NSW now at risk of uranium mining

Barry O’Farrell’s government has passed legislation that overturns the 26 year ban on exploring for uranium in NSW.

In February the Bill to allow exploration for uranium passed through the Lower House. In late March, it passed through the Upper House with a 20-18 win supported by the Liberals, Nationals, Shooters and Fishers Party and Fred Nile’s Christian Democrats. Only Labor and The Greens voted against it.

 

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Why saving the Kimberley matters

Australia is in a race for gas, urged on by our state and federal governments. But from Broome to Sydney, a grassroots movement that includes indigenous people, environmentalists, city folk, farmers, social justice advocates, climate activists and climate sceptics are petitioning to stop the mining industry’s use and abuse of our land for short term profits. Citizens across Australia are telling the government to take notice: there is no social license for the damage from gas mining to our environment, heritage, water – and communities.

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Australians support a fair go at work

January marks two years since the introduction of Fair Work Australia, the body established by Labor to replace the industrial relations system of Work- Choices. It is now up for review. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a growing chorus of business voices claiming problems, from mounting paperwork to falling productivity and rapidly rising wages.

In fact, there is little evidence of spiralling wages. The latest Bureau of Statistics figures show wage rises slowing last year. Labour productivity may be lower than in the 1990s, but this trend was worse under WorkChoices.

It is important to see Fair Work in a broader context. For most of the last century, Australia was one of the most equal countries in the developed world, despite comparatively low taxes. More than most other countries, Australia sought to achieve a ‘fair go’ through wages, rather than welfare. Our governments sought to ensure we had enough to begin with, rather than giving us more at the end.

Since the 1970s, the processes of globalisation and deregulation have placed greater strains on the way Australian governments traditionally achieved equity. While today unemployment is low by international standards, at about 5 per cent, it is higher than at virtually any time between 1950 and 1975. And during the past 30 years the proportion of national income going to workers as wages has consistently fallen

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Rally to Protect our Land and Water

Rally to Protect our Land and Water

Date: Tuesday 1 May, 12noon
Location: Martin Place, marching to NSW Parliament

Your support is needed next Tuesday to protect our land and water
Next Tuesday on 1 May there will be an historic political rally at the NSW Parliament.
 
Farmers, Environmentalists, and community groups will speak with one voice to tell the Government that it has had enough of the mining at all costs approach in NSW.
 
The Government's Strategic Landuse Plans that were supposed to protect the environment and agricultural land from coal and gas mining have been labelled a failure by all stakeholders.

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