Like you

A friend showed me this poem called "like you" by El Salvadorean poet Roque Dalton - beautiful words...

Like you I
love love, life, the sweet smell
of things, the sky-blue
landscape of January days.
And my blood boils up
and I laugh through eyes
that have known the buds of tears.
I believe the world is beautiful
and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone.
And that my veins don't end in me
but in the unanimous blood
of those who struggle for life,
love,
little things,
landscape and bread,
the poetry of everyone.

Hospitals need gov't funding

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
29 September 2006

Hospitals need government funding

The Greens candidate for the state seat of Newcastle, Cr Michael Osborne, today called on the State and Federal Governments to stop their petty party and territorial squabbling, and start directing funding to areas of high need, such as public hospitals.

"Ordinary citizens know that something is deeply wrong with our political system when, on the very day that the Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, is announcing a record Federal budget surplus of $15.8 billion, our local media is reporting that our region's hospitals have only 80% (780) of the (900) beds needed to cater for our population."

"Instead of the two major parties arguing over who is going to run Australia's hospital system, the Federal government should be channelling funding to such priority areas of need," Cr Osborne said.

"Ordinary Australian citizens are the losers when the major parties are more interested in party-political point-scoring and obstinate territorialism than in acting in the public interest."

Cr Osborne said that both major political parties were moving away from one of the central roles of government: to provide core public services.

"The NSW Labor government's Public-Private partnership at the Mater Hospital is a good local example of this.

"Ordinary Australians should not have to depend on the private sector to provide essential government services, such as hospital care, especially when there is clearly enough money in government coffers to fund these services, if not for the inability of State and Federal governments to agree.

"Perhaps they've forgotten that looking out for each other used to be a fundamental Australian value," Cr Osborne said.

Cr Osborne also called on the Sydney appointed ALP candidate for Newcastle, Jodi Mackay, to declare her position on the Mater Hospital public-private partnership.

Developers choose Sydney Labor

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
28 September 2006

Developers choose Sydney Labor over Greens

Newcastle Greens Councillor Michael Osborne, who has been preselected as a candidate for the State seat of Newcastle for the next State election, has been refused a position on a developer-sponsored panel meeting today to discuss the future of the Lower Hunter.

“It is very disappointing that the developers’ lobby group, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, has invited one of the candidates for the seat of Newcastle but has refused to allow me, as the only other endorsed candidate, to be on the panel,” Michael Osborne said.

“The future of the Lower Hunter is a very important issue and the discussion needs to include all sections of the community, not just developers.

“It comes as a surprise that the Sydney-appointed Labor candidate for Newcastle, Jodi McKay, may make her first public policy announcement at the developers’ function.

“According to Australian Electoral Commission records, property developers have donated $7.258M to Sydney Labor over the last 5 years. This includes donations from companies such as Buildev, Hardie Holdings, North Lakes, Rosecorp, Westfield and Winten Property Group.

A searchable database of donations is available at Democracy 4 Sale

“It is concerning that if members of the public want to attend the developers’ function, they have to book and send the $60 fee to a Sydney address.”

Bio-bashing: bank habitat loss

The State Government's scheme to "fast-track" development by allowing developers to effectively buy the right to destroy threatened species habitat is back in Parliament.

Who developed the scheme? The Science Council or the Property Council?

The bill was first introduced in July this year and was slammed by groups concerned about the environment. Forty-four coastal environment groups signed a letter of concern to the Government, which said in part:

We believe that it threatens at least 6 of the most fundamental principles of modern conservation, as follows:

1. That conservation is not transferable and is best undertaken in situ. The Bill encourages the relocation of conservation effort away from high conservation value areas threatened with development to less threatened areas.
2. That land-use planning should involve public consultation. The bill supports a wide range of land-use and conservation decisions to be made without public consultation or review.
3. That native biodiversity will not be sold for Government revenue. The Bill effectively allows for payment for approval to destroy biodiversity and threatened species.
4. That conservation law should be strong, clear and comprehensive. This bill leaves the key elements of biobanking to be defined by later policies or regulation.
5. That conservation areas are in perpetuity. The Bill allows the Minister to terminate or vary offsets or allow development on offset areas.
6. That the formal reserve system of protected areas under the National Parks and Wildlife Act is the cornerstone of conservation. The Bill redirects conservation effort away from the formal reserve system into untested and insecure mechanisms.

