Greens challenge Minister Macdonald to review Barrington Tops ruby mine

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today congratulated the Gloucester Shire Councillors who voted to reject the application to expand ruby mining in the Barrington Tops, and challenged Mineral Resources Minister Ian Macdonald to review his position on the controversial project.

"I congratulate the Councillors and the local community groups who have fought so hard to protect their water supply from the expansion of ruby mining in Barrington Tops," said Ms Rhiannon.

"This is great news for the community but there is still the hurdle of winning over the NSW Government.

"The water supply of the Gloucester region and nearby coastal areas are still threatened by the proposed expansion of ruby mining.

"Minerals Minister Ian Macdonald has shown strong support for this mine. Last year he called the campaign to stop the ruby mine 'ludicrous'.

"The challenge for residents of Gloucester, Stroud and Barrington Tops is to win over the Government.

"The Minister should listen to the views of the community and reconsider his support for the Packer family owned mining venture.

"In Sydney the Labor Government is fighting the state election on the water issue.

"The Greens are urging our supporters to lobby the Government on this issue.

"Three weeks out from a state election is a good time to pick up the phone or write a letter," said Ms Rhiannon.

Target resources at poverty postcodes

It is outrageous that during a time of great prosperity in Australia we are letting so many Australians simply drop off the edge.

Tackling our emerging poverty postcodes and building a fairer Australia should be a major concern in this election.

Professor Vincent's research shows the emergence of a number of areas of concentrated despair - where multiple measures of disadvantage converge, producing what has been described as 'black holes' of social isolation and exclusion.

We should be targeting additional resources in education, health and social support to provide early intervention services in these areas of greatest need.

This convergence across a range of types of disadvantage explains the futility of narrow short-term interventions that attempt to address only one aspect of disadvantage in isolation.

This points clearly to the need for systemic and holistic approaches to addressing disadvantage.

Social participation and cohesion have been shown in Professor Vincent's work to be crucial mitigating factors. Engaging with the community and working with them to build resilience can help children growing up in disadvantage to avoid the worst impacts of social exclusion.

We must be developing comprehensive policies that ensure all Australians benefit from our prosperity.

Water Forum 26 February 2007

A Water Forum has been organised for tomorrow night at Newcastle City Hall from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

We have a right to have a say in the direction of our water future.

Speakers include Ian Cohen MLC chair of an Upper House inquiry into water, yours truly water professional and co-author of Talking Water: An Australian Guidebook for the 21st Century, Dr Simon Fane from the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Sam McGuinness Sustainable Cities Campaigner from the Nature Conservation Council and others. The forum will be chaired by Bev Smiles, Upper Hunter candidate, following the accident over the weekend of Ken Rubeli.

In related news, at this weekend's Greens State Conference held in Newcastle, one of the resolutions unanimously passed was the following Newcastle motion:

a. Support the call for a water recycling target of 50% by 2020 in the Hunter and Central Coast,

b. Oppose the proposed Tillegra Dam and Central Coast saltwater desalination plant and propose instead for the money to be spent on water recycling, rainwater tank rebates, greywater initiatives and water efficiency measures as a more reliable way of securing our water future, especially in light of climate change.

Clean Up Australia next weekend

A 10-cent deposit on drink bottles and cans would dramatically improve recycling rates in NSW and force industry to take more responsibility for the waste it creates.

Clean Up Australia Day is next weekend.

On Saturday 4 March I'll be in Mayfield at Throsby Creek for Clean-Up day. I'll be there with the Greens candidate for Port Stephens, Charmian Eckersley. This area is still in the tidal zone with small fish coming up it, and flows through both electorates - in a concrete open drain. Everyone is welcome to come and join us.

Clean Up Australia is a wonderful initiative that would be made a lot easier for those involved if we produced less waste on the other 364 days of the year.

Survey figures released by Clean Up Australia show that 83% of people in NSW believe a 10-cent deposit and refund scheme would encourage more people to recycle bottles and cans, and that 89% think drink manufacturers should be involved in setting up such a deposit and refund scheme.

A 10-cent deposit scheme would force industry to be more responsible for this waste and would also boost recycling rates enormously.

In South Australia, where they have a deposit scheme, the recycling rate is over 80 per cent.

Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) would work hand-in-hand with council kerbside recycling to reduce waste going to landfill.

The current national agreement to reduce waste, the National Packaging Covenant, does not force the packaging industry and retailers to take on a fair share of the costs of recycling.

Newcastle residents continue to foot the bill to prop up kerbside recycling while the companies that create the waste in the first place sidestep any responsibility for where the waste ends up.

A container deposit scheme would create a level playing field where consumers and producers shared responsibility for dealing with waste. Landfill space is fast running out and more effective ways of recycling are urgently needed.

It would also help make Clean Up Australia Day a cost effective exercise for those fantastic people that get involved in it.

Corrupting the democratic process

Last night, at the New Institute forum in City Hall, I challenged the other candidates for the seat of Newcastle to declare their campaign donations BEFORE the election of 24 March.

No candidates took up the challenge. I said in part:

This is our town. And we need to reclaim our future.

We need to stop the backroom deals between developers and the arrogant old parties and old politicians.

We need to stop political donations from corporations.

Nobody believes that donations from developers are about charity. They are not really donations, they are purchases. Developers are buying influence, they are buying access, and they are buying government policy.

The Greens will not accept corporate donations. They undermine our democracy and the rights of all citizens to an open and transparent government.

The Greens are proudly upfront about the donations we receive. Anyone can see who is donating to our campaign, on the website, before the election.

I call on all Newcastle candidates to be upfront about who is donating to their campaigns.

Tell the voters before the election with a real statement.

It’s time for a change in Newcastle, a change for a better future.

Donations to the Greens campaign are listed on our website.

What are the other candidates hiding?

Solar hot water across Australia

Jobs driver for a solar generation

Good for the environment, good for household budgets and good for Australian jobs is the message the Australian Greens delivered today in announcing an initiative to roll out energy-efficient solar hot water technology across Australia.

Greens Senator Christine Milne said Australian families are keen to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but need financial incentives to do so.

"Reducing greenhouse gases requires every household and the government to work hand in hand. Today I challenge the Howard Government to drive the uptake of solar hot water by providing a $2000 subsidy for solar hot water systems.

"A consumer-targeted subsidy for five years to accelerate the uptake of low-carbon technologies such as solar hot water will create jobs and provide for industry transition and long term sustainable change. With around 30% of each household's energy use attributed to water heating, it will also save families money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.9 tonnes per household.

"If 500 000 Australian households take up this subsidy in the first year, it will cost $1 billion, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2 million tonnes which is equivalent to taking 400 000 cars off the road.

"We need a whole-of-government approach to policy to address climate change. Fossil fuel subsidies such as concessional fringe benefits tax for company cars costing $1.08 billion in 2007-08 should be ended, and the funds transferred to initiatives like the one we are announcing today.

"To drive a solar revolution in Australia, the subsidy needs to be backed up with regulatory changes in Mandatory Energy Performance Standards to eliminate the worst performing hot water technologies from the market, as well as changes to the Building Code of Australia to encourage further energy efficiency.

"The Prime Minister keeps on saying that tackling climate change will double energy bills and cost jobs. He needs to be shown that not only will energy-efficiency help to drive a whole renewable energy revolution, it will also deliver cheaper power bills, delay expensive new energy infrastructure and empower Australians to take action on climate change," Senator Milne said.

Saving Murray River Red Gums

NSW Greens launch Saving Murray River Red Gums Policy - Dying Red Gums endanger the Murray-Darling.

The continued logging of the iconic Murray River Red Gums by Forests NSW makes a mockery of the NSW Government's commitment to the ongoing health of the Murray Darling Basin, according to the NSW Greens.

"Morris Iemma is in a meeting today that will determine the future of the Murray-Darling. He should recognise that the health of the River Red Gums has a direct impact on the quantity and quality of water in the river system itself," said NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen.

"These majestic trees are already under enormous stress from a lack of water due to over allocation and the ongoing drought. There is simply no way that logging can be sustainably conducted in such a stressed ecosystem.

"The 172,000 hectares of River Red Gum forests contain 69 different endangered species, 19 migratory birds listed for protection under international agreements and 84,000 hectares of Ramsar recognised internationally significant wetlands.

