocacy groups across the political spectrum, with fundraising dried up by the economic lockdown and traditional voter contact strategies stifled by social distancing.

But political activists, by definition, are not easily deterred.

Win Justices network of activists from Planned Parenthood, Service Employees International Union and other left-wing groups this week retooled its voter turnout operation into a $30 million effort emphasizing personalized mail and phone banks.

The Committee to Unleash Prosperitys Stephen Moore said he estimated his income would drop 70% this year because of canceled conferences and speaking engagements, and fewer economic consulting opportunities.

Mr. Moore, a member of President Trumps task force to reopen the economy, said he is poised to weather the economic storm without hardship but he knows others in the policy-advocacy arena are not as fortunate.

The biggest problem for what were doing now frankly is everybodys poorer, Mr. Moore said. I talk to donors and they say I just lost 30% of my money in the stock market.

The inability of activists to put boots on the ground nationwide has affected conservatives and liberals alike. The Club for Growth said it hopes to resurrect its door-knocking campaigns if and when state and local officials allow it.

Club for Growth President David McIntosh said the biggest difference now than before the coronavirus shutdowns is that the group has focused more on digital engagement with its members and its new fellowship program.

Weve held a number of town halls with our friends including Sen. [Ted] Cruz, [pollster] Frank Luntz and more, and weve been getting great feedback, Mr. McIntosh said. We are continuing to be very engaged with TV, cable, and digital ads and mail even with many primaries being pushed into the summer.

Win Justice leaders said they want to do in-person field organizing if it is safe. But in the meantime, they are combining traditional methods with newer digital tools for their campaigns in Florida, Minnesota, Nevada and Wisconsin.

We need to reach the communities who have been targeted and silenced by this administration and the people in power from voters of color to immigrants, to young people, to women, said Planned Parenthoods Jenny Lawson. Enough is enough: While our countrys health care needs continue to rise in the face of a global pandemic, its time for the politicians who attack our health care and our reproductive rights to lose their jobs.

The SEIU said it sees Win Justice as the beginning of its chance to fundamentally alter the American economy.

Workers and communities of color cant afford to return to normal we need to reject the inequality and economic pain that defines COVID but was present long before COVID, said Mary Kay Henry, SEIU international president. Thats what this election is about. Win Justice is the first step toward a better future where we rewrite the rules, rebuild the economy based on workers power, and reinvest in communities.

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Liberal coalition Win Justice retools strategies for voter turnout - Washington Times