GREENS E-BRIEF 247

Thursday 11 March 2010

If you are having difficulty reading this E-brief please go to http://www.nsw.greens.org.au/ebrief

This E-brief contains information about the activities of Greens NSW MPs. It also contains events happening over the next month.

Events listed in this email are for information only and do not imply endorsement by the Greens NSW or Greens members of parliament.

This Issue:

1. Greens NSW Federal Election Campaign
2. From the offices of Greens MPs in NSW
3. Coming events involving Greens
4. What's on?
5. Hot website tips
6. Current campaigns
7. Positions Vacant
8. Submitting items for E-Brief
9. Contact the Greens NSW

1. GREENS NSW FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

 

Lee4Senate website
email Lee
Lee on Facebook
follow Lee on Twitter

So far there are 25 Greens candidates lining up to run in House of Representatives seats. The first round of candidate workshops has been held and the national website will soon be launched. If any of our campaign teams  would like to book in any of our state MPs or senate candidates to attend local events please contact lesa@nsw.greens.org.au

Climate Summit
This year's Summit  has a session on election tactics. The Vote Climate Stream will provide plenty of time to work through tactics for this election year. Both Senator Christine Milne and Greens MP Lee Rhiannon will speak at the Summit.

Call for govt action on nanotechnology
The Greens are calling for decisive government action to regulate nano toxicity risks and to ensure labelling for consumer choice and workplace safety. Read Lee's article  in the ABC Drum.

Defence hub push betrays Hunter
The dysfunctional NSW government is hoping to use a defence hub specialising in submarine construction to rebuild its reputation in the Hunter. The Greens are calling for these plans to be scrapped and for the state and federal governments to inject their resources into renewable energy industries and clean green manufacturing. Read Lee's analysis   in On Line Opinion.

Internet censorship protest
The Greens are strongly committed to making the internet safe for children but the way forward is to supervise and educate young people about web usage not go for the unworkable internet ban plan. Senator Scott Ludlam and Lee spoke at rallies to protest at the government's internet censorship plan. Read about Scott's work  and Lee's blog 

Workplace reforms
Senator Rachel Siewert has renewed the Greens call  for the Federal Government to fulfil its election promise to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner and bring Australia's workplace laws in line with international standards. An International Labour Organisation report has heavily criticised the Rudd Government for not doing more to ensure our workplace laws comply with international legal obligations. 

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2. FROM THE OFFICES OF GREENS MPs IN NSW 


JOHN KAYE MLC


www.johnkaye.org.au
email John
Ph 9230 2668 Fax 9230 258

Need for new coal-fired power plants based on a lie
The NSW government’s approval for two new giant fossil fuel power stations is based on the myth that they are needed to keep the lights on. John condemned the decision and joined with environment groups in stating that these power stations will drive up the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and destroy jobs in renewable energy. Media release 1 Media release 2   ABC   SMH 1  SMH 2

Gillard’s curriculum leaves door open to creationism in science
John warned that Education Minister Julia Gillard’s draft national curriculum has left open loopholes that would allow the teaching of intelligent design and old earth creationism as science. While the NSW curriculum leaves no wriggle room for religiously-based views in science, Julia Gillard’s draft curriculum is silent on the connection between natural selection and the evolution of ancient species into modern forms. Media release  SMH

School promotion hides Scientology links
The Greens lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission over an advertising leaflet promoting the Athena School in Newtown that fails to reveal its links to Scientology. Media release SMH   ABC

‘Scores on doors’ trial is a victory for safer eating campaign
A move by the NSW government and Canada Bay Council to trial a new system of rating food safety and hygiene standards is a step towards reducing the one million cases a year of food poisoning caused by negligent eateries in NSW. Restaurants will be awarded certificates with a star rating and encouraged to display the information on their doors. ABC

Food labelling review must put consumers first
John warned that consumers will continue to be mislead and treated as lab rats. Food labelling regulations are weak and biased towards maintaining industry profits. The food labelling review must be unbiased. From foods that come from overseas but labelled ‘Made in Australia’ to the lack of warnings about genetically engineered or nanotechnology ingredients, consumers are being denied the right to make healthy and ethical choices about the foods they purchase.
Media release   SMH


LEE RHIANNON MLC


www.leerhiannon.org.au 
email Lee
Lee on Facebook
follow Lee on Twitter
Ph 9230 3551 Fax 9230 3550

Job losses
Lee commented on the loss of 350 jobs at Boeing Milperra factory. On ABC's PM program  Lee said: "Western Sydney cannot afford to lose 350 jobs … the Premier's priority should be to sit down with Boeing's management and work out how to keep the jobs in Sydney."