"The NSW Greens are calling for a suite of measures to help protect the Murray River Red Gums, spearheaded by a system of linked River Red Gum National Parks to be created along the Murray and Lower Darling Rivers.

"National Parks have a proven economic as well as environmental benefit. A well-considered restructure and business exit package for the local timber industry, allied with Government investment in new sustainable industries will lead to a secure long-term future for regional economies. An on-going reliance on an unsustainable and low value logging industry will not.

"Dedicated environmental water allocations for each of these new National Parks are also vital to ensure proper environmental flows and appropriate flooding regimes.

"The health of the Murray relies on a healthy surrounding ecosystem as well as an increase in the water flow.

"The usual suspects will no doubt attempt, yet again, to portray environmental flows as being contrary to the interests of farmers. This is a furphy. A healthy ecosystem leads to a healthy river, which can only benefit all stakeholders," concluded Mr Cohen.

Newcastle election countdown

30 days to go

I have been out and about, door to door, talking to lots of people in Newcastle. And the biggest issue mentioned by residents is climate change. Novacastrians want the candidates for Newcastle to outline what they will do about climate change.

Real actions, not wishy-washy words.

If elected, I will put legislation before Parliament:

-> to support wind and solar manufacturing in the Hunter and a levy on Hunter coal exports to create Hunter jobs

-> to reduce NSW greenhouse emissions and shift the government to clean energy

-> to set a renewable energy target of 50% by 2020

I challenge the other candidates to match this.

Another question often asked is:
"where is the Minister for the Hunter?"

Perhaps he's been told to stay away. What do you think?

Today, The Telegraph reports that the Liberals believe that Mr Costa, Mr Sartor and Mr Tripodi are so on the nose with voters they have been told to keep a low profile.

I guess we won't have a Minister for the Hunter until after the election.

Greens call for a Carer Card and HCOSS funding

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
21 February 2007

You’ve got it hand it to them: Greens call for a Carer Card

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today joined candidate for Newcastle Michael Osborne to call on the Iemma government to develop a Carer Card and restore funding for the Hunter Council of Social Services (HCOSS).

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said: "Many Novocastrians are carers and deserve recognition and better services. Carers shoulder an enormous burden – they suffer financial stress, sleep deprivation and difficulty maintaining a job.

"The Greens are calling for a Carer Card in NSW, based on the Seniors Card model, to reduce financial stress for carers and promote recognition for the important role they perform.

"The NSW government is failing carers. The NSW Carers Program has seen no increased funding since it began in 2003. The program attracts $5.1 million a year representing $5 per carer a year, or $34 for every primary carer.

"A Carer Card would offer transport concessions, discounted goods and services, special rates to galleries, clubs and holiday venues and cut-price legal and insurance services. Eligible carers would be sent an annual Discount Directory outlining a range of discounts on goods and services.

"A Carer Card is a small but important offering, with a minimal drain on the public purse, that Premier Iemma should have the generosity to provide."

Greens candidate Michael Osborne said: "There are an estimated 750,000 people in NSW caring for the elderly, people with a disability, mental illness or chronic health problem. These people deserve more support from the NSW government.

"Funding for the Hunter Council of Social Services (HCOSS) has been gutted by the Iemma government. HCOSS is the umbrella organisation for many important social welfare organisations in Newcastle.

"At the same time as HCOSS funding has been cut, funding for the sister organisation in Community Services Minister Reba Meagher’s electorate received a massive increase. Again Sydney Labor is ignoring the needs of the Hunter.

"The Greens are committed to restoring funding to HCOSS."

Hunter let down by Sydney Labor (again!)

How many times have we heard that Sydney Labor has provided great funding to Sydney and cut funding to Newcastle?

The Hunter Council of Social Services (HCOSS) is the umbrella organisation for many important social welfare organisations in Newcastle and the Hunter.

In light of the shift by both the Iemma Government and the Howard govrnment to get the non-government sector to do the work that the government sector used to do, certainly an organisation worthy of Government support.

According to the Department of Community Services annual report, these were some of the peak bodies that received Sydney Labor government funding (including recurrent funding):

* In the Minister's electorate (generous Reba Meagher): Western Sydney Community Forum $361,209

* The Illawarra Forum (the area Labor lost to the Greens in a recent Federal election): $661,793

* Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development (close to Parliament House): $92,271

And, how much recurrent funding from the Sydney Labor government for the Hunter peak body? ZIP!

Greens bill to overhaul injury compensation laws

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
21 February 2007

Greens bill to overhaul injury compensation laws – it’s only fair

Greens MP and Upper House candidate Lee Rhiannon joined Greens candidate Michael Osborne and local injured worker Bruce Adnum at Newcastle Trades Hall today for the Newcastle launch of a Greens bill to overhaul personal injury compensation laws in NSW.

Greens MP Ms Rhiannon said: “Personal injury laws in NSW have been gutted and injured people like Bruce Adnum now have to wrestle with a system that is inaccessible, complicated and unfair.

“It is disappointing that the Labor government has failed to do the right thing for injured people. The Greens plan to introduce a private members bill to establish a simple, consistent and fair system of compensation.

“Research by the Law Society shows that the number of injured people eligible for fair compensation under the Civil Liability Act has dropped by 64 per cent in NSW.

Greens candidate for Newcastle Michael Osborne said: “There has been a $12 million increase in NSW Medicare costs since the law was changed.

“This means that costs have shifted from insurance companies to Medicare. Injured people are left to flounder while the profits of insurance companies soar.

Bruce Adnum said: "Measuring a person’s injury through an American-style percentage threshold is unfair.

“I see a doctor and after an hour all I come out with is a percentage mark that is meant to represent my injuries. I’m a human being, not a maths sum. This percentage says nothing about the impact my injury has had on my life and my family.”

The Greens plan for a better deal for injured people would:

• Establish a single, consistent procedure for the recovery of damages for all fault-based injuries, whether the injuries occur on the job, while driving or in public areas.

• Repeal the American-style whole of body impairment formula that stops most injured people from receiving compensation. The current threshold tests based on AMA Guidelines are arbitrary and do not account for the broader impact on the person’s life.

• Ensure that compensation claims are determined by an independent tribunal with tenured members, not by bureaucrats or insurers.

Who's pulling the strings?

Property developers have handed over $18.3 million to the old parties since 2000. This includes Sydney Labor. Any why won't the "independents" agree not to accept donations from developers?

So who are really pulling the strings in Newcastle?

Cartoon courtesy of The Hunter Advocate community newspaper.

Greens Call for Extra $100 million pa for Disability Support Services

An additional $103.5 million in annual funding is the centrepiece of the Greens election policy on disability services launched today by Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson on Disability Services.

The extra money should be allocated to create an additional 300 supported accommodation places and 100 attendant care places for disabled people as well as an additional 600 respite care places to relieve the burden on carers.

Additional money should also go to providing faster access to equipment and relocating young disabled people out of aged care facilities.

Other initiatives in the policy include an additional $12 million for improved training for those who work with the disabled and a guaranteed 5 days per week of funding for disabled people participating in Community Participation Programs.

“The Greens recognise that great progress has been made in breaking down the physical, social and economic barriers that disable people. That progress has come about because of the outstanding advocacy of the disabled and those who represent them,” said Ms Hale.

“But that work must continue because many barriers still exist. It is the role of government to support that work, by listening to what the community is saying and committing the necessary financial resources and political will to removing those barriers,”

“The Greens will continue to push for these commitments because we know that our community is diminished without them.”

“In 2006 a draft international convention protecting the rights of persons with a disability was developed and the Greens look forward to seeing that convention adopted by the UN General Assembly and enacted by the Australian and New South Wales governments,” said Ms Hale.

“Closer to home the recognition by the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) that significant additional resources must be given to address the needs of people with disabilities has given new impetus, particularly for those who have been campaigning for so long on behalf of young people in nursing homes.”

“It is imperative that this new momentum at international, national and state level be translated into delivering real improvements where it counts, on the ground, in the homes and care facilities, the workplaces and public spaces where people with disabilities live their lives.”

“The Greens policy on disability services was reviewed during 2006 by a working group made up mainly of members with a disability. The aim of that policy review was to ensure that Greens policy reflects the priorities of people who are disabled and our commitment to translate the recent impetus in this area into real outcomes.”

