Many residents have contacted me understandably upset about the unnecessary destruction of the giant fig trees on ANZAC Parade.  I am very concerned about the loss of these wonderful trees, and know that many constituents in the electorate feel the same. Your emails and phone calls prompted me to make a speech raising these issues in parliament last week.

Congratulations to the Newtown High School students who have lobbied successfully for an updated policy that removes reference to gender and allows students to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in.

The Greens are opposed to any forced amalgamations. We support strong, local representation and, unlike this Government, we are supporters of democracy. Read our support for the petition against the forced amalgamation of Woollahra council. 

Read in Parliament on 9 March 2016:

"I draw to the attention of the House the fabulous 2016 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival, which culminated in the parade held on Saturday night. I congratulate the Mardi Gras staff, board, members and volunteers, and each of the 170 floats and 12,500 participants who danced their way up Oxford Street at the weekend, filling the streets with acceptance, inclusion, love, dancing, rainbows and glitter. I was privileged to be part of the parade, marching alongside many fantastic floats. I give a special shout out to the 78ers who participated, in the wake of the recent and long overdue parliