Campaign report

Monday 9 October 2006: Day 25 of the campaign and 165 days to the election.

9 October 2006: Both THE HERALD (page 4) and THE DAILY TELEGRAPH (page 2) covered the Climate Change election. THE HERALD (page 4 and 5) also covered the Newcastle seat. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH (page 11) covered internet campaigning and this blog spot! KO-FM, 2HD and 2NUR-FM covered my response to the announcement of Cl Tate's candidature for the seat of Newcastle: chameleon.

8 October 2006: On Sunday night, Christ Church Cathedral hosted the annual Liturgy to give thanks for Creation. The range of pets was again delightful (donkey, shetland pony, dogs, cats, rats etc!). Organised by Hunter Animal Watch, the service had reflections by representatives from Delta Society, RSPCA, Wilderness Society, Hunter Koala Preservation Society, Donkey Welfare with Heart, Animal Liberation, veterinary surgeons. All things bright and beautiful...

8 October 2006: THE GREENS had a stall at Darby St Fair again this year. Lots of people signed the petition urging action on climate change. It was great to be able to hand out the first election flyers. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out on the day! Darby St Fair

8 October 2006: THE SUN-HERALD covered the Stockton Bight to Watagans Green Corridor. This is a plan that the community has been pushing for more than 4 years now and, in the lead up to the election, we're hopeful that the Government will finally make an announcement (watch this space!). Lower Hunter Green Corridors

4 October 2006: THE HERALD reported my concerns about the State Government's newly-imposed "CBD plan" for Newcastle. While the focus on city revitalisation is great (businesses and residents have been calling for this for years) I think the agenda is really about getting a 40 storey tower in Newcastle (that's what Woollongong got from their Sydney-imposed plan).

3 October 2006: The NSW Greens Coal Policy was launched in Newcastle by upper house MP Lee Rhiannon, with myself as candidate for Newcastle, Keith Parsons as candidate for Wallsend, Jan Davis as candidate for Maitland and Bev Smiles as candidate for Upper Hunter. The policy is reproduced here. Good media coverage from NBN, radio stations, THE HERALD and THE DAILY TELEGRAPH.

29 September 2006: Spoke to KO_FM/NX-FM regarding the media release about the woeful situation where the Federal Govt announces a record budget surplus of $15.8 billion and our region's hospitals have only 80% (780) of the (900) beds needed to cater for our population.

29 September 2006: Spoke to 2NC/ABC NEWCASTLE and THE HERALD about the Planning Minister Frank Sartor's approval of the subdivision of the Dan Land.

28 September 2006: 2HD picked up on the media release about the refusal of the developers' lobby, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, to include fair representation on a panel to discuss the future of the Lower Hunter.

More media coverage was outlined in the earlier media report.