Greens Policy Initiatives
Accommodation
The Greens are calling for a major increase in funding for the disability sector targeted at improving access to a range of high quality, age-appropriate, community care and accommodation options with the aim of enabling people who are disabled to live as independently as desired or as possible. The Greens support the call by the NSW Council of Social Services in its Closing the Gap report for among other initiatives, an additional 300 supported accommodation places and 100 attendant care places at a cost of approximately $45 million per annum. In addition the Greens are calling for an additional $2.5 million to assist in relocating young people with a disability out of residential aged care.

Increased funding is also urgently needed to expand respite care services and facilities, in-home and emergency support and crisis accommodation. The Greens are calling for an additional 600 respite care places at a cost of approximately $5 million per annum.

Access
The Greens aim to ensure equitable and integrated community access, including the provision and maintenance of ramps, rails, toilets, information and communications systems and appropriate public and private transport options.

We also aim to ensure that people with disabilities have access to affordable and accessible communications technology and services that are appropriate to their needs; the Greens are currently undertaking an audit of all of our websites to ensure they meet best practice for accessibility and we are calling for similar audits of all public and corporate sector websites.

Equipment
The Greens are calling for an increase in funding to the PADP program (Program of Appliances for Disabled People) to at least $35 million per year to ensure that necessary equipment is provided in a timely manner.

Human Rights
The Greens will initiate legislative reform to ensure adequate protection of people with disabilities who are in care via improved monitoring, investigative powers and enforcement and the development and promotion of appropriate alternatives to the use of coercive measures and restraint in disability services.

Education
The Greens believe that there is a need to focus on the education system to ensure the appropriate case management and integration into childcare and school education of children who are disabled and to provide adequately resourced pathways that support school leavers with disabilities to make the transition from school into meaningful employment, educational and vocational programs or other community-based activities.

The Greens are calling for an additional $8 million per annum for teacher development programs, teacher release time and additional teachers aide support for school students with a disability, an additional $4 million per annum to ensure that Community Participation places are available for 5 days per week and that people who have completed the Transition To Work program without successfully finding employment are given access to the Community Participation Program.

Employment
We are calling for the expansion of funding to labour market programs for people with disabilities and the development of a program of affirmative action in employment so that those who want to work have the opportunity to do so to the maximum extent possible.

For those who are in jobs we need to improve the provision of infrastructure and interpersonal support available to support them in the workplace.

Disability services staff
The Greens recognise the importance of providing further training, development and personal support to staff working in disability services and the need to adopt workforce measures to increase the professional mix of staff. The Greens are calling for an additional $4 million per annum in development programs for staff working in disability services.
We also support a real increase in pay and improved conditions and career structures for providers of services for people with disabilities.

Carers
We recognise the importance of the role played by carers and to support that role the Greens are calling for parents, partners, relatives and friends who act as carers to be eligible for registration as carers and to have access to support, including income and respite.

TOTAL Additional Expenditure: $103.5m p.a.

Greens Policy Goals
The Greens policies seek to ensure that people of differing abilities have:

· a well funded and resourced operational service sector to meet their needs;

· access to adequate support services to enable them to participate fully in schools and society;

· the opportunity to actively participate in the development of policy and the planning and delivery of services;

· access to well-funded and resourced health services including provision of research funding and traditional and alternative treatment options;

· the right, where appropriate, to choose where, when and how to utilise the most appropriate medical, support or advocacy service that best meets their needs;

· the right to access the most suitable accommodation option that best meets their individual needs;

· the right to be free from discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse;

· the right to actively participate in civic and political life, including contesting elections and holding public office;

· the right to publicly dissent, protest and organise themselves in defence of their rights;

· involvement in all levels of decision and policy making across society, including in services for people who are disabled;

We support government programs to promote public awareness and attitudinal change by removing structural barriers and inequality of access to education, training and employment; as well as programs aimed at removing cultural and linguistic barriers to access to support and services.

We can make a difference

Research shows that the globe is warming as the concentration of green house gases in the atmosphere are increasing due to human activities such as fossil fuel burning. Scientists are becoming increasingly alarmed that the worst impacts and irreversible consequences of global warming are sooner than we think and could cause major climate changes, including more droughts, intense storms and hurricanes, and rising sea levels in our childrens' lifetimes.



But we can make a difference...

Turnbull headed down wrong track on emissions trading scheme

Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull is heading down the wrong track by supporting an emissions trading model that fails to guarantee greenhouse gas cuts and that is not supported by other nations, the Australian Greens said today.

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said the emissions trading model that Minister Turnbull is reportedly interested in, the McKibbin model, fails to provide any certainty of reducing greenhouse gases.

"The whole point of an emissions trading scheme is that it is a way to use the market to find the cheapest, most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Senator Christine Milne said in Hobart.

"This means it is imperative for the government to set a national greenhouse gas target and design its emissions trading scheme to achieve that target.

"The McKibbin model fails to set a greenhouse cap. It favours certainty about the economic cost of emissions permits over the certainty of reducing greenhouse emissions.

"Nor is the McKibbin model compatible with emissions trading schemes operating overseas. The model has been around for many years and was considered and rejected internationally. There is no reason to think that this will change.

"An international emissions trading system already exists through the Kyoto Protocol; what we need is a compatible national emissions trading system as quickly as possible.

"Minister Turnbull will be making a grave mistake if he encourages the Howard government to opt for an emissions trading scheme without a national greenhouse cap.

"Prime Minister John Howard says he won't have emissions trading unless it is a global system and he then embraces a model which is incompatible with a global system. Clearly it's another blocking tactic.

"The Howard government has held Australia back in addressing climate change. As the IPCC report confirmed earlier this month, we can't afford to waste any more time with schemes that simply can't deliver the deep emissions cuts we need."

Forest ruling to be appealed

ABC Radio National's 'The Law Report' will feature a story about the Wielangta forest federal court ruling tomorrow. The show will air tomorrow morning, Tuesday, 20 Feb 2007 at 8.30am and it will be repeated at 8pm Tuesday night.

On December 19 2006, Justice Shane Marshall ruled that Forestry Tasmania's logging operations in the Wielangta forest were illegal.

Justice Marshall ruled that logging at Wielangta - and wherever else in Australia it has destoyed the habitat of rare and endangered species - has been and will be outside the law. The judgement flayed Forestry Tasmania and those of its expert witnesses, who claimed logging, burning and chemical applications at Wielangta did not harm Tasmania's Wedge- tailed eagle, the Swift parrot or the Wielangta stag beetle. The Judge pointed out that the EPBC Act requires more than avoiding harm - it requires that logging plans help the rare species populations to recover.

Forestry Tasmania lodged its appeal on the 9th of February 2007. Late on Friday afternoon, Environment Minister Turnbull issued a short statement confirming that the Commonwealth would be joining the Forestry Tasmania in their appeal to the full bench of the Federal Court. Senator Brown will again do the job of the Environment Minister and fight the appeal to protect both the Wielangta forest and the endangered Tasmanian Wedge-tailed eagle, Swift parrot and the Wielangta broad-toothed stag beetle.

Time superannuation hit 15% for all workers

Greens MP and industrial relations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon announced today the Greens plan to campaign during the coming state election to boost minimum superannuation contributions to 15 per cent.

"Working people have the right to know that they will be financially secure when they retire and under current contribution rates retirees will do it tough," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Now that most MPs superannuation contributions are at 15 per cent there is no excuse for treating other working Australians as second rate.

"The NSW government would be wise to make an election policy announcement that they will contribute 15 per cent to the super funds for all state workers.

"NSW fire fighters, rail workers, teachers, police, nurses and all state workers deserve 15 per cent superannuation contributions.

"If Labor and Liberals fail to give this commitment coming into the state election the voters will see this as another hypocritical act.

"Why should MPs enjoy a superannuation level that will provide realistic retirement payments, but deny the same benefits to other Australian workers.

"In this era of worsening job security it is time superannuation payments were given a major overhaul.

"If as a society we are sincerely concerned about our ageing population then we have a responsibility to ensure retirement savings will provide a decent standard of living," Ms Rhiannon said.

