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The Greens Parliamentary E-Brief No. 90
4 July 2003
This E-Brief comes out fortnightly. It contains information about the
work
undertaken over the past two weeks in the offices of Senator Kerry Nettle,
Michael Organ MP and NSW MLCs Lee Rhiannon, Ian Cohen and Sylvia Hale.
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IN THIS E-BRIEF
1. From the offices of the Greens MPs in NSW
2. Coming events - with Greens MPs involvement
3. What's on?
4. Campaigns
5. Hot website tip
6. Reports Just Released
7. Contact details for Greens MPs
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1. FROM THE OFFICES OF GREENS MPs IN NSW
(Contact details for all Greens MPs in NSW are at the end of this email.)
SYLVIA HALE, GREENS MLC
Greens Victory on Local Government
The Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill, which defers council
elections in NSW from September this year to March 2004, has passed. One
horror in this bill that the Greens opposed was the provision for councils
to simply apply to the Minister if they wished to reduce their councillor
numbers. We had a victory on this point, which means the current system,
requiring a referendum to change the number of councillors, is retained.
The way this victory played out reveals a lot about Labor. The Greens
had an amendment to stop this rort, but Labor arranged for Christian Democrat
MP, Fred Nile, to move the same amendment. Thanks to everyone who responded
to our lobbying requests.
Local Development Action Kit
To assist the large number of people battling inappropriate development,
who are approaching our office, we are putting together an action kit.
The kit contains information on how to start up a campaign group, lobby
MPs, hold a public meeting, media tips, etc. Contact our office (details
below) to receive your copy, and any suggestions for the kit are welcome.
Upcoming campaign: homelessness/public housing/mental health
A key focus of Sylvia's office over the next eight years will be building
a campaign centred around homelessness, public housing and mental health.
If you're interested in this campaign contact Sylvia's office on 9230
3030 or email sylvia.hale@parliament.nsw.gov.au.
Some recent media releases -
2 July 2003, TAFE teachers must continue striking
The Greens are supporting rolling strikes across NSW by TAFE teachers
in protest against the attacks on the TAFE system announced last week
in the Budget.
16 June 2003, Debus can let Ken Park screen say Greens
Greens Arts spokesperson, Sylvia Hale MLC, says that the classification
ban on the film Ken Park, which was set to be screened at the Sydney Film
Festival tomorrow and Wednesday, can be lifted.
16 June 2003, ADI Site decision spells disaster for Western Sydney
Greens Planning spokesperson, Sylvia Hale MLC, said today's announcement
that 160 hectares of the ADI site will be developed demonstrates the contempt
the Government has for Western Sydney residents and their environment.
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MICHAEL ORGAN, GREENS MP FOR SEAT OF CUNNINGHAM
In the final two sitting weeks of the winter session Michael made two
statements, on the ChilOut Report on children in detention and on the
Family Court decision on release of child detainees. He also spoke in
debate about eight pieces of legislation including the ASIO Bill and the
Migration Amendment (Duration of Detention) Bill. His speech on the Australian
Film Commission Amendment Bill prompted an amendment in the Senate to
ensure that the activities of the National Film and Sound Archive are
separately reported on.
Media Releases
16 Jun
ORGAN TABLES DAMNING REPORT ON CHILDREN IN DETENTION
Cunningham MP Michael Organ has tabled a damning report about the treatment
of children in immigration detention centres in parliament today.
19 Jun
WHERE DID THE MONEY GO, MR. ABBOTT?
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott needs to explain
why an agency formerly located in his Department spent almost $61,000
on a consultancy, which was not completed.
24 Jun
GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Cunningham MP Michael Organ says a glossy information brochure being distributed
with HECS information statements is nothing more than an expensive propaganda
exercise.
25 Jun
TELSTRA SACKINGS - WORSE TO COME IN THE ILLAWARRA IF HOWARD GETS HIS WAY
Claims by the federal government that Telstra services in regional areas
are now 'up to scratch' are outrageous and out of touch in light of the
reported axeing of 22 jobs in the Illawarra Cunningham MP Michael Organ
said today.
26 Jun
GOVERNMENT MUST ACT TO GET VIRGIN BLUES' HAND OUT OF AIR TRAVELLERS POCKETS
Cunningham MP Michael Organ has called on the Federal Transport Minister
to stop Virgin Blue from charging the $10 Ansett levy on air travel after
30 June 2003.
26 Jun
ORGAN SOLE DISSENTER ON ASIO BILL
Cunningham MP Michael Organ was the only dissenting voice during debate
on the Howard government's amended ASIO Bill in the House of Representatives
today.
30 Jun
TELSTRA SELL-OFF SELLS OUT ILLAWARRA CUSTOMERS
Illawarra Telstra customers are bearing the cost of Howard government
moves to sell-off the remainder of the telco, Cunningham MP Michael Organ
said today.
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LEE RHIANNON, GREENS MLC
With my fellow MPs, Ian Cohen and Sylvia Hale, we challenged the mean,
un-green budget delivered by the NSW Treasurer, Michael Egan. The Greens
called on the government to redirect $160m from the subsidies to private
schools to the public school system; to support a land acquisition fund
of at least $20m to protect endangered ecosystems; and to introduce a
12.5% levy on apartment block developers.
When Premier Bob Carr broke his election promise to protect workers' conditions
during local council changes the Greens stepped in successfully with amendments
to that protected workers' basic rights. We were successful thanks to
opposition to the back down from the relevant union and a protest of council
workers at Parliament House. The intent of Greens amendments was adopted
by the government and current conditions will be safeguarded. But the
government still refused to ensure that council workers from rural and
regional areas won't have to relocate a long way from home if their council
amalgamates or has its boundaries changed.
Interstate 'border protection' with police sniffer dog patrols is the
latest addition to the Labor government's law and order arsenal. Legislation
just passed through the House lowers the standard that a judge applies
when granting a sniffer dog search and makes it possible to conduct blanket
searches across three kilometre square areas of our state borders. The
Greens have no chance of amending this type of legislation as the Coalition
and Labor are at one. So when you cross the border around Albury and Broken
Hill expect to see another way Labor's wastes public resources. It costs
about $60,000 to train just one dog.
Congratulations to all the people in Newcastle campaigning hard to save
the Newcastle rail line against the onslaught of the Minister for Transport,
Michael Costa. Lee addressed a protest meeting on Newcastle railway station.
This push against rail has the smell of developers all over it as the
railway line runs right along the beautiful Hunter River.
Lee won the support of Labor and the Coalition to have a motion passed
in support of the thousands kidnapped in Columbia. The House agreed to
urge the Columbian authorities to negotiate for the release of those kidnapped,
rather than using force, which results in so much loss of life.
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IAN COHEN, GREENS MLC
A historic moment for so many Greens supporters this week with the passing
of legislation to create 15 new national parks and protect 65,000 hectares
of native and old growth forests in the state's north east.
This was not simply the result of a pre-election commitment from the Carr
Labor Government but mainly the product of more than 20 years of protest
and lobbying. Congratulations to everyone involved!
In Parliament, Ian encouraged the government to continue to view the protection
of the state's outstanding biodiversity as an ongoing challenge, not just
as a task that starts and finishes on a political whim.
The historic decision protects almost all of the remaining identified
old growth on public land in north east NSW.
The state budget announced on June 24 revealed very little in the way
of improved funding for environmental protection. In fact, it slashed
it. The government raided environment funding to pay for the budget surplus,
cutting $47 million from the Environment Protection Authority - approximately
a 23 per cent reduction from last year's funding.
There was also a $2.923 million cut to SEDA's operating budget, from $12.723
to $9.8 million. This happened despite the government making a commitment
to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Premier has also failed to establish
the Greenhouse Office he promised during the election.