However, the Government is still going ahead with the plan, and has just released amendments which make it even more pro-development and pro-mining and which are clearly designed to appease those interests even further. The changes do nothing to address any of the major environmental concerns. This was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ian Cohen, NSW Greens Upper House MP, has said that the further watering down of the much-maligned biobanking scheme demonstrates yet again that the State Labor Government is beholden to the development lobby at the expense of biodiversity.

“This scheme, which would allow developers to buy credits to offset the environmental impacts of their projects, was already flawed,” Mr Cohen said.

“Developers will have the choice to use the scheme or existing threatened species legislation, so the easier option is likely to be this ill-conceived offsetting plan.

“Areas set aside to create credits in the biobanking scheme have no guarantee they will be protected in perpetuity.

“Biobanking benefits developers, who have a long history of large donations to the ALP. Developers will be able to plough ahead with little public scrutiny of their activities under this scheme.

“Environmentally sensitive areas should be protected in their own right, not used as a way to facilitate increased development elsewhere.

“A two year trial of the program will only see the environment degraded while property developers walk away with the spoils,” Mr Cohen said.

Have your say by emailing The Premier, you could highlight that the scheme
* Is really just a 'pay to kill' bill - the scheme means that developers can effectively buy the right to destroy threatened species habitat
* You can't bank a bulldozed bushland - this bill is based on bulldozing bushland in one area in return for putting a fence around another bit of bush, but the bulldozed bush is gone forever and can never be replaced
* The biobanking scheme will bankrupt threatened species - threatened species habitat will be cleared in return for protecting bushland elsewhere, but that bushland can later be cleared itself, which means this banking scheme will utlimately be foreclosing on a future for a threatened species
* Threatened species habitat needs to be protected, not bought and sold to the highest bidder

Drawing a line in the sand

After Waverley Council passed a motion of no support for the proposed new open-cut mine at Anvil Hill near Muswellbrook, Dr Nikki Williams, CEO of the Minerals Council responded with an opinion piece in the Sydney paper the Wentworth Courier.

Scone residents, Phil and Helen Burrell, were moved to pen their own letter in response which they sent to the Wentworth Courier.

I've reproduced it here in full.

Dear Dr Williams,

We are Upper Hunter residents who live in the middle of the coal mining industry, and, whilst we have no current vested interest, we used to work in this industry also. There is no way in the world we support additional coal mines in our area!!!

One could point out that many issues in this planet we populate are also being proposed by dedicated scientists for problem solving agendas, but the important issues cannot wait for research grants, Dr Williams, they need action NOW !

Of course there is no silver bullet for climate change, and the silver bullet is what governments and industry are not willing to bite because it’s $$$$$ and it supposedly provides us all with high living standards, but what about the denigrated agricultural land, the respiratory problems we are continually being confronted with, the higher acidic environment we have to live in ????

Dr Williams, what about the proposals to use thorium nuclear power stations, and the facts that Australia has the world's largest amounts of thorium, followed by India and then China. India is already proposing thorium power stations in a country of high population. One of the great benefits of thorium is the short half-life of isotopes and the great advantage of NO enriched uranium at the end of the process. Is it because there doesn’t appear to be thorium in NSW, that the NSW Minerals Council supports coal instead of funding research into alternatives to CO2 producing industries that now exist and which the current government is keen to expand ?

The research about pricing of electricity and its effects on communities, does not address the issue of how we, who live in the Hunter, look at this issue. If we felt we were saving our children and grandchildren from the more rapid onset of climate change that seems to now be quite apparent to many of us "ordinary" people, we would be willing to pay twice the price for our electricity. Anyway, there is already in place a pricing system used by the main providers, which allows reductions for use of "green" energy in our electricity bills!

The issue, Dr Williams, is not about shutting down the coal industry, it is about drawing a line in the sand and stating that we do not want any more coal mines in our area. The existing mines and their mine-life could be for some years yet, and those who work in them are also part of our community. But even some the mine workers themselves have become disillusioned with the issues of corporate dishonesty, greed and job insecurity, because the newer mine proposals talk of "contract labour" so this is not permanent work and labour could be outsourced from another area where a mine is closing, so no local jobs would be available.