Leaders debate exposes clean coal fantasy

The NSW major party leaders' debate on Friday night demonstrated that neither the Premier nor the Opposition Leader understands the realities of coal and climate change, according to Greens Upper House candidate John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "In a rare moment of consensus, both Morris lemma and Peter Debnam pointed to so-called clean coal technologies as a response to this state's massive contribution to global warming.

"Neither seemed to be aware that even the most enthusiastic proponents admit that the technology is at least a decade away from being ready for commercial application.

"In the meantime, coal exported from NSW will have added more than 2.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

"This is more than one hundred times the greenhouse gas emissions from all motor transport in NSW.

"Even if some of the carbon dioxide from coal fired power stations can eventually be successfully captured and stored, waiting for the technology to work will incur an unacceptable global warming burden.

"This is an appalling level of ignorance from two men who are putting themselves forward to lead a state that hosts the world's largest coal export port and contributes more than 10% of the world's trade in coal.

"Voters who are concerned about global warming would have every reason to be alarmed by their lack of understanding and preparedness to face the challenges posed by this state's coal industry.

"The Greens are proposing a phase out of the coal industry, based on banning new coal projects, including new mines, power stations and handling facilities.

"A planned reduction in coal use and export will enable this state to develop a renewable energy industry that will deliver more jobs, a strong export industry and a reliable and affordable electricity supply," Dr Kaye said.

Greens release Five Point Transport Plan

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
16 February 2007

Greens fight to ensure that the Hunter doesn’t miss the Bus

Greens candidate for Newcastle, Councillor Michael Osborne, has released a Five Point Plan to improve public transport in Newcastle.

“The Five Point Plan makes it very clear what is needed to improve public transport in Newcastle,” Councillor Osborne said.

“The first Point is to integrate the ticketing between the buses, trains and ferries for everyone, so commuters can buy a single ticket for their entire journey. Currently this is available to some pensioners, so it can be done and it can be expanded to include all commuters.

“The second Point is to integrate the timetables between buses, trains and ferries, so commuters can catch the bus to the train station and know that they won’t have just missed the train. This is not rocket science but it does require good planning.

“The third Point is to establish a locally-controlled Hunter Transport Authority to look after roads, rail, buses, taxis and ferries. Too often decisions about the transport in our region are made in Sydney. We need local control. If the budgets of the Roads and Traffic Authority, State Rail and the Buses and Ferries were combined into a single authority then we could truly get integrated decision-making.

“The fourth Point is to develop an Integrated Transport Plan for the Future developed by local expertise, encompassing the whole of the Hunter, with the Newcastle rail line as the spine of the system. With a population of 500,000, the Hunter is a genuinely self-contained regional area. The Plan needs to include public transport to the airport from Newcastle and Port Stephens.

“The fifth Point is to set a public transport patronage target of 20% by 2020. The current level is about 5%. The new Hunter Transport Authority would need to develop cost-effective strategies to increase the patronage level by 2020. Especially with the climate crisis we need to make transport more efficient and that means getting more cars off the road. There’s a big benefit in having less cars on the road. It not only saves the individual in petrol, parking and other costs, but also saves the community in lives, health impacts and environmental benefits.

“The Sydney bureaucrats seem incapable of making sensible decisions for our future. We need to take control of transport in our region,” Councillor Osborne said.

The Greens Transport Policy aims to encourage public transport, cycling and walking and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and oil in particular, as a transport fuel.

Time for govt to educate drivers

Journalist's cyclist rage criticised: time for govt to educate drivers

Greens MP and transport spokeperson Lee Rhiannon said today's Press Council's criticism of anti-cyclist comments in the Daily Telegraph is a wake up call for the Iemma government to do more to educate motorists on road rules relating to cyclists and how to safely share the road.

"The Greens are calling on the government to develop a public education campaign encouraging safe driving when near people on bikes," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The NSW Police should also set up a 'Cycle Safe Hotline' which cyclists, motorists or pedestrians, who witness dangerous or intimidating driving around cyclists, could ring to report number plates for police follow-up.

"In NSW there has been no education for motorists on road rules relating to cyclists or how to share the road with them. We may be the only state in Australia without a Bike-Ed program in schools.

"Education is critical as research shows NSW drivers have a very poor knowledge of some road rules, especially those related to cyclists. 'Look out for yourself' messages only reinforce the perception that cycling is dangerous and people who ride bikes should not be on the road.

"The RTA commissioned a survey of driver attitudes towards cyclists in 1995 but the results were so disturbing the report was buried and never published.

"In a copy obtained by the Greens, the report reveals 71% of drivers agree motorists do not see cyclists as having equal rights on the road. There was strong agreement, however, from 85% of drivers surveyed, that drivers should be educated to give cyclists a fair go on the road.

"The willingness of drivers to embrace education on safe cycling is something that the RTA should be milking, not ignoring.

"The RTA should be making sure people are clear on the rules of the road when it comes to cyclists, for example the long established rule that allows cyclists to ride two-abreast and more recent changes to roundabout rules.

"Improving knowledge of road rules in relation to cycling is crucial because drivers' mistaken judgement that someone riding a bike is breaking the rules is regularly translated into verbal or physical abuse that can become life-threatening.

"The RTA could institute a driver's licence renewal quiz – a cheap, simple and effective solution to improve knowledge of road rules relating to cycling. New Zealand has a successful 'scratch-it' quiz sent out with all car licence renewals, with prizes attached.

"The Iemma government should also increase its investment in cycling infrastructure. On-road facilities that legitimise cycling will help increase the number of people cycling, reduce dangers for cyclists and put a lid on cycling related road rage," Ms Rhiannon said.

Sydney Labor: a rubber stamp for developers?

New figures released this month show property developers have handed over $18.3 million to the major parties since 2000.



Will Sartor approve Anvil Hill?

US Forces Given the Nod

The Americanisation of Australian defence policy has been further entrenched by the announcement of a major US spy base outside Geraldton.

"With no warning the Federal Government has signed up for a new Pine Gap on Perth's doorstep. This is the most significant US military encroachment into Australia since the Pine Gap treaty was signed in 1966," Senator Rachel Siwert said this morning.

"Australians are now even more deeply enmeshed in United States military endeavours, whether we agree with them or not. It is a classic John Howard capitulation to US military interests."

Senator Siewert has demanded to know whether the State or Local Government was notified, and why the deal was signed up without so much as a word of community consultation.

"John Howard has taken us deeper into the Iraq quagmire with this base, which we understand is designed to help the US fight wars in the Middle East."

"I call on the Labor Party to make its position clear on the proliferation of US military facilities in Australia. Will Kevin Rudd simply fall in behind John Howard as previous Labor leaders have done?"

Newcastle libraries starved of government funding

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
15 February 2007

Libraries starved of government funding for too long

Libraries in the Hunter Region are struggling to make ends meet. The Greens are calling for a desperately needed substantial injection of State funding to enable libraries to keep pace with the growing needs of their local communities and ageing populations.

The NSW State Government has budgeted to give less to libraries than any other state in Australia in this year. The State Government will provide only 10% of the cost to run local government libraries in NSW, compared with Northern Territory 69%, South Australia 29%, Victoria 20% and Western Australia 19%.

The State Government actually reduced library expenditure this year by $248,000. The rest of the bill for libraries is footed by Local Government at a percentage that has been increasing year after year. From having to provide 76.4% of the funds in 1980, to now local government paying 92.2% in 2007. (2007 State Election Public Library Policy Platform by the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW)

In a recent report the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW has warned that many councils will be forced to close branches or reduce operating hours unless there is a major increase in State government funding. Councils may even be forced to charge for library services in the future.

Greens candidate for Newcastle, Michael Osborne, said, “Newcastle Council has struggled to build one new library in the past 35 years. Most libraries are housed in old inappropriate premises not designed to meet the changing needs of users. “

“Most libraries in Newcastle operate on reduced hours, remaining shut for several days a week and increasingly having to employ cheaper less skilled staff. There are declining funds for books and the huge range of equipment modern libraries now need.”

Greens candidate for Charlestown, Jane Smith, said, “Libraries are under great pressure from an ageing population, with increasing demands for home library services to individuals and in nursing homes. Changing trends in education have also led to new demands and community expectations, including Internet access.”