Health plans
The federal government's health plan leaves privatisation unchallenged. Premier Kristina Keneally was correct to ask for more information, but should broaden her questions to how they plan to rein in costs generated by the private health sector. Rudd’s plan talks a lot about efficiency but there is little mention of patient outcomes. Media release 

The Democracy4sale team revealed details of the pharmaceutical companies' political donations and the law changes that benefited their corporate interests. SMH 

Graythwaite
The Greens Save Graythwaite Estate Bill passed by the Upper House has been defeated in the Lower House. North Shore and Opposition health spokesperson Jillian Skinner abandoned her local community by refusing to move the bill. Mr Peter Besseling, Independent MP for Port Macquarie, moved the Greens Bill. Media release

Farmers win
Lee congratulated the Liverpool Plains farming community for their win in the Supreme Court that found BHP Billiton's licence to explore for coal on two properties was invalid because the company had not consulted all landholders. This win has implications for mining impacted communities across NSW. Media release 

Labor and Shooters - deal?
The Hill Top Shooting Range has been approved by the Labor government after a long community battle to stop a Labor and Shooters Party deal being imposed on a high fire danger area. This is bad news for the local environment and public safety. ABC 

Secret meetings revealed
Lee has called for all briefings on an underground coal mine in the Macarthur region to be made public following revelations about secret briefings. ABC  SMH 

Sand mining 
Lee met with locals opposing the Rocla sand mine expansion at Calga on the Central Coast. The Greens and local community had a win nearby when the government refused to approve the Somersby sandmine. We are gearing up for another big campaign. Media release

IAN COHEN MLC


www.iancohen.org.au
email Ian
Ph 9230 2603 Fax 9230 2267


Millewa forest given up for logging 
After Premier Keneally said she was going to honour Nathan Rees’ commitment to adequately protect redgum forest ecosystems, she is allowing half of the Millewa forest to be logged for another five years. 

Ian Macdonald, the Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources, has lobbied hard to continue almost two decades of unsustainable logging in the area.  The Environmental Trust fund will be mined of $48 million to bail out a timber industry that has over-cut the forests at four times the sustainable rate. NSW to protect River Red gums ninemsn
The Age 1  The Age 2  The Australian

FOI reveals water for goldmines ahead of people
A Freedom of Information request by my office accessed the minutes of the Lachlan Critical Water Advisory Committee. They reveal the extent to which the Committee has allowed commercial interests to drive water allocation decisions. Companies such as Jemalong Irrigation and Barrick Gold were allowed by the Lachlan Critical Water Advisory Committee to buy and trade water over the critical water needs of communities. Our office worked with Greens Councillor from Orange, Jeremy Buckingham and as a result of Greens’ pressure a parliamentary inquiry is now looking into water management in NSW.

Repco rally economic review 
The State and Regional Development Minister, Ian Macdonald, was asked why the Rally Review did not include an economic analysis as per Section 25 of the Motor Sports (World Rally Championship) Act. The Minister was asked how the Review’s authors could possibly recommend the continuation of the Rally to the Minister without such an analysis.  

The Minister initially blustered but at the end of Question Time he made a statement to the House that there would be an economic analysis of the Rally.  Review into Rally’s economic cost Northern Star.

Clearing of critically endangered ADI site 
I have called for a halt to clearing of 360 hectares of the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland on a former ADI site. Both Federal scientists and DECCW have listed this area, in the Sydney Basin Bioregion, as a Critically Endangered Ecological Community. Environment Minister Sartor must talk to his Federal counterpart, Mr Garrett, and act to save the Cumberland Plain from destruction.


SYLVIA HALE MLC


www.sylviahale.org.au
email Sylvia
Ph 02 9230 3030 Fax 02 9230 2159



Corrective Services fails prisoners and prison officers
The ABC’s Lateline program’s exploration of the death in custody of prisoner Mark Holcroft raises further significant questions about the management of Corrective Services in NSW.

The program follows Sylvia’s questions in Parliament late last year about Mr Holcroft’s death in the back of a prison transport van on his way to a minimum security prison farm. 

Sylvia’s office has had advice from a range of sources on this issue. Of concern is that the training and support available to Corrective Services officers engaged in these duties may have declined over the last few years.

There is no indication that NSW Corrective Services undertakes an internal review following such critical incidents but that it simply awaits the coroner’s report.