Dr Williams, if you feel China's CO2 Output would still outpace the total output of Australia's capability, well why are we still exporting coal then?? Climate change is not just about this little edge of the South Pacific is it? It Is about the GLOBAL output of CO2 and our contribution is just a part of all this. Does it matter that coal exported to Thailand, assists in the global climate change scenario in South-east Asia and eventually affects monsoonal change that means poorer seasonal conditions for Australian agriculture ? Climate change, globally, Dr Williams, affects us all, which I am sure someone of your standing can see quite clearly, and, whilst I commend your stance to protect the interests of the NSW Minerals Council, this does not address the concerns of people living in these areas.

If coal mining was the big money spinner for local communities, how come the streets of, say, Singleton, are not paved with gold ? Would the same scenario be Muswellbrook's in a few years time, if more mining of coal was approved for this area??

Yours sincerely

Phil and Helen Burrell
for and on behalf of Scone residents
and, particularly, Scone LandCare Inc

Good hands for the future

Last Thursday I spoke at an Environmental Management Course at the University of Newcastle with NSW Senator Kerry Nettle (Greens).

The 3-hour tutorial/workshop discussed issues of relevance to the environmental managers and planners of the future. The focus was on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (to paraphrase from the 1987 "Our Common Future" Brundtland report of the World Commission On Environment and Development).

Kerry and I discussed how to make positive social change within the political context of Local, State and Federal Governments.

What was most interesting were the questions from the students during the discussions.

There were many questions around the idea that if the State Government recognises that human-induced climate change is happening and recognises that burning coal is a key contributor to climate change, why are they considering more coal mines, more coal infrastructure and more coal-fired power stations? How do you answer that logic?

Others questioned why governments who have a good policy (eg the State Government's biodiversity strategy) don't implement them?

Good questions from developing professionals who want a future to meet their own needs.

Swansea Climate Change Forum

A forum on global warming and climate change has been organised for tomorrow (Sunday) at the Swansea RSL club from 10.30am.

The forum is hosted by Jill Hall MP (ALP Federal member for Shortland) and Bob Phillips (Newcastle Greens) and include the following speakers:

* Anthony Albanese MP (ALP), Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage
* Glenn Albrecht, Senior lecturer in environmental studies, University of Newcastle
* Dr Stewart Franks, Climatologist, University of Newcastle
* Dr John Kaye (Greens), Climate Action spokesperson, Lecturer University of NSW

The forum is expected to finish by 12.40pm.

Climate change is perhaps the defining challenge of our generation or "an inconvenient truth" for some.

The Sydney-appointed ALP candidate for Newcastle has not stated any policy position on climate change (though comments on public transport are related).

I would encourage all candidates for the State Election (or people considering whether they would run in local electorates or ones further away) to make the time on Sunday and come along to the forum.

Stuffed frogs & Minerals Council

The Minerals Council of Australia (which represents Australia’s mining corporations) is now engaged in an expensive propaganda campaign against The Greens, because of our opposition to expansion of the coal industry, and our support for alternative energy.

This is reminiscent of the tobacco industry’s campaign during its extensive period of public denial, when it marshalled huge resources and questionable tactics to defend the indefensible.

A large ad in Tuesday’s Newcastle Herald (19 September, page 13) tries to co-opt Kermit the Frog to their cause, attacks green campaigners for having “vested interests”, and asserts that the coal industry “is taking a leadership role in forging a sustainable future.”

Trying to co-opt the icons and language of your opponent and use them as weapons against them is a standard propaganda technique.

But any frog put forward by the Minerals Council is almost certainly stuffed, and the real Kermit – who gave many children their first lessons in respecting the environment - would be hopping mad.

The Minerals Council ad doesn’t explain the alleged “vested interests” of the (unidentified) environmental campaigners it attacks, but a cursory glance at the list of members of the Minerals Council (Minerals Council members) is enough to reveal their vested interests.

The Minerals Council ad implies that The Greens want to shut down the coal industry. In fact, The Greens support the concept of a Just Transition, advocated by the Minerals Policy Institute (Just Transition), a non-profit watchdog group on the activities of mining companies.

But the Minerals Council wants more coal mines, so that “coal fired power will continue to provide the lion’s share of our energy needs for decades to come”.