Bob Carr committed his government to achieving the targets set out in
the Kyoto protocols, but instead has cut SEDA's funding by 25 per cent.
The forests decision generated a large amount of media attention, being
covered on SBS, Prime, NBN and WIN TV (3/7), ABC 702, 2UE, 2GB, JJJ, ABC
North Coast and Newcastle (3/7), Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Lismore,
Byron, Hunter and Central Coast newspapers (4/7).
Continuing land clearing and plans to lease areas of national parks for
telecommunications towers was also covered in the Sydney and regional
media - SMH (31/6, 1/7), ABC 702, 2GB, 2UE, Newcastle Herald, Prime and
WIN TV, and it ensured a guest appearance in The Land (3/7).
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2. COMING EVENTS INVOLVING GREENS MPs
Threats to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
10.30 am to 12.30 pm, Saturday 5 July
Club Nova Newcastle
A public forum focussing on the yhreats to the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme posed by the present negotiations with the USA for a Free Trade
Agreement
Speakers:
John Kaye, representing Senator Kerry Nettle
Dr Pat Ranald from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Dr Peter Sainsbury, President of the Public Health Association of Australia
An ALP representative
Organised by Newcastle Greens
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Protest the Australia/US Free Trade Agreement
12:45pm Wednesday July 23
Outside the GATS/USFTA Senate Inquiry Hearing at NSW State Parliament
House, Macquarie St Sydney.
Senator Nettle will speak at the Protest against the Australia/US Free
Trade Agreement.
The US Government and US corporations have targeted important Australian
social and environmental policies as barriers to trade to be abolished
or changed in this Free Trade Agreement. They include:
- The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
- Essential services like health, education and water;
- Australian content rules in film, television and music;
- Labelling and regulation of genetically modified food;
- Australia's quarantine standards.
The economic benefits to Australia, meanwhile, are likely to be entirely
marginal.
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Greens on Sunday Public Transport: off the Rails
Sustainable transport options have stagnated as the RTA continues to receive
more funding for more roads. Costa has recently put forward new 'options'
that weaken the long overdue Parramatta to Chatswood rail link, including
privatisiation. Meanwhile the Airport rail link remains a shining example
of why privatisation of public transport is a bad idea. Together with
the botched Millenium Train project and the possible branch line closures
in areas like Newcastle, sustainable trainsport is off the rails.
This forum is will explore these issues, and look to future campaigns
that need to be pursued. Greens MP Lee Rhiannon will be leading the discussion.
2.00 pm Sunday 27 July
Greens Office, 19 Eve St Erskinville
Organised by Sydney Regional Greens. For more information:Contact: Tony
Mohr on 0402 336 416 or tmohr@bigpond.com
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Now We the People Conference
August 23-24
A Conference in Sydney aiming to build a deeper coalition of political
forces around a broad alternative framework in the global community -
a global program to combat poverty, support democracy, to advance environmental
recovery and sustainability, and to support international rule, no use
of violence in international disputes.
Senator Kerry Nettle and Sylvia Hale will speak.
http://www.nowwethepeople.org
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3. WHAT'S ON
SHINE the light A FUNDRAISER
with Archie Roach + Special Guests + Repeat Offenders
+ Rob Hirst
Friday July 4th 6.30
$20 entry ($10 concession) incl. FREE BBQ
Funds from this event will help JA's campaigns, including establishing
an independent inspection of the HRMU -- a concrete box within a box,
no sunlight and no fresh air. Located at Goulburn jail, it's meant to
solve the problem of "difficult" prisoners. Every society has
this problem. Some solve it by helping prisoners to educate themselves.
We throw them in this "hole". JA wants to shine a light in the
"hole".
Venue: Breakout, 65 Bellevue St, Glebe
www.justiceaction.org.au
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Ocean Press and the Centre for Global Justice presents Che Guevara, War
and the Fight for Global Justice.
Che Guevara's eldest daughter, Aleida Guevara, is a Cuban-based paediatrician
and prominent in the anti-globalisation movement.
