Greens Oppose Closure of Newcastle Rail Line
The Greens are disturbed by the fact that while cities around the world appear to be closing motorways and investing in public transport, the New South Wales Government appears to be doing the exact opposite. The Greens will always support investment in public transport.
Community Recognition: Humans of Newtown Book Launch
Celebrating the Humans of Newtown book launch.
Greens in Parliament: Acknowledging the Contribution of Asylum Seekers
Today we supported a motion in Parliament acknowledging the contribution made to New South Wales by those who have sought asylum, refugees, and other immigrants.
Official figures show Westconnex is a huge waste
Media Release – 10 September 2015 Greens WestConnex spokesperson and MP for Newtown Jenny Leong said today that the government’s own figures prove that the $15.4 billion WestConnex motorway project allegedly being built to ease traffic congestion for western Sydney will be a complete waste of taxpayer money. Ms Leong was commenting after an initial review of the Environmental Impact Statement for the M4 East tunnel section of Westconnex, which went on display yesterday.
Funding for LGBTIQ Domestic Violence Research and Education Welcomed
Media Release – 10 September 2015 Yesterday the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, Pru Goward, announced that ACON will receive funding for research and education into domestic and family violence in the LGBTIQ community.
Breaking WestConnex News - M4 East WestConnex EIS
Dear friends, After months – or is it years?! – of calling for the NSW Government to release the WestConnex Environmental Impact statement, we finally have some movement. Today in parliament, the Minister for Planning announced that the environmental impact statement for the M4 East section of this polluting tollway will be on public display from tomorrow - September 9. Will you pledge now to make a submission – and make your objection to this environmental and community destruction heard? You will be able to view the EIS online (only active from tomorrow) and at 14 council and State Government offices from Strathfield to the city*. This multi-billion road is an environmentally catastrophic project that will carve two 5.5 kilometre long tunnels under our communities, result in polluting stacks being put near our schools and green spaces, and in the long term do nothing to solve Sydney’s congestion crisis. We’ve got 45 days to make our voice heard – pledge to make a submission now Let’s stop this madness! Cheers, Jenny PS - Are you on Facebook? Take a minute to ‘like’ and share our post to spread the word. *The EIS will be on display from September 9 at www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au and at the following offices: Department of Planning and Environment, 23-33 Bridge Street, Sydney Roads and Maritime Services (Head Office), Level 9, 101 Miller Street, North Sydney Ashfield Council, Customer Service Centre, 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield Auburn City Council, Civic Precinct Centre, 1 Susan Street, Auburn Burwood Council, Suite 1, Level 2, 1-17 Elsie Street, Burwood City of Canada Bay Council, Civic Centre, 1A Marlborough Street, Drummoyne Strathfield Council, Customer Service Centre, 65 Homebush Road, Strathfield Ashfield Library, Level 3, 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield Auburn City Library, Civic Place, 1 Susan Street, Auburn Burwood Library, 2 Conder Street, Burwood Concord Library, 60 Flavelle Street, Concord Five Dock Library, Level 1, 4-12 Garfield Street, Five Dock Strathfield Main Library, 65-67 Rochester Street, Homebush, Nature Conservation Council, Level 2, 5 Wilson Street, Newtown.
Road Minister’s WestConnex arrogance hits new heights
Media Release – 2 September 2015 Roads Minister Duncan Gay today announced further details for Stage 2 of the WestConnex Project, despite revealing this week that the business case is still under review. The project remains without planning approval and an environmental impact statement. His arrogance also appears to be getting out of hand.
Petition: Protecting the Ballina Koala Colony
The Greens today supported the petition to protect the koala population in the Blackwall Range area.
5 million reasons to be proud as community campaign ensures Aboriginal Housing at the Block
The Greens NSW welcome today’s announcement of $5 million in commonwealth funding to ensure Aboriginal housing at the Block in Redfern’s iconic Aboriginal heart. The funding has come after a 15 month community occupation of The Block by the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy (RATE) lead by the indefatigable Wiradjuri Elder, Jenny Munro and in the shadow of court proceedings to evict RATE from the Block.