Its propaganda tries to convince us that we can go on digging up a non-renewable resource which degrades the Hunter’s land, air and water, and increases the already alarming rate of climate change.

Read the Mineral Council’s (very brief) Environmental and Social Policy at:
environment

Then read The NSW Greens policy on coal at Coal.

Who do you think is spinning fairy tales here?

Mohandas Gandhi once said “first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”.

The Minerals Council propaganda campaign shows that they’ve stopped ignoring us.

Business as usual?

A number of blog readers have asked questions about the Sydney-appointed candidate, in the interest of public disclosure and to make informed decisions at the next election:

1) is the Sydney-appointed candidate a member of the Hunter Business Chamber?

2) if so, does the Sydney-appointed candidate support everything the Business Chamber supports or just some things? if just some things, which ones?

3) does the Sydney-appointed candidate support cutting the rail line at Broadmeadow/Woodville/Hamilton/Civic? (I'm not sure what the latest Business Chamber policy is!)

Do you want to know more about the ALP candidate?

Email your questions through to michael-osborne@planet-save.com with the subject "Sydney-appointment" and we'll raise them on this blog...

Competition still open

“Spot a McKay Policy” Competition still open

Despite comments in The Daily Telegraph today that the Sydney-appointed ALP candidate for Newcastle Jodi McKay wants a "new Newcastle", this doesn't qualify as a "policy".

So try as he might, Telegraph reporter Neil Keene cannot claim the competition prize.

While other Newcastle journalists are trying their best to extract some detail, the competition remains open.

For more information, see Endangered species comp

Release the transport plan

Recognising that we need an integrated public transport system, Newcastle City Council last night supported a public transport motion by Greens Councillor Keith Parsons.

The motion called on the State Government to release into the public domain, the McCormick Rankin Cagney Report (completed in September 2005) advising the Government on Lower Hunter transport planning and the Lower Hunter Integrated Transport Plan (prepared by Department of Planning) - both studies funded by our taxes.

Council has requested specific comment on the following matters:
* details regarding service planning guidelines for public transport services in the Lower Hunter
* details regarding implementation of the reforms proposed by the Ministerial Review of Bus Services in NSW (Unsworth Review)
* timing and implications of implementation of Tcard in the Lower Hunter, particularly with regard to the current time-based fare system
* introduction (in the short term) of a Student Semester Ticket (a version of the current TravelPass products)
* status and timing of completion of review of the Parking Spaces Levy Act 1992.

Why won’t Sydney release this information? And what is the Sydney-appointed candidate's view on public transport?

A lighter shade of rail

Sydney’s Newcastle Labor candidate hums to a lighter shade of rail (or a redder shade of herring?)

One of my informants has told me that the Sydney-appointed Labor candidate for the state seat of Newcastle has been saying that she “supports light rail”.

Whilst this obviously isn’t substantial enough as a statement to qualify for my “spot-a-policy” prize, it’s at least a start.

But does it mean that Ms McKay supports light rail INSTEAD of the present heavy rail service to Newcastle?

This is often trotted out by business and development representatives (such as the Chamber of Commerce and Michael Costa) as though it should allay the fears of Novocastrians who have fought to keep their rail services.

In fact, two studies in the ’90s (the Travers-Morgan study commissioned by the State Government, and the Jacana study commissioned by Newcastle Trades Hall Council) found that the option of simply replacing the heavy rail service into Newcastle station with a light rail service was not economically viable, and would further decrease public transport use, due to the number of passengers lost when they are forced to transfer between different transport modes.

Simply replacing our existing heavy rail service with light rail would add nothing to Newcastle’s public transport system. That’s why the Greens have never supported a light-rail replacement for the Newcastle rail service. This “option” is simply dragged in as a stratagem by some elements of the local development community who would love to grab the high-value public-owned land along the Foreshore that would be freed up by getting rid of the heavy rail service.

If Sydney’s Labor candidate for Newcastle really does care about this city, she should share our view (and the views of the transport experts) on this.

Certainly, we would strongly support a viable light rail system that made a new contribution to the city’s public transport services.

For example, a light rail network based on the network of abandoned rail corridors around the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area might one day be able to provide a public transport service for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie suburbs not presently serviced by the heavy rail system.

OR a light rail link to the airport via Hexham.