Public meetings
7 pm Saturday July 5
Eastern Avenue Auditorium
University of Sydney
City Road Entrance
Entry by donation $6
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THE WORK / LIFE COLLISION - What is to be Done?
Tuesday, 8th July 6:30 for 7:00pm
$8/$5
Gleebooks: 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe 2037
Please RSVP to gleebooks - ph: 9660 2333 or
email: books@gleebooks.com.au
a panel discussion
BARBARA POCOCK:
author of "The Work/Life Collision"
PRU GOWARD:
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner
TONY MAHER:
National President of CFMEU
Longer working hours, insecure jobs, child care, declining birth rates,
parental leave, the 'mummy track', the success or failure of feminism
- the levels of passion, vitriol, despair and guilt these subjects engender
attest to the importance Australians place on them, and rightly so. Their
effects go beyond how we feel: they affect vital economic and demographic
trends.
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"STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS!" is an exhibition by independent
photojournalist Glenn Lockitch documenting thirteen years of human rights
and environmental issues in Australia and overseas.
Exhibition at the Tap Gallery 8 - 13 July, 278 Palmer St, Darlinghurst.
Opening night 8 July, 6pm; music by Jeannie Lewis, David Turner &
Peter
Urquhart.
Glenn has worked closely with many activists, human rights organisations
and environment groups, giving him a grounded and intimate knowledge of
the issues he has photographed.
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George Monbiot, author of Manifesto for a New World Order, speaks in Sydney
on Tuesday 15 July at 6.30 pm, the Valhalla, Glebe.
The existing global system is in trouble. Global institutions such as
the WTO and World Bank are undemocratic and unaccountable. Increased prosperity
for some goes hand in hand with increased poverty for others. Monbiot
offers
a defence of democracy and an understanding of power and how it might
be captured from those unfit to retain it. Our task is not to overthrow
globalisation, but to capture it and to use it as a vehicle for humanity's
first global democratic revolution.
George Monbiot has held visiting fellowships or professorships at various
English universities in environmental policy, philosophy, politics and
environmental science. He is visiting professor of planning at Oxford
Brookes. His other books include "Poisoned Arrows", "Amazon
Watershed", "No Man's Land" and "Captive State".
He is a columnist for The Guardian.This event is co-sponsored by Oxfam
Community Aid Abroad, Gleebooks & The Adelaide Festival of Ideas.
$8/$5 conc & gleeclub
RSVP Tel: 9660 2333 or email books@gleebooks.com.au
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Greens Fundraiser - Comedy Sketch "Simon Crean! the Musical"
7.30pm, Wednesday July 16
The Tap Gallery, 278 Plamer St, Darlinghurst
An exciting new comedy sketch show by Lickety Split "Simon Crean!
the Musical" is a tale of lust, revenge and shadow fiscal policies.
Combining musical numbers, with sketch comedy and, of course, the brilliance
of Simon Crean, the show will explore mediocrity like never before.
Starts 8pm, meet & pay at 7.30pm in foyer
Bookings: http://www.events.nsw.greens.org.au/bookings
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Anti-Nuke gathering
13th 18th July
Silverton, near Broken Hill
NO MORE RADIO-ACTIVE GENOCIDE!
GATHERING : 14th JULY-18nd JULY 2003 (SET-UP CAMP JULY 13th)
A chance for indigenous and non-indigenous grassroots activists to come
together and stop the nuclear industry!
This event organised by a network of indigenous and non-indigenous groups
will be held at Silverton, NSW(24km North of Broken Hill). It will be
a crucial step in the struggle for justice for indigenous peoples and
ridding
the world of the nuclear menace.
For more info:
www.nukefreegathering.org
peaceaction5@hotmail.com
(03) 9754 1642, or 0429 172 090
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Australian Women, Earth & Change Conference
October 3-6th 2003 Labour Day Long weekend
Addison Road Community Centre
Marrickville, Sydney Australia
This is a women and children's conference.