In stark contrast, Western Australia’s Office of Inspector of Custodial Services – a review authority funded by but independent of the WA Department of Custodial Services – reviewed the circumstances surrounding the death of indigenous community leader Mr Ward in a prison van in Western Australia last year, reported to the Minister and within a month the recommendations had been implemented.

In NSW the standard response of both the Minister and the Department has been that they are waiting for the coroners report, and they can’t comment further. The Labor Government did away with the independent Office of the Inspector-General of Corrective Services in 2003. ABC  Media release 1  Media release 2 

Review of Home Building Act
The NSW Government is currently conducting a review of the NSW Home Building Act. 

Included in the review is the operation of home warranty insurance arrangements. The home warranty building scheme has been in crisis in recent years and the State Government proposes to retain the ‘insurer of last resort’ provisions, outsourcing to insurance brokers the provision and collection of home building insurance premiums. The unsatisfactory nature of ‘last resort’ insurance, which can be claimed only if the builder is dead, insolvent, has disappeared, or has failed to abide by an Court order to pay has been widely criticised in throughout Australia.

The Review proposes other significant changes that will affect home building contracts worth between $1,000 and $12,000, with the Government citing a need to reduce ‘costs and red tape’. 

Also of concern is the long-term privatisation of monitoring within the building sector, including the move to private certification. 

Submissions close on Wednesday, 17 March 2010. The consultation paper is available here.

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3. COMING EVENTS INVOLVING GREENS

Australia's Climate Action Summit 2010: Canberra
March 13 to 15
Australian National University, Canberra ACT
Our governments are not providing real climate solutions. Whether it's the CPRS or Copenhagen, we deserve better. The conference will provide three days of strategy, workshops and discussions for the grassroots movement against climate change in 2010.
Speakers include Greens Senator Christine Milne and Lee Rhiannon, Greens MP 
Please register on the website 

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"Bite Your Tongue" fundraising gig for Ian Cohen
Saturday 13 March,  7-11 PM 
The Waterfront Hotel in Moruya NSW. 
Entry fee $15, donations accepted. 

Feature act, Charlie McMahon, musician of international renown, on the electric didge. 
Supported by Jeff Aschmann (environmental singer-song writer) and activists-singers-songwriters, Leasa and Tony.

NSW Greens MP, Ian Cohen, has a $1,000,000 defamation legal bill and needs our support. 
Contact jeffaschmann@hotmail.com or 4474 3093.

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Active Greens Activity: Sydney Harbour Swim Classic
Sunday 14 March
Starting Sydney Harbour Swim Classic

To get involved in a Greens team, contact Michael McGrath accent@swiftdsl.com.au
http://www.sydneyharbourswim.com/

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Peak Oil Forum - Is this the end of civilisation as we know it?
17th March 2010 
6pm Jubilee Room, Parliament House, MacQuarie St, Sydney 
Speakers: Greens MPs Lee Rhiannon and Ian Cohen,  
Dr. Garry Glazebrook, Peter Driscoll of Transition Sydney Inc
Organised by Fellowship of the Round Table 
details:  blog 
contact Robert Bain Acting Secretary (02) 9833 7578 0350 217 022

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The battle of the Greens begins - Speed debating in the pub.
Thursday 18 March,  7.00 pm 
Beauchamp Hotel 
CNR Oxford & South Dowling Streets PADDINGTON  in the Velvet Lounge.
Inner Sydney cockroaches go head to silvertail with Woollahra  over  "Tony Abbott is The Greens best friend."
Meanwhile, the South Sydney Mexicans take on the North Sydney Coathangers-on  arguing  "The best thing for The Greens is to never win government"          
All members and friends welcome. Drinks and food available for purchase at pub prices.

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2010 Juanita Nielsen Memorial Lecture
Monday 22 March, 6.15pm for 6.30pm
Mori Gallery, 168 Day St, Sydney
All welcome - attendance free, light refreshments
Guest speakers: Greens MP Sylvia Hale, "The Greens - mainstream party or minor irritant?"
Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, City of Sydney Historian from 1987 - 2010, will introduce the life and times of Juanita Nielsen.
Organised by NSW Senate Candidate and Greens MP Lee Rhiannon
RSVP 0468 540 203 or JNletcure@gmail.com 

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Willoughby Public Forum: A clean energy future
Tuesday 23 March, 6:30pm for 7pm
Willoughby Hotel, Penshurst St, Willoughby
A discussion with Greens NSW MP John Kaye
Contact Justin on 0439 205 835
Facebook event 

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Marrickville Peace Group - Public meeting on Terrorism
Thursday 25 March 2010, 7-9.30pm
Herb Greedy Hall, Marrickville
Speakers include Lee Rhiannon, Prof Jake Lynch from Sydney University's Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Director of the Terrorism and Law Project at the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law Nicola McGarrity and David Bernie.
For more information Nick Deane (m)  0420 526 929, www.d7design.com.au/~nowar/

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The New Nuclear Debate - Politics In the Pub
Friday 26th of March 2010, 6pm to 7.45pm
Gaelic Club, Level 1  64 Devonshire St., Surry Hills
Speakers:  Bob Howard, Dept. Govt.& Int. Relations, Sydney Uni.