This kind of light rail system would need careful study and planning, and real commitment from a State government that has previously shown no interest in improving the city’s public transport system, and has actively supported cutting the Newcastle heavy rail service.

Mr Iemma and Mr Costa – who orchestrated Ms McKay’s preselection by the Labor’s Federal Executive – have strongly advocated cutting the Newcastle rail line. Business and development interests - to whom Labor is so indebted through political donations - also want to cut this service.

When will Ms McKay say exactly where she stands on this crucial local issue, instead of hiding behind vague generalisations about supporting light rail?

Democracy for sale again!

Labor: Local Members OUT, Big Business IN

For local ALP members, the irony must be stark and bitter.

After ignoring pleas from grassroots ALP members in Newcastle to allow them to choose their own local candidate (see the Ramsey article link in my previous posting), Labor’s federal leader Kim Beasley today announced that Big Business will be given direct input into Cabinet decision-making in any future Labor federal government.

Read the full story of Mr Beasley’s pitch to Big Business in today’s Sydney Morning Herald (Beasley & Big Business)

Why is it that modern Labor wants to keep ordinary people well away from important local decisions, but give Big Business a seat at the Cabinet table?

For information on the relationship between Big Business and both of the major political parties, see The Greens’ democracy4sale website at: Democracy 4 Sale. (This site has been established by Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon, our No.1 candidate for the upper house (Legislative Council) in the March state election).

Once you read the site (which is based on figures provided by the parties themselves in their electoral disclosure statements), you understand why State Labor governments want to take local planning decisions away from local communities (as they did with Honeysuckle’s long-wall hotel, and as they are doing now with the Royal Newcastle Hospital site), so they can pay back the debt they owe to Big Business.

The Greens believe that such donations should be banned.

During the State election campaign, I’ll be campaigning to expose this corruption of our democratic system.

Climate change court case

Historic court case seeks to force climate change assessments of new coal mines - 19th September, 2006

Newcastle environmentalist Peter Gray has today lodged a court challenge against the controversial Anvil Hill open-cut coal mine on the grounds that there is no consideration of its climate change impacts. The action was taken after repeated refusals by the state government to consider the climate implications of new coal mine proposals, despite Premier Morris Iemma labelling climate change the greatest threat facing our environment and way of life.

Mr Gray’s legal team will argue that the Director-General (D-G) of the Department of Planning must instruct Centennial Coal – developer of Anvil Hill - to assess the full greenhouse gas emissions from the project, including the huge volumes of carbon dioxide that will be released when the coal is burnt. This will mean rejecting Centennial’s current Environmental Assessment, which does not include a full greenhouse assessment. If approved, Anvil Hill will produce up to 10.5 million tonnes of coal a year which, when burnt, will produce more greenhouse pollution that NSW’s entire transport sector of more than four million vehicles. Yet the greenhouse implications of this are ignored in the Government’s approval process.

Mr Gray said: “The expansion of coal exports from Newcastle Harbour is fuelling climate change which will devastate NSW. Yet the government refuses to consider this when approving new coal mines. Our action today is designed to force the government to take climate change seriously”.

Legal advice obtained by Mr. Gray finds that although there is no specific requirement to include the greenhouse gas emissions consequent from burning the coal produced at the mine and exported from Newcastle, the planning framework implicitly requires this, because of the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) enshrined in the Planning Act via the Protection of the Environment Administration Act.

“On the one hand Premier Iemma warns us about climate change. Yet on the other he allows new coal mines to open with no consideration of the climate change implications of doing so. This must stop,” Mr Gray said.

Media Report 19 Sep 06

Hi bloggers!

We got good media coverage yesterday with bites on
2HD/NEW-FM
KO_FM/NX-FM
2NC/ABC NEWCASTLE

I did interviews on Felicity Biggins show on 2NUR-FM and Garth Russell's show on 2NC.

There was also a small bit on page 2 of The Newcastle Herald (as part of a Jodi McKay story) and a much larger story in The Daily Telegraph on page 11 in the Newcastle Extra section.

NBN also covered the announcement with a voice-over file footage.

There was a further story in today's Newcastle Herald (page 5) about the McKay Policy Competition launched on this website.

I also commented on the great response from the community opposing the expansion of coal exporting from Newcastle (over 700 submissions) on 2NC news.

