Recognising Sustainability Projects in Newtown
Jenny Leong MP recognised recent sustainability initiatives in the Newtown electorate; The Newtown Neighbourhood Centre who partnered with the Sydney Sustainability Centre for the Newtown Festival and the work by Young Henry's brewery to have a positive carbon footprint.
Extinction Rebellion Silent Vigil
Extinction Rebellion Sydney has been hosting a silent vigil outside the gates of the NSW Parliament every morning this week and Jenny Long MP spoke to them, and also drew attention to them in Parliament.
NSW Greens Climate Protection Bill to Quit Coal
Jenny Leong MP, Greens Member for Newtown today gave notice of a Private Member’s Bill in the NSW Legislative Assembly to take the action needed to protect our climate and put our community's needs first. The Bill will immediately prohibit the approval or expansion of new thermal coal mines in NSW and prohibit thermal coal mining in NSW by 2030, making it an offence under the Mining Act after this date. The Bill also provides just transition provisions to protect workers employed in thermal coal related industries. Greens Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP said: “We have known for decades that burning coal is the single biggest contributor to climate change. We must and we will phase out coal mining. The scientific community knows it, the emergency responders know it, the Greens know it and our community - from student strikers to regional Mayors are calling for political leadership to make it happen. “We abhor the NSW government’s coal addiction - there are currently 14 new and expanding coal mine projects which if approved, could produce more coal and greenhouse pollution than Adani’s controversial Carmichael coal mine in Central Queensland. “This Bill provides a pathway for the exit from coal to happen, while providing a just transition for the workers currently employed in those mines, so that no one is left without a livelihood. “We have no doubt that NSW has to quit its addiction to coal, that the old parties need to break their toxic relationships with the big polluters and that coal mining will one day be prohibited in our state. Greens MP and Mining spokesperson Abigail Boyd said: “We are a state reeling from the impacts of climate change – we have felt it, breathed it in, and grieved for it this summer. The fossil fuel industry has lost all social licence to destroy our lives, property and environment in the name of profit. “It’s time to stop letting the fossil fuel industry push NSW around. It’s not actually hard – our Bill sets out exactly what needs to happen to phase out coal and move to renewables, without leaving workers behind. “The science is clear that the only way to prevent catastrophic climate change is to stop extracting fossil fuels, and to instead divert the resources currently propping up the fossil fuel industry towards the renewable energy transition. “Coal has had its day. It’s time for the old parties to support real action on climate change and support our Bill to end thermal coal mining in NSW.”
Keep the laws that assess climate impacts of coal
At a time of unprecedented drought and fire events throughout New South Wales, when our farmers, scientists and firies are calling for urgent action on climate change, the NSW Liberal National government is trying to introduce legislation to water down the environmental requirements for approving new coal and gas mines. Burning coal is the biggest contributor to human-made climate change. It makes fires, heatwaves and drought worse. But the Minerals Council wants to weaken laws that require the climate change impacts of new coal and gas mines in NSW to be assessed as part of the planning approval process. Coal mined here in NSW has led to around 500 million tonnes of carbon emissions - greater than total emissions from the UK or France. Sign this petition to keep our environmental laws strong to stop our coal making global climate change worse. Weakening the laws that require the full climate change impacts to be considered in the assessment of new coal mines is a dangerous backward step that will make climate change worse. If NSW is genuine about its own goal of net zero emissions by 2050, this legislation should be abandoned. Help us protect the laws that protect our environment.
Jenny Leong MP Asks the Minister About Safety Audits for Public Housing
Jenny Leong MP, Greens Member for Newtown has asked the Minister for Families and Communities to reassure residents of public housing in Redfern that their safety is assured following a recent fire.
Congratulating Dr Sophie Calabretto
Jenny Leong MP congratulated Redfern resident, Dr Sophie Calabretto who was a finalist for the 2019 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science.
Community Recognition for the One Voice Choir Redfern
Jenny Leong MP has recognised the diverse and inspiring One Voice Redfern Choir which is made up of over 40 members from Redfern, Waterloo and surrounds.
Community Recognition for The Social Outfit
Jenny Leong MP asked the Parliament to recognise the amazing work, and incredible achievements of The Social Outfit, and pay particular tribute to former CEO Jackie Ruddock whose hard work and dedication to ethical fashion has had such a positive impact on our local community.
Jenny Leong MP on the Dissolution of RMS
Jenny Leong MP, Greens Member for Newtown has praised the dissolution of the RMS, which will see it's responsibilities handed over to Transport for NSW.
1 year anniversary of the Surry Hills Community Connect
Jenny Leong MP recognised the 1 year anniversary of the Surry Hills Community Connect in Northcott Public Housing estate and congratulated all those involved in the success of the Community Connect.
Jenny Leong MP on The Project
Jenny stepped out of the chamber on Thursday night to update The Project on the bill to decriminalise abortion.
Jenny Leong MP on Wage Theft
Jenny Leong MP, Greens Member for Newtown calls out the prevalence of wage theft in the hospitality industry and calls for stronger protections for workers.
Greens to Co-Sponsor NSW Abortion Law Reform Bill
The NSW Greens are 100% pro-choice and pleased to be joining with pro-choice MPs from across the political spectrum to co-sponsor the Reproductive Health Care Reform Bill 2019. Jenny Leong MP, Greens spokesperson for Women’s Rights, and Abigail Boyd, Greens Women’s Equity and Economic Justice spokesperson will be named on the Bill as co-sponsors along with 13 other NSW Members of Parliament.
Greens Welcome Latest Move to Reform Abortion Laws
MEDIA RELEASE: Greens Welcome Latest Move to Reform Abortion Laws Jenny Leong MP, the NSW Greens spokesperson for Women’s Rights, along with Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, have welcomed the latest move to decriminalise abortion in NSW and congratulated the NSW Pro-Choice Alliance and those who have been pushing for this much-needed reform. "It's past time for women to have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. It's time for abortion law reform," Ms Leong said. "I look forward to working collaboratively with pro-choice members of the NSW Parliament to finally achieve the change we all want, and our community needs. “The Greens offer our heart-felt thanks and congratulations to the NSW Pro-Choice Alliance and feminist women’s organisations and activists who have played a leading role in getting us to where we are today. “If we succeed in getting this change through the NSW Parliament, it will be the culmination of a campaign that our mothers, indeed our grandmothers, feminists and pro-choice activists have been fighting for over generations,” Ms Leong said. Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Senator for NSW said: “It's been almost three years since I introduced the first bill to decriminalise abortion, putting the issue onto the political agenda. I'm so proud of the Greens role in catalysing debate on reproductive rights. “Abortion law reform is something that the community overwhelmingly wants. It's time to bring NSW out of the dark ages. “Decriminalisation of abortion is the beginning not the end. We need sustained effort to increase access and reduce costs, especially for rural and regional women,” she concluded.
Our Bodies, Our Voices, Our Choices
Last weekend I was part of a pro-choice panel with some pretty inspiring and amazing people, hosted by South Australian Greens MP Tammy Franks at the Australian Greens National Conference in Adelaide. Daile Kelleher from Children by Choice and Greens Senator Larissa Waters spoke about how the campaign and legislation for the decrimalisation of abortion in Queensland was finally achieved in late 2018. You can read a great summary of the reform here.