“Recent studies have shown the Hunter has a higher level of need than anywhere in Australia, with fewer going on to tertiary education and therefore with lower employment prospects .A well funded public library service is all the more essential.”

The Greens will continue to push the State Government to shoulder its responsibilities and properly finance one of the community’s most important educational tools – its public libraries.

'Clean coal' report suppressed

What does PM Howard know about suppressed 'clean coal' report?

Prime Minister John Howard must disclose what he and his government know about a CSIRO study into 'clean coal' technology that is being suppressed because its findings don't suit the coal industry's agenda, the Australian Greens said today.

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said 'clean coal' is a central plank of the Howard government's response to climate change but there are numerous problems with the experimental technology and now it has emerged through Estimates hearings that a critical report is being withheld.

"The Howard government has told Australians that 'clean coal' technology will meet Australia's future energy needs while addressing climate change but there are many obstacles to this experimental technology," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"Now we learn that a CSIRO report identifying problems with some aspects of the technology has been withheld from the public and may never see the light of day.

"The traditional solvent-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) method (MEA) will double the cost of electricity. The CSIRO was examining an alternative solvent method - the aqua ammonia process - but found serious problems with it to the extent that it was unlikely to be commercially viable or scientifically feasible.

"The report was prepared for the CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development, the same CRC that withheld a CSIRO report on the potential of solar thermal power to replace coal for Australia's energy needs until the Canberra Times published a draft version.

"The withholding of the 'clean coal' report comes 12 months after revelations of how the coal industry has influenced federal government climate change policy.

"Prime Minister Howard must reveal what he and his government know about this latest report. Does he condone keeping the findings from the public because they don't suit the agenda of the coal industry which the coalition government backs?

"The Greens are calling for the report to be released immediately for public scrutiny.

"Relying on fossil fuels for energy is unsustainable in a world that needs to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions in the next 10 years if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change.

"Australians deserve a serious climate change strategy that will drive a transition to a low carbon economy, not a government prepared to support an industry that would prefer to keep people in the dark about the pitfalls of the action it advocates."

Public transport at concession rates for students, apprentices and trainees

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
13 February 2007

Government should encourage students to use public transport, say The Greens

University and TAFE students, as well as apprentices and trainees, should be able to travel on public transport at concession rates, says Greens candidate for Newcastle, Councillor Michael Osborne.

“Many students are living below the poverty line and most are struggling with hefty fees and sky-rocketing rents,” Councillor Osborne said.

“The State Government should be encouraging students to use public transport with the concession rates but at the same time the government needs to do its bit and integrate the buses, trains and ferries, improve the bus routes and the timetabling,” Councillor Osborne said.

“There’s a big benefit in having less cars on the road. It not only saves the individual in petrol, parking and other costs, but also saves the community in lives, health impacts and environmental benefits,” Councillor Osborne said.

Students have expressed dismay at public transport services to the University, Councillor Osborne heard yesterday when he spoke to students at the Orientation Week, which is being held this week at the University of Newcastle.

“Public transport cuts in Newcastle have almost destroyed faith in the system, forcing more students to drive. Students and visitors to the University have to fight for car-spaces because public transport is expensive and lacks sensible integrated planning. The situation will only get worse from the 19th February when all students return to the University,” Councillor Osborne said.

The express 226 and 223 have been entirely removed in recent years, resulting in fewer and less direct routes. On some days the 104 and 225 buses can take over an hour to arrive at the University from Newcastle.

Cr Michael Osborne this week restated The Greens commitment to the full integration of all transport services in the region, with the aim of simplifying travel for all members of the travelling public.

“An improved public transport system will be easier for everyone to use,” Councillor Osborne said.

What some students said...

Tegan Faulkner, Medowie
There is no public transport to where I live. If there was I’d use it.




Stephen Owen, Carrington
It takes me 45 minutes to get to Uni. And that’s too long.




Sara Vincent, Merewether
The bus can take over an hour to get there and sometimes it won’t come at all. It is not a service it’s non-existent. I am late for lectures and labs all the time.

Amber Palmer, New Lambton/ Lynn Palmer, Dubbo
I like the prices but they seem to take you all over the world. The bus drivers are rude and unhelpful. We got on a bus in town which said Newcastle University – what it didn’t say was – via Dubbo.

Mental health shambles

It was great to see in yesterday's Newcastle Herald a story about way that Hunter Health is neglecting the needs of people with mental health issues in our area.

I highlighted the problem several weeks ago (See my media release posted here in mid January) and it seems the only reason Hunter Health has cut the service is that it is getting squeezed by Sydney.

The Newcastle Herald has followed up with an excellent editorial today.

The State Government needs to significantly increase funding for mental health services; improve and integrate hospital and community-based mental health services; and, bring back the mental health crisis teams.

No NEW coal

Many people would have seen the "strange" media reporting that The Greens want to shut down the coal industry.

This is of course the way the old parties (and the coal industry) like to portray a "transition over 20 years" as meaning "shut down today".

See my media release of last Friday for background.

How can they be trusted to do proper planning if they don't start to plan for the next 20 years now?

Wasn't it the Minister for the Hunter, Michael Costa, who said "who needs planning"?

The Greens position is that no new coal mines should be approved. We will not shut the existing mines down.

In Parliament The Greens will push for a NSW manufacturing industry based on solar panels and wind turbines located in the Hunter. Each unit of energy generated by the renewable energy industry creates four times as many jobs as the same unit of energy created by a coal fired power station.

We have seen successive NSW and Federal Governments fail to prevent massive job shedding by the coal industry in the Hunter, fail to support new manufacturing industries based on the new sustainable technologies, and fail to plan for the future.

Naturally people will be anxious about job security after coal if there is no plan for alternate industries – however we cannot maintain our current practices and assume that the climate or job security will remain unaffected.

The Greens plan will create more secure employment and a cleaner world. Bob Brown’s call for a plan within three years for an alternative to the reliance on coal has been misreported as a plan to stop all coal mining within three years.

The Greens and Bob Brown have consistently been unafraid to tackle the big environmental and ethical issues of our time.

We must plan now for a safe and secure future for everyone in our community.

Newcastle election countdown

40 days to go

I have been out and about, door to door, talking to lots of people in Newcastle. And the mood is one of change. Residents are fed up with politicians saying one thing and doing another, sitting on the fence and not talking straight.

The Greens are in with a chance in Newcastle and people are coming forward to help.

Unlike other candidates, who rely on dollars from wealthy contributors or Sydney based party machines, the Newcastle Greens rely on volunteers from our local community. And Newcastle people are responding...

That makes me proud to be a local.

Great community response

Yesterday, I was out doorknocking in Islington and Wickham with Lee Rhiannon, State Upper House MP.

And what a great response!

Residents voiced the need for a change in Newcastle; and not just any change. Residents wanted a change to a representative who would advocate for the necessary changes to address climate change and to push for appropriate development not development at any cost (Honeysuckle was mentioned many times as an example of inappropriate development).

And The Greens garage sale in Wickham Park was a great success. Many people chipped in to make it happen and many thanks to the great team effort.

Meanwhile, it is rumoured around town that last night Clr John Tate "independent" candidate for Newcastle held a fundraiser attended by all the big developers of the Lower Hunter where a weekend to Pokolbin was auctioned for a cool $10,000. Is the "independent" candidate going to tell the voters who is donating to his campaign prior to 24 March election?

Unlike other candidates, the Greens are proudly upfront about the donations we receive. Anyone can keep an eye on who is donating to the Greens. Just visit The Greens website to see continuously disclosed donations.

People's Occupation of World's Biggest Coal Port

Newcastle people turned out in droves on Saturday to highlight the need to shift from coal/fossil fuel based economy to a clean renewable energy future.

With plans afoot to double coal exports, Newcastle Port is at the coal face of global ecological disaster. Any expansion of the world's already largest coal port would be directly opposite to the changes we must make to achieve a positive future for the planet, the people of the world, the people of NSW and the people of Newcastle.

What it means to be proud to be Novocastrian

How embarrassing for Sydney Labor candidate Jodi McKay

When candidates make "weasel-word" statements about how they're "local and proud of it", you've got to wonder what it actually means.

Getting your election material printed in Sydney is probably not the best way to show that you're "local and proud of it".

There are FIVE full pages of local printers listed in Newcastle's Yellow pages 2006.