Main Morning Topics
Saturday 4th October - Indigenous Women Fighting for Country , Sea and
Culture
Sunday 5th October - Australian Women's Peace & Anti-War Movement
Monday 6th October - Violence Against Women, Animals & Nature
Email - conference@womenandearth.org
www.womenandearth.org
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Deep ecology workshops and talks
ALL PROCEEDS TO FUND GRASSROOTS NATURE PROTECTION EFFORTS.
Email johnseed1@ozemail.com.au or ruthr@ozemail.com.au for more details.
See http://www/rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/schedule.htm for updates.
SCHEDULE SUMMARY
July 9-11 Adelaide
August 14-16 Brisbane
September 26-28 San Francisco
October 3-5 Florida
October 10-12 New York
Late October Budapest and Berlin
November 15-15 Brisbane
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NATIONAL CLEAN AIR CONFERENCE
Linking Air Pollution Science, Policy and Management
Convened by the Hunter Branch of the Clean Air Society of Australia and
New
Zealand and will be held in Newcastle, 23-27 November 2003.
www.pco.com.au/casn
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2003 National Conference on Unemployment
This year marks CofFEE's 5th Path to Full Employment Conference and the
10th National Conference on Unemployment.
A number of themes have been identified for the conference including:
welfare to work issues; macroeconomic policy; regional and environmental
issues; the future of work; and globalisation.
Keynote speakers: Professor Barry Bluestone, the Stearns Trustee Professor
of Political Economy and director of the Centre for Urban and Regional
Policy at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts; andThe Rev
Tim Costello, a leading voice on issues such as urban poverty, homelessness,
problem gambling, unemployment and reconciliation, Minister at Collins
St Baptist Church Melbourne and the Director of Urban Seed.
http://e1.newcastle.edu.au/coffee/conferences/2003/index.
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4. CAMPAIGNS
Nuclear Waste Inquiry
The Federal Government has given the go-ahead for a national radioactive
waste dump at a site near Woomera. The decision means that nuclear waste
will be transported from the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor across the
Blue
Mountains along the Great Western and Barrier Highways to South
Australia. Nuclear waste transport and dumping poses a threat to the
community and the broader environment.
In response to community concern the NSW State government have called
a
Parliamentary Inquiry into the issue. NSW Greens parliamentarian Ian Cohen
will be a member of this important committee that has called for public
submissions on the issue. Submissions close on the 31st of July 2003.
To have your say write to:
The Committee Manager
Joint Select Committee on the Transportation and Storage of
Nuclear Waste
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000
to find out more about the issue check out
www.reactnow.org
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5. HOT WEBSITE TIP
Want to share your favourite website? - Send in your hot tips.
This ebrief's hot website tips -
www.nefa.org.au
website of the North East Forest Alliance - the group behind the great
wins to save icon forest areas on the north coast of NSW.
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6. REPORTS
The latest Library Research Service Briefing Paper No. 13/2003 entitled
Regional Development Outside Sydney by John Wilkinson is now available
- http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/PHWebContent.nsf/PHPages/ResearchBf132003?OpenDocument
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7. CONTACT DETAILS FOR GREENS MPs
Senator Kerry Nettle
senator.nettle@aph.gov.au
http://www.kerrynettle.org.au
Sydney Office Ph 9241 6663 Fx 9241 6680
Canberra Office Ph 6277 3501 Fx 6277 5716
Michael Organ MP
michael.organ@aph.gov.au
Illawarra Office Ph 42837300 Fx 42837800
Sylvia Hale MLC
sylvia.hale@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Ph 02 9230 3030 Fax 02 9230 2159
Ian Cohen MLC
ian.cohen@parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.nsw.greens.org.au/ian
Ph 9230 2603 Fx 9230 2267
Lee Rhiannon MLC
lee.rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.lee-rhiannon.greens.org.au
Ph 9230 3551 Fx 9230 3550
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