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Greens National Conference Dinner
Saturday 27th March 6.30pm
Alexandria Hotel, Corner Henderson Rd & Garden Streets, Alexandria
easy walk from Redfern station
Proceeds will help fund Greens from less wealthy Asia Pacific countries to attend the Asia Pacific Greens Network Congress in late April in Taiwan. Find out more here http://vimeo.com/9147688
Speaker: Senator Sarah Hanson-Young
Music: Ecopella
Meet Greens from all over Australia
$5 or more donation, complimentary appetisers served
Drinks and meals at bar prices
Details: events@nsw.greens.org.au, 9519 0877

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Community Hearing into BHP Billiton's 30 year mine plan
7 pm, Sat. 27th March 
Picton Shire Hall, Menangle Rd, Picton
BHP Billitons's 30 year mine plan, the Bulli Seam Project, is now being assessed by the NSW government. It is centred on the Wollondilly/Macarthur region. Rivers SOS is sponsoring this community hearing to provide information on mine impacts. 
Speakers include: Greens NSW state Upper House candidate Jeremy Buckingham; David Hunt, engineer; Bernard Eddy, Australian Water Network; Caroline Graham;  Sharyn Culliss, National Parks Association; Graham Brown, former miner; Robin Craig, local resident.
Inquiries: Caroline Graham
Southern Coalfield Representative, Rivers SOS: Phone 46309421

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People's Blockade of the World's Biggest Coal Port 
Sunday 28 March, 10am onwards 
Horseshoe Beach, Newcastle 
Join hundreds of other people in a fun, peaceful, and effective action against Australia's single biggest contribution to climate change. Join in on the water or the shore. BYO vessel, or use one of ours. Or...make your own funky raft! 
Speakers include: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, 
Richard Denniss from The Australia Institute, and 
Tony Teersteeg from the Barrington Gloucester Stroud Preservation Alliance.
more info: www.risingtide.org.au 

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Our Land, Our Future: Melanesian Land Speaking Tour 15-29 March 2010
Monday 29 March 2010, 12:45pm - 2:15pm  
Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Join us to hear from two leading campaigners for land rights in Melanesia about the impacts of land reforms on Melanesian peoples, their cultures, economies and livelihoods.
Speakers:
Joel Simo, Land Desk, Vanuatu Cultural Centre
Steven Sukot, Campaigns Manager, Bismarck Ramu Group, PNG
Organised by AID/WATCH
Hosted by Lee Rhiannon, Greens MP

The tour 15-29 March will visit Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne. 
For tour dates  For more information contact Gary at AID/WATCH on 02 9557 8944; or email: gary@aidwatch.org.au 

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IQ2 Debate: The Senate is still unrepresentative swill
Tuesday 13 April, 6:30pm
City Recital Hall Angel Place, 2-12 Angel Place 

For: Annabel Crabb, Dr Peter Van Onselen, Susan Ryan 
Against: Senator Bob Brown, Fr Frank Brennan AO, Simon Sheik 

See the website

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4. WHAT'S ON

Fundraising Gig - Support Children in the West Bank - Palestine 
Saturday 28 March 2010 from 4pm 
Annandale Hotel
Tickets $30 at the door. Come along to hear some amazing music and support a great cause building a preschool for children in Jenindetails  

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Camp and Protest: Lake Cowal
Easter Weekend
Come and camp out at Lake Cowal this Easter weekend for music, action and learning, bring water, food, camping gear and some friends. Every year since 2001 people have gathered at Lake Cowal in opposition to the Barrick owned Lake Cowal gold mine. Lake Cowal is in the heart of NSW and is known as the heartland of the Wiradjuri Nation. 
To find out more see www.savelakecowal.com  or www.protestbarrick.net

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The Wilderness Society: Wild Endurance Event
Weekend 1/2 May
Blue Mountains

Get committed to being in great shape this year by registering a team in the WildEndurance 100km team challenge. Start training now, get together a team of 6 for the 50km Relay or a team of 4 for the 100km, you'll be raising funds for The Wilderness Society to protect our forests and fight climate change!  