Surely if you're any candidate in Newcastle, supporting local businesses in Newcastle is important.

And, one more thing, why can't candidates print on recycled paper? There's so much impact on our planet during election time, candidates can at least make an effort to ensure that their material is recycled.

Dodgy unemployment figures

Unemployment figures conceal as much as they reveal

Yesterday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released Australia's unemployment figure of 4.5 percent. But the way these figures are calculated is inadequate and misleading.

They don't give an accurate measure of the true extent of under-employment in Australia.

The ABS defines people who work just one hour per week as employed.

The figures give no indication of who is actually looking for work or struggling to get by because they can only get a few hours of work each week.

How ridiculous is it to say that someone who works more than one hour per week can be meaningfully defined as employed?

As a society, we can better target support and intervention programs if we have more meaningful figures that allow us to gain a better understanding of employment and under-employment.

Greens welcome Reva car decision

Greens welcome Reva car decision - Howard Govt must permit importation

The Australian Greens today welcomed the WA government's decision to trial 50 Reva electric cars and called on the Howard government to issue a permit for the vehicles to be imported.

Greens transport spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said the electric car could play an important role in helping to reduce the growing greenhouse emissions from the transport sector but the Howard government had so far thwarted a trial.

"The WA government is to be congratulated for taking on the Howard government over the use of the Reva electric car on Australia's roads," Senator Milne said.

"The vehicles, which have a maximum speed of 70 km/h, are approved for use on public roads in many countries but the Howard government has frustrated the efforts of people to import the Reva and has refused to create an appropriate vehicle licensing category for the electric car.

"More fuel efficient cars with reduced greenhouse emissions are necessary to respond to climate change and peak oil.

"This has been recognised by the European Union which in the past week announced new fuel efficiency standards and new rules to cut vehicle greenhouse emissions.

"Instead of promoting fuel guzzling V8 vehicles as Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane is today, the federal government should help redirect Australia's automotive manufacturers towards producing vehicles with improved environmental performance, thereby ensuring a long-term future for the industry."

Anvil Hill report released today

No excuses left for Sartor - it's time to reject the Anvil Hill coal mine proposal

The Anvil Hill report is now up on the Planning Department website.

Sydney Labor should announce its decision on whether the Anvil Hill coal mine would go ahead.

The government is hiding its hand and using lame tactics to delay making a public decision on Anvil Hill until after the election.

Climate change and the future of the coal industry in NSW are key election issues and voters have a right to know where Labor and the Coalition stand on Anvil Hill.

The Anvil Hill coalmine would produce 10.5 million tonnes of coal each year. When burned, this coal would produce greenhouse gases equivalent to doubling the number of cars on NSW's roads.

Deferring the decision on Anvil Hill is a deceptive move that highlights the government's lack of sincerity on climate change.

The Panel Report predicts that there will be serious problems with noise, blasting and dust and that Centennial Coal will have to buy surrounding residents out. But not all residents want to sell and this is a serious obstacle for Centennial Coal's plans.

The Panel Report also acknowledges that there will be successive loss of fauna habitat during mining operations and that land clearing would have a significant impact upon native flora and fauna generally and threatened species in particular.

If Minister Sartor does not give a definite response on this mine, his silence will be taken as an intention to give the project the go ahead after the March election.

There is no justification for delaying a final decision while the Independent Panel works on another report.

The public can not be conned that easily. The dangers of climate change are well documented and coal is a key culprit.

Greens welcome Flannery coal-call

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
9 February 2007

Greens welcome Flannery coal-call

The Greens today called on state and federal governments to heed last-night’s call by Australian-of-the-year Tim Flannery to wind down the Hunter coal industry.

“Prof Flannery’s call is a timely addition to the voices of other scientists such as Prof Ian Lowe and bodies such as Newcastle City Council, as well as to the emerging groundswell of the wider community, who have realised that continuing with coal could cost us the earth,” Greens candidate for Newcastle, Cr Michael Osborne said today.

“The Greens have already shown that, far from costing jobs, a planned transition now from coal to renewable energy would create many more jobs in the Hunter than an expansion of the job-shedding, unsustainable coal industry advocated by the industry and by both old political parties.

“We need to be building industries that manufacture the renewable energy technologies that the world will be crying out for in the not too distant future. But this will only happen if the NSW government backs clean energy options and backs wind and solar manufacturing in the Hunter.

“Generating a unit of energy from wind power creates about four times the number of jobs as coal.”

Cr Osborne said that it was important to emphasise that The Greens are not advocating an immediate switch-off from coal as an energy source.

“This is just one of the scare tactics of the coal-industry and its advocates. State and Federal governments and both major political parties can’t read the writing on the wall because their heads are in the sand on this issue.

“The Greens and other concerned community groups advocate a just transition – a planned, systematic shift from coal to renewable energy over the next two decades – to enable local communities to gradually adapt to a new, clean and sustainable economy.

“This shift must begin with a cap on further expansion of the region’s coal industry, such as that supported by Newcastle City Council.

“A just transition from coal to renewable energy will require real political leadership and a commitment now by state and federal governments.

“The time has come for our political leaders to put the long-term future of local communities before the short-term profits of vested interests,” Cr Osborne said.

At 1pm tomorrow (10 February), concerned community groups have organised a land vigil and colourful Newcastle Harbour flotilla and press conference at Horseshoe Beach, as a community demonstration against NSW coal expansion.

Greens block Hunter developer donation

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
8 February 2007

Greens block Hunter developer Keith Johnson's donation

The NSW Greens today confirmed that the party rejected an attempt by Lake Macquarie property developer Keith Johnson to donate $1,000 online.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said, "We do not take donations from property developers. We have a long running campaign to ban developer donations from our democratic process.

"At 10.23pm on Tuesday night Keith Johnson made an online credit card donation in his own name.

"The very next morning he was quoted in a Newcastle paper as saying he has 'occasionally [given money] to the Greens'.

"Mr Johnson's credit card bill will tell the real story – our Sydney office processed the transaction at 10.43 am today, but after Mr Johnson's name rang a bell with an office worker, the payment was refunded 1 hour and 14 minutes later at 11.57am.

"The Greens donations website, Democracy4Sale, shows the major parties accepted over $18.3 million in donations from property developers since 2000.

"It is clear the Greens spotlight on the power of developer donations is causing discomfort for developers and the major parties, particularly as the NSW election looms.

Greens candidate for Newcastle in the State election, Clr Michael Osborne said, "Unlike the major parties, the Greens are proudly upfront about the donations we receive.

"Anyone can keep an eye on who is donating to the Greens.

"The Greens have committed to continuously disclose donations we receive during the campaign on our election website," Clr Osborne said.

Media Watch

The Newcastle Herald has today continued to allow Lake Macquaire developer Keith Johnson to repeat unsubstantiated allegations that The Greens have accepted donations from him.

The Newcastle Herald story (by Newcastle Herald journalist Damon Cronshaw) yesterday quoted Mr Johnson as stating that he had "occasionally" donated money to The Greens. Despite the fact that The Greens are vigorously campaigning against donations from developers, Mr Johnson's defamatory statement was reported without any challenge by the journalist, or any response from The Greens.

In response to this story, I spoke to Damon Cronshaw and issued a public statement yesterday denying that The Greens had ever received a campaign donation from Mr Johnson. The Herald reported my statement today, but allowed Mr Johnson to respond to my denial with a further unsubstantiated, unchallenged and defamatory statement from him again insinuating that he has made such donations. As with the first story, Mr Johnson's statement was reported without any challenge, and with no evidence

The Greens call on the Herald to ask Mr Johnson to produce evidence to substantiate his defamatory allegation. If he is unable to provide such evidence, he should publicly apologise for his statement, and desist from further such claims.

I have contacted the Newcastle Herald to inform them that Newcastle Greens consider Mr Johnson's statements false and defamatory. As far as I have been able to ascertain, The Greens have no record of having received any donation from any company associated with Mr Johnson (The Greens current policy is not to accept donations from any corporation), or from Mr Johnson as an individual.

The Greens will continue to campaign for a ban on developer donations, and for full disclosure of donations.

Electoral records show that the Johnson Property Group donated $74,250 to Sydney Labor in 2005/05 and $39,500 to the Liberals in 2005/06.