I was interviewed with Brian Purdue by NBN about the Stockton to Watagans Green Corridor - we're optimistic the government can get the Coal&Allied land around Blue Gum Hills and Mt Sugarloaf, the Hunter Water land and the State Forest land over into the reserve system under the National Parks & Wildlife Act. - Watch this space!

Michael

Endangered species Comp

“Spot a McKay Policy” Competition

The talk around town for more than a week now has been centred on “what does the Sydney-appointed ALP candidate, Jodi McKay, stand for?”

People are so worried that policies may be an endangered species in Ms McKay’s political territory that many want to initiate a competition and offer a prize for any sighting.

So…

As soon as someone spots a McKay policy in any of the categories identified below, they should immediately email me and they will be eligible to win a chocolate Green and Golden Bell frog.

Exclusions…

1) ALP members from Sydney are specifically ineligible for this prize - too many of them have shown that they can’t even identify a genuine native species, and they may not be able to tell a policy from a parachute.

2) Statements such as ‘I just want to work with the business community’ or ‘I’m not a politician’ will not qualify for a prize, no matter how often the Sydney-appointed ALP candidate insists on offering them instead of policies.

Notes…

1) A comment on a previous ALP position is acceptable. Under questioning from the media last week, Ms McKay indicated (on local ABC radio) that she was not aware of any policies of the locally supported incumbent Member for Newcastle, Bryce Gaudry. This does seem odd to many Novocastrians that she isn’t at least aware of Mr Gaudry’s stand against privatisation and cutting the Newcastle rail line – surely Mr Iemma and Mr Costa would not have been so cruel to her that they didn’t tell her about these policies!?

2) We’ll even accept a policy sighting that may really be Mr Iemma’s or Mr Costa’s views, since their fingerprints are already all over pretty much everything to do with Ms McKay’s candidature.

3) Local journalists are eligible for the prize, but should be aware that this Sydney-appointed species has already shown an ability to issue camouflage statements that can give a momentary, superficial impression of a policy (refer to Exclusions above). A number of local journalists have already been thwarted from claiming the prize on this basis.

4) Contestants should email entries to me (michael-osborne@planet-save.com) giving the relevant policy statement and the time, date and source of the sighting. I will include all first sightings of any of the following categories on this campaign blog.

5) We’re especially interested in any policy statements on issues such as:
* the Newcastle rail line
* the issue of local control of local developments
* the development of the Royal Newcastle Hospital site
* the privatisation of health services (for example, the public-private partnership (PPP) development at the Mater hospital)
* developer donations and their corrupting influence on the ALP
* industrial relations
* climate change

Because of the expected rarity of sightings, the competition will be open for the entire state election campaign.

Who pre-selected Jodi McKay?

Does anyone know who voted to pre-select Jodi McKay?

According to the ALP website, these are the 21 members of the National Executive:

National President: Mr Warren Mundine
Leader of the Opposition: Mr Kim Beazley
Mr Anthony Albanese MP
Ms Sarah Burke
Mr Mark Butler
Senator Kim Carr
Senator Stephen Conroy
Ms Yvette D'ath
Mr Joseph de Bruyn
The Hon John Della Bosca MLC
Senator the Hon John Faulkner
Ms Sharon Humphreys
Senator Annette Hurley
Sue Lines
Mr Bill Ludwig OAM
Mr Scott McLean
Senator Jan McLucas
Mr Eric Roozendaal
Mr Bill Shorten
Senator Ursula Stephens
Mr Greg Sword
Ms Linda White

(1) Does anyone know how many (if any?) of this committee come from Newcastle?

(2) Only 4 of the 21 come from NSW, does anyone know which ones?

(3) The final vote was 13 to 7 - does anyone know which way people voted? Was 1 member away or did they abstain?

There doesn't appear to be any minutes from the meeting on the internet. If anyone has them, send them through and we'll publish them here!

Local “anger and despair”

“Party renowned for political bastardry” inflicts local “anger and despair”: former local ALP parliamentarian predicts Labor will lose Newcastle

A lengthy article by Alan Ramsey in this weekend’s Sydney Morning Herald (16 September 2006) deals with the ALP’s Newcastle preselection debacle.