Check out the You Tube clip for inspiration  and more info at  www.wildendurance.org.au

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5. HOT WEBSITE TIPS

1GOAL: EDUCATION FOR ALL
1GOAL is a campaign seizing the power of football to ensure that education for all is a lasting impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Raising our voices all over the world we believe that, together, we can make education a reality for the millions of boys and girls who remain out of school. see http://www.join1goal.org.au/

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6. CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

No New Coal Power Campaign

The Keneally government is moving forward with plans for two new coal-fired power stations in NSW. If built, these plants will increase NSW's greenhouse gas emissions by 15% and undermine the future for green energy jobs. New coal power will be an economic and environmental disaster for this state.
 
Send Premier Keneally a No New Coal Power message today. Click HERE

Download a No New Coal Power petition and get your friends to sign it. Click HERE

For more information about the No New Coal Power campaign, click HERE

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Make your voice heard on the nuclear waste dump - Senate Inquiry 
Submissions should be received by 15 March 2010. The reporting date is 30 April 2010. 
details:    http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/      and
http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/radioactivewaste/info.htm

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Danish Government should drop charges against climate justice campaigners

Contact the Danish Embassy in Canberra to demand that a charge of incitement against Australian climate justice campaigner Natasha Verco and charges against other peaceful protestors in Copenhagen be dropped.

The Danish government’s appallingly disproportionate reaction to  the protest at the climate summit included political policing to gaol some 1800 activists, use of tear gas, pepper spray, baton charges and mass preemptive arrests.

Organising and participating in a legitimate protest at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference is not a crime. Denmark's commitment to the democratic principles of freedom of association and freedom of expression are in question. To detain and prosecute people for exercising these rights is very unjust.  The right to protest is a fundamental human right. Call on the Danish Government to immediately drop the charges related to legitimate political activism.

Royal Danish Embassy
Ambassador: Her Excellency Mrs Susanne Wagner Hoffmann Shine
Address: 15 Hunter Street
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel : (02) 6270 5333
Fax : (02) 6270 5324
Email : cbramb@um.dk

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7. POSITIONS VACANT

Federal Election Campaign Manager - Tasmanian Greens
2010 Federal Election campaign based in Hobart.
Applications close Monday 15 March 2010.
Full-time position will commence on April 19 or soon thereafter and be for the duration of the Federal Election campaign.
A detailed Position Description is available on request. Please send your application and CV to election@tas.greens.org.au

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National Campaign Assistant - Australian Greens
The Australian Greens are seeking an experienced project manager to assist the coordination of campaign activities for the forthcoming federal election.

This position is full-time based in Canberra at an annual salary of $55,209 plus superannuation.
The full position description is available at www.greens.org.au/positions.
Applications should be emailed to nationalmanager@greens.org.au.
Enquiries to Brett Constable ph: 02 6140 3219  Applications close 5pm Monday 29 March, 2010

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Research Fellow (Kangaroo Wellbeing) - Kangaroo Think Tank 
Kangaroo Think Tank is a new initiative from the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney. The positon is part-time and on a fixed-term 12 month contract in the salary range $74,612 – $88,583 per annum pro rata and will have a strong research and policy focus 
Apply online by Tuesday, 16 March 2010  details

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Volunteers needed for National Council Meeting
The Australian Greens National Council will be held in Sydney on the 27th and 28th of March. Volunteers are needed to assist with such tasks as registration, kitchen duties and setting and packing up. 

If you are able to assist for some time during the weekend, could you please contact Irene Doutney at irenedoutney@yahoo.com.au or on 0416410374.

People who are able to offer billeting are also needed. If you can assist  in this area, please contact Will Paauwe atwillsyd@gmail.com  or on 0415870582.

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8. SUBMITTING ITEMS FOR E-BRIEF

We welcome your items for e-brief - please email john.kaye@parliament.nsw.gov.au with no more than 100 words in plain text about your event or campaign (please see existing items for format).

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9. CONTACT THE GREENS NSW

NSW Greens Website
office@nsw.greens.org.au

Ph  (02) 9519 0877
Fax (02) 9519 2177
PO Box 1220,  SYDNEY NSW 2001

If you do not wish to be on the Greens NSW Mailing List reply to office@nsw.greens.org.au with a request to be removed from the list.

 Authorised by James Diack, 19 Eve St Erskinville NSW, 2000