Donations should be disclosed to voters before election

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
7 February 2007

Donations should be disclosed to voters before election, say Greens

The Greens candidate for Newcastle, Councillor Michael Osborne today denied that the Greens have ever received campaign donations from property developer Keith Johnson and called on all candidates to disclose to the voters where campaign funds are coming from.

"The Newcastle Herald today reported that Lake Macquarie property developer has given money 'occasionally to the Greens'. The Greens in their 20 year history have never received a donation from any company associated with Mr Keith Johnson and to the best of my knowledge have never received a donation from Mr Johnson as a private citizen," Greens candidate Councillor Michael Osborne said

Electoral records show that the Johnson Property Group donated $74,250 to Sydney Labor in 2005/05 and $39,500 to the Liberals in 2005/06.

"The Greens do not accept donations from corporations and Greens MPs like Lee Rhiannon have been campaigning to ban corporate donations and improving public disclosure and accountability The Greens are continuously disclosing to the public all donations over $200 on The Greens website," Councillor Osborne said.

"I call on all candidates for the seat of Newcastle, including Cr John Tate, Jodi McKay and Bryce Gaudry to pledge that they will not accept donations from developers in the upcoming State election and to publicly disclose their donation to the voters before the 24 March election," Councillor Osborne said.

Research by the Greens on developer donations shows the NSW Labor Party has raised $9.88 million from the property sector since 1998-99, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals received $7.01 million. Donations by developers can be searched at The Greens Democracy4Sale website, which is based on official electoral funding returns.

Another lost opportunity for action

Emissions trading issues paper another lost opportunity for action

Prime Minister John Howard's emissions trading issues paper is another lost opportunity for action and fails to come to grips with the urgent need to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions.

The taskforce was being hindered by a government determined to protect the coal industry from the realities of climate change.

Prime Minister John Howard announced his emissions trading taskforce last year to avoid being embarrassed by the Business Council of Australia which was about to publicly support a price on carbon.

Asking the public and industry questions that were asked by the federal government in 1999 and by the state governments in developing their proposed emissions trading scheme is a waste of time. We know enough now, from two rounds of consultation and from the experience of the European emissions trading system, to get on with the design.

The Prime Minister is just stalling until after the federal election due later this year.

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson Senator Christine Milne has said

"Why are we going through the farce of consultations when Finance Minister Senator Minchin said today that the government is opposed to Australia acting unilaterally to introduce a domestic emissions trading scheme or a carbon tax in the absence of global action? There will be no global emissions trading scheme of the sort that the government says it wants because no scheme will protect the coal industry from paying the costs of its pollution."

Instead of playing political games, the government must decide what degree of warming constitutes dangerous climate change and set a national greenhouse reduction target. Only then can we develop financial mechanisms which reduce greenhouse emissions.

The longer the government delays setting the right policy frameworks, the more difficult will be the national task and the more exposed Australia will be to social and economic dislocation and runaway climate change.

Thanks to all volunteers

45 days to go

While other candidates are gathering loads of money and spending big, The Greens are relying on the good folk who volunteer to help out - whether it be door-knocking with me, or walking the streets to put a leaflet in letterboxes, or organising a garage sale or a drumming performance (GUOOF Hall 7pm this Saturday!).

The other candidates will produce material with their "slogans" and "messages" - but these are not policies.

Where are their policies?

All our policies can be found at The Greens website or pop into the office on the corner of Watt St and Hunter St in Newcastle.

Brown challenges Garrett and Turnbull

Brown challenges Garrett and Turnbull over coal and burning forests as the Barrier Reef faces extinction

Greens Leader Bob Brown has challenged Labor's absurd solidarity with John Howard over coal mining and burning of Australia's native forests by loggers.

"The national debate over climate change, the fate of the Great Barrier Reef and water shortages must start with the causes. It is farcical for Labor and John Howard to back expanded coal and woodchip exports but say they are serious about tackling climate change," Senator Brown said.

"After the Stern Report's 2006 finding that burning of forests is a worse greenhouse gas producer than all the world's transport systems put together, it is culpable of both major parties to promote clearfell logging and 'regeneration' burning of old-growth forests in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales."

"Energy efficiency, which could rapidly replace at least 30% of the coal being burnt in Australia, is not even on the Howard or Rudd radar screens," Senator Brown said.

Neither Mr Rudd nor Mr Howard can claim to be serious about water shortages while escalating the key causes of climate change, and diminished rainfall."

Senator Brown challenged both the new environment spokesmen, Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Garrett, to a debate on their parties' coal mining and forest logging policies.

"With the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report due out on Friday, all parties must tackle the key causes of climate change and drought and not just how to adapt to the water shortages as the Prime Minister wants it," Senator Brown said.

It's only fair

Greens bill to overhaul injury compensation laws

Greens MP and Upper House candidate Lee Rhiannon will move a private members bill in the next NSW Parliament to establish a simple, consistent system that allows all injured people to recover damages for fault based injuries irrespective of where they occur.

Ms Rhiannon committed to move this bill as part of the Greens support for the Fair Go For Injured People campaign, which was launched in Newcastle before Christmas.

"NSW injury compensation laws need to be overhauled. It is disappointing that the Labor government has failed to do the right thing for injured people," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Harsh reforms brought in by the Carr / Iemma government have gutted personal injury laws in NSW. Injured people have to struggle with a system that is arbitrary, inaccessible, complicated and unfair.

"Research by the Law Society shows that the number of injured people eligible for fair compensation under the Civil Liability Act has dropped by 64 per cent in NSW and the costs of caring for injured people have shifted from the insurers to Medicare, with a $12 million increase in NSW Medicare costs since the law was changed.

"The current system leaves injured people to fend for themselves while the profits of insurance companies soar.

"Minister John Della Bosca made a bad mistake when he rejected the unanimous recommendations of NSW Upper House Committee for a complete overhaul of personal injury compensation.

"The Greens are ready to work with Labor to reform the laws so injured workers get a fair deal. We expect the Coalition to drag the chain on this issue but hopefully Labor will come to their senses. If they fail to do so I will more the Greens bill when parliament resumes.

The Greens plan for a better deal for injured people would:

· Establish a single, consistent procedure for the recovery of damages for all fault-based injuries, whether the injuries occur on the job, while driving or in public areas.

· Repeal the American-style whole of body impairment formula that stops most injured people from receiving compensation. The current threshold tests based on AMA Guidelines are arbitrary and do not account for the broader impact on the person's life.

· Ensure that compensation claims are determined by and independent tribunal with tenured members, not by bureaucrats or insurers.

Thousands of jobs lost because Iemma govt refuses to break coal addiction

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
6 February 2007

Labor's addiction to coal set to cost the Hunter 25,000 jobs

Greens Upper House candidate John Kaye said the Iemma government's failure to develop a plan for the Hunter to make the transition from coal to renewables would cost the region at least 25,000 jobs over the next decade.

Speaking while campaigning in Newcastle today with local Greens candidates Michael Osborne, Suzanne Pritchard, and Sue Wynn, Dr Kaye said, "Between the mid 1980s and 2004, the coal industry shed 18,000 jobs largely because of technological changes.

"The long term future for employment in the coal industry is bleak. Increased mechanisation will reduce the number of employees required per tonne of coal and the world will begin to move away from coal in response to the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The good news is that there are lots of high quality jobs in renewable energy. Generating a unit of energy from wind power creates about four times the number of jobs as coal.

"Our conservative estimate, based on experience in other countries where governments have taken responsibility to ensure a planned transition from coal to renewables, is that the Hunter could host 25,000 additional jobs over the next 10 years.

"But it would take the right sort of government investment and policies, targeted at developing vibrant renewable energy manufacturing industries. The problem is that both Labor and the Coalition cannot see beyond the coal industry," Dr Kaye said.

Greens Councillor and Newcastle candidate, Michael Osborne said: "The IPCC report released last week was yet another wake up call to the state government. The Hunter already has unacceptable levels of youth unemployment. We need to plan beyond the next twelve months and into a world that responds to global warming by moving away from fossil fuels.

"Building industries that manufacture the technologies that the world will be crying out for is a sensible move. But this will only happen if the NSW government backs clean energy options.