Most of the article (the full text of which can be found at: Alan Ramsay's article 16 Sep 2006) is made up of the text of two letters from Alan Morris (former ALP Federal Member for Newcastle) to Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beasley on 6 and 12 September protesting against intervention in the party’s local preselection process by NSW Head Office and the ALP Federal Executive, both dominated by right wing power-brokers.

Here are some excerpts from the Morris letters:

“Here we have safe seat, where the sitting member is well supported, being at the centre of a crisis which threatens the abandonment of the party by a substantial percentage of its membership and its voters in a controversy which will dominate local media right up to election day. This will have a knock-on effect in adjoining electorates, including the two we will be struggling to win, Port Stephens and Maitland. Talk about self-inflicted injury. I expect if Ms McKay is endorsed we will lose the seat. Further, the anger will flow through to the federal election…”

“I think it imperative this matter be sent back to NSW to be resolved by rank and file ballot under party rules. I strongly suggest this is the only way to correct this amateurish exercise and to avoid a debacle.”

“In a party renowned for political bastardry the decision to disendorse Bryce Gaudry really does take the cake. This will go down as one of the most stupid acts of bastardry in living memory. A parliamentarian five years younger than John Howard, who is more competent than at least half the NSW state ministry, loyal and hard working with very strong local party and community support, is being jettisoned for a female newsreader who joined the ALP last week.”

“The geniuses of Sussex Street have now turned a non-controversial seat we would have held easily in a self-funded campaign into one which will massively divide our membership, probably lose the seat, and will have a negative influence on all adjoining seats. Very clever politics.”

Locals choose Candidate

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
17 September 2006

Locals choose Greens Candidate for Newcastle

Newcastle Greens today announced Newcastle Councillor Michael Osborne as The Greens candidate for the State seat of Newcastle for the 2007 State election.

“I feel honoured to have been pre-selected by the local members of my party,” Cr Osborne said.

“I understand the concern of Newcastle people about decisions made in Sydney that affect our community.

“And it’s not just in pre-selections. As a local councillor it’s obvious to me that local decisions are no longer under the control of local people.

“The Newcastle Greens have fought hard with other Novocastrians to save our rail line, despite the efforts of Sydney power-brokers. Now its future is under threat again.

“I call on the new Iemma-anointed Labor candidate to declare her position on the Newcastle rail line.

“The Newcastle Greens have also acted to protect the public interest in the Mater hospital development, against the State Labor Government’s proposed privatisation of our health services.

“Public services and public spaces shouldn’t be handed to developer interests for private profit.

“Developers supported by the State Labor Government are still erecting barriers between the city and the water, and now they’re after the Royal hospital site.

“The Greens’ position on these issues is clear – as it is on the big issues that face all Australians, such as industrial relations and climate change.

“I’ll be actively campaigning on these issues, and I’m waiting eagerly with the rest of the community to hear from the new Sydney-appointed Labor candidate for Newcastle about her policy positions on these crucial issues.”

My Pic

My Profile

Michael Osborne was elected in March 2004 as a Newcastle Greens Councillor on Newcastle City Council and served from April 2005 to November 2005 as Newcastle’s Deputy Lord Mayor.

Michael was born in Newcastle and, apart from a few years working overseas on aid projects in the Solomon Islands and Vietnam, has lived in Newcastle all his life. He has three children and is an environmental engineer with management qualifications.

Michael is the current Coordinator of the Green Corridor Coalition, an alliance of more than 50 community and environment groups committed to the protection of biodiversity corridors in the Lower Hunter, including the state significant Stockton to the Watagans Green Corridor.

Michael has been an active volunteer in the environment movement since the early 1980s, and has been involved in many community-based campaigns, including campaigns to:

* save Newcastle’s rail line into the city and to revitalise the CBD,

* improve public transport in Newcastle,

* protect the community from inappropriate development, from buildings blocking the harbour, to high rise on the Royal Newcastle Hospital site and over-development in our suburbs,

* involve the community in developing the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy,

* protect our last remaining natural areas, and species threatened by climate changes,

* convince the State Government to pass specific wilderness legislation in NSW and protect the Barrington Tops wilderness.

Michael has also been involved in local organisations and projects, such as the Hunter Region Community Forum (where he worked with others to produce a community blueprint on the need for an integrated planning approach to public transport), and in organising events for charities such as The Wilderness Society and Oxfam Community Aid Abroad.