Community Recognition: Same Sex Families
Recognising the invaluable contribution that the organisers and participants of Wear it Purple Day, the Safe Schools Coalition and the makers of the Gayby Baby documentary.
Greens slam Piccoli’s ‘Gayby Baby’ ban
Media Release: 26 August 2015: Greens slam Piccoli’s ‘Gayby Baby’ ban The Greens NSW response to sensationalised coverage in the Daily Telegraph regarding the documentary ‘Gayby Baby’, and NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli’s kneejerk reaction. Greens NSW spokesperson on Sexuality and Gender Identity, Member for Newtown Jenny Leong said: "Gayby Baby is an important and wonderful film telling the stories of a number of families in NSW from the children’s perspective.
Give Parents Choice on Ethics Classes
Today we called on the Liberal Government to stop pushing religious education onto our kids and to make parents aware of all alternative options available, including ethics classes.
Terra Nullius lives on as the Supreme Court finds against Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Media release24 August 2015 Local Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, and Greens NSW spokesperson for Aboriginal Justice, David Shoebridge, are calling on all levels of government to step up and ensure Aboriginal housing is funded on The Block. This follows the decision of the NSW Supreme Court which ruled against the Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy, finding the Embassy was “trespassing” on Aboriginal land at The Block. Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for Aboriginal Justice David Shoebridge said: “Jenny Munro, a proud Aboriginal Waradjuri elder and the Tent Embassy have been engaging in good faith negotiations with the Federal Minister and the Aboriginal Housing Corporation (AHC), and believed they had reached a final agreement last week on Aboriginal housing in The Block. “Ms Munro made it clear to the Court that she does not accept that the Aboriginal people ever ceded sovereignty of this land to the English crown. In response the Court held: The Defendant’s aboriginality, and her contention that the Aboriginal people have never ceded sovereignty to the English Crown does not help her. “The fact that the law can so readily dismiss our first people’s prior occupation and custodianship of this land is proof positive of a fundamental flaw in our legal system. “When it comes to symbolic Aboriginal land like The Block, Aboriginality and more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal custody and possession, should never be dismissed so lightly by our Courts. “This is far from the end of the struggle for Aboriginal housing on The Block, which is supported by a cross section of the Redfern community,” Mr Shoebridge said. Greens MP for Newtown Jenny Leong said: “This community – and the significance of maintaining Aboriginal housing and community on Gadigal country in Redfern is too important to be ignored.” “Our neighbourhood is awash with plans to develop and invest in infrastructure projects – with billions for Urban Growth’s development of the Central to Eveleigh site and constant construction by the University of Sydney. And yet there is no money for Aboriginal housing. “Successive governments have been a part of creating this mess – it’s time for them to step up and help resolve it. “While it may seem that there is currently an unresolvable conflict – in reality all parties agree that we need to see the funding secured to build Aboriginal housing,” Ms Leong said. Background The Redfern Aboriginal Tent Embassy were established on ‘The Block’ on National Sorry Day last year, May 26, after the Aboriginal Housing Company put forward a planning proposal for a $70 million commercial development on the site. The Block in Redfern was one of the first parts of urban Australia to be formally returned to Aboriginal people.
Community Recognition: One Sydney Fundraising Event
Today we acknowledged the amazing collaborative efforts of The Equal Project, Create or Die art gallery in Marrickville, and Art Party for their work in organising the One Sydney event, which was held last weekend in support of the Asylum Seekers Centre.
Government Blocks Transparency on WestConnex
Today the NSW Legislative Assembly debated a motion to stop all activity on the WestConnex project until the Business Case and the Environmental Impact Statements are released. The Government blocked this attempt to introduce some transparency into the project. “Today the Baird Government refused to act in the interest of good governance or financial accountability. This Government is going to great lengths to stop any public scrutiny on this $15.4 billion dollar project,” said the Greens MP for Newtown and Spokesperson on WestConnex. Thirty community activists attended the debate and demonstrated the community opposition to the WestConnex project. Community Activists join Jenny Leong and Jamie Parker outside Parliament House