"Coal is under our feet everywhere in this electorate, many of us live with the impacts of subsidence in our communities and dust in the air. Moving to a renewable energy industry that creates jobs instead of big holes and environmental devastation would be a much better long term future for this area" Ms Pritchard said

Out with the old, in with the new

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
5 February 2007

Out with the old, in with the new “It’s time for a change in Newcastle”, say Greens

The Greens candidate for Newcastle, Councillor Michael Osborne today launched the ‘Out with the old, in with the new’ GARAGE SALE to be held on the weekend.

“This election fundraiser highlights the fact that the Greens do not accept developer donations. Developer donations corrupt the democratic process. They are about buying influence, they are buying access, and they are buying government policy,” Councillor Osborne said.

“The Greens do things differently. We hold garage sales so people can recycle their household items,” Councillor Osborne said.

Media Alert:
The Greens ‘Out with the old, in with the new’ GARAGE SALE
WICKHAM PARK, Albert Road, Wickham
RE-USE AND RE-CYCLE
SATURDAY, 10th FEBRUARY, 10 am - 2 pm
The Garage Sale will run from 10 am to 2pm and have a whole range of useful items (furniture, clothes, books, household wares) on sale. All proceeds will go towards the 24 March election.

“It’s time for a change in Newcastle. The Greens are the only party who will effectively act on community issues like climate change.

“If elected, I will introduce a private members bill into the NSW Parliament to ban donations from developers and to kickstart wind and solar manufacturing in the Hunter,” said Councillor Michael Osborne.

Research by the Greens on developer donations shows the NSW Labor Party has raised $9.88 million from the property sector since 1998-99, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals received $7.01 million. Donations by developers can be searched at The Greens Democracy4Sale website, which is based on official electoral funding returns.

Finally Howard wakes up...

The Prime Minister John Howard has at last recognised that Australia must put a price on carbon and develop an emissions trading scheme to combat climate change but he must set a serious national greenhouse reduction target to deliver deep emission cuts.

Prime Minister Howard needs to remember that the whole reason for a price on carbon and emissions trading is to make real reductions in greenhouse gases. That is why he must set a national cap that will put Australia on a path to achieving an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Anything less will be fiddling at the edges.

Last year the Prime Minister ridiculed the Greens, environmentalists and business leaders when we all called for a cap on emissions, a price on carbon and an emissions trading scheme, arguing that it would destroy the economy.

He was wrong and he has been forced to back down and recognise that carbon trading and carbon pricing will be integral to any long-term solution to climate change. Not only that, they will boost Australian manufacturing which is being driven offshore by the Howard government.

There is enormous jobs and wealth potential in growing the renewable energy sector in Australia. The Stern Review of the economic costs of climate change found that the current size of the market for renewable energy generation products alone is estimated at $US38 billion, providing employment for around 1.7 million people.

The global wind industry now employs well over 100,000 people, the global large-turbine market is expected to surpass $US16 billion annually this year, while the photovoltaic industry supports more than 25,000 jobs worldwide and analysts expect sales to reach $US30 billion by 2010.

And the Hunter could benefit if we had a strong advocate for real, sustainable jobs in the Hunter.

A little bit about Newcastle

The seat of Newcastle has changed somewhat over time.

The electorate is now 47 square kilometres roughly the area east of Brunker Rd, Royal Rd, Lambton Rd, Edith St, Hanbury St, Vine St and Tourle St. The electorate has a predicted number of voters of just over 48,000.

From 1859 until 1894, Newcastle was a multi-member district. Newcastle East and West were combined to create the seat of Newcastle in 1904 when the Legislative Assembly was cut from 125 to 90 seats.

Serving as a multi-member regional seat during the proportional representation period 1920-27, Newcastle has been held by the Labor Party for 77 of the 80 years since it reverted to single member status.

The one term out of Labor hands was 1988-91, when real estate agent and head of the business chamber, George Keegan, won the seat in the electoral backlash that defeated the Unsworth government. Newcastle was one of four traditional Labor strongholds won by Independents in 1988, and it was Labor's success in winning all four seats back in 1991 that brought Bob Carr surprisingly close to winning the election.

Historical Pattern
1859 – 1860 Arthur HODGSON Independent
1860 – 1869 James HANNELL Independent
1869 – 1877 George Alfred LLOYD Independent
1877 – 1880 Richard Ryther Steer BOWKER Independent
1880 – 1882 George Alfred LLOYD Independent
1880 – 1891 James FLETCHER Independent
1885 – 1887 George Alfred LLOYD Independent
1882 – 1885 James Cole ELLIS Independent
1887 – 1889 James Cole ELLIS Independent
1889 – 1891 Alexander BROWN Progressive
1889 – 1891 James CURLEY Independent
1889 – 1894 William GRAHAME Independent
1891 – 1894 John Lionel FEGAN Australian Labor Party
1891 – 1894 David SCOTT Protectionist
1904 – 1907 William Thomas DICK Liberal Party
1907 – 1910 Owen GILBERT Liberal Party
1910 – 1922 Arthur Rowland GARDINER Australian Labor Party
1920 – 1921 William KEARSLEY Australian Labor Party
1920 – 1922 John ESTELL Australian Labor Party
1920 – 1922 John Lionel FEGAN National Party
1920 – 1925 Hugh John CONNELL Australian Labor Party
1921 – 1927 David MURRAY Australian Labor Party
1922 – 1925 Magnus CROMARTY -
1922 – 1927 John Marcus BADDELEY Australian Labor Party
1922 – 1927 Walter Peden Joyce SKELTON Independent
1925 – 1927 George BOOTH Australian Labor Party
1927 – 1935 Peter CONNOLLY Australian Labor Party
1935 – 1968 Francis Harold HAWKINS Australian Labor Party
1968 – 1988 (William) Arthur WADE Australian Labor Party
1988 – 1991 Ernest George KEEGAN Independent
1991 – 2007 Bryce James GAUDRY Australian Labor Party

Information from the NSW Electoral Commission and the ABC's Antony Green.

World Wetlands Day 2007

World Wetlands Day is today and the international theme is 'Wetlands and Fisheries'.

We are very lucky in Newcastle to have some very beautiful wetlands that make some contribution to the feed of local fish and prawns that many enjoy.

The contribution would be much greater if the Sydney Labor government lifted their game and opened up the flood gates that separate wetlands from the Estuary (so fish and prawns could move freely). This includes the Hexham floodgates and those at Tomago.

As always, it's promises, promises and very little action - maybe we'll have one of the eight gates open by the election (maybe!).

Healthy and functional inland and coastal wetlands play a very important role in the management and conservation of our important fish resources. They provide important habitat for fish populations, including rare and endangered fish species, and are spawning and nursery areas for many fish and other marine species.

Poll: Greens set to challenge Labor on water, climate

Responding to today's Taverner state voting intentions poll published in the Sun Herald Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said the high level of concern about water, climate change and the environment will reposition the election debate onto key Greens' issues.

"91 percent of those polled named water and the environment as the most important issues," Ms Rhiannon said.

Ms Rhiannon is the lead candidate for the Greens in the Upper House. The Greens will stand candidates in all 93 Lower House seats.

"The unprecedented level of concern for the environment is reflected in the Greens' high level of support. If the poll carries through to March 24, the Greens are set for a record high vote.

"Last week I announced the Greens' water policy. We are winning strong support for our position of stronger water restrictions so we can cancel the desalination plant. The money saved would be used to subsidise more rainwater tanks, local grey water treatment, stormwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, and improved water efficiency. In the Murray-Darling we are working to phase out cotton and rice farming.

"Today's poll has greatly encouraged our Balmain election team. Voters in this electorate are deeply troubled by climate change and we are finding growing support for our call for no new coal projects.

"Antony Green estimates that a swing of 7.5 per cent would see the Greens candidate Rochelle Porteous take the seat of Balmain from Labor.

"The Greens come into this election with a strong record of achieving outcomes in the NSW parliament so the voters know we can deliver on our promises.

"Greens MPs in the NSW Upper House were successful in having the Save Snowy Scheme private members bill passed in the both Houses of parliament. We used the Upper House to force the government to release secret documents that exposed the dodgy Cross City Tunnel deal. And we embarrassed the government into legislating against schools for profit," Ms Rhiannon said.