The Greens NSW

Greens MP Cate Faehrmann says Miranda Devine’s attack on the Proud Schools program which is helping end homophobia in our schools is a hark back to 60s era prejudice and discrimination. Ms Faehrmann is calling on the Education Minister to stand strong in the face of fear mongering from an extreme minority.

“Ms Devine is completely out of touch with mainstream Australia on this one. We’ve got multi-partisan support for this critical education program. I call on the Education Minister to stand strong in the face of fear mongering from an extreme minority,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“The rest of us have moved on from the days when people thought being gay was somehow abnormal. It’s 60s era thinking and Ms Devine should catch up.

“Unfortunately homophobia in schools is still a big issue, with homophobic abuse and bullying causing significant distress and harm to young people. That’s why programs like Proud Schools exist in the first place – to make sure young people understand that same-sex attraction is perfectly normal.

“With two thirds of same-sex attracted young people experiencing abuse and around 80% of that happening in schools it would be extremely dangerous for programs like Proud Schools not to be expanded and encouraged.

By Ann Hardy, National Trust of Australia

Over the past few decades the implementation of heritage legislation has become ‘rubbery’ and the robust operation of the Heritage Act 1977 has declined with the role falling by the wayside for Governments during the 1990s and 2000s. This dismantling of heritage legislation coupled with real threats to heritage has led to the resurgence of conservation groups and many grassroots organisations in NSW are now active defenders of cultural heritage in NSW.

Greens preselect Dr Mehreen Faruqi for Heffron by-election

This Monday the NSW Greens will confirm Dr Mehreen Faruqi as their candidate for the by-election in Heffron.  Mehreen was preselected unopposed by local members in a grass roots ballot.

Mehreen, a civil and environmental engineer and sustainability academic, ran against Kristina Kenneally in the 2011 state election where she gained 19% of the vote. She lives with her family in Alexandria in the heart of the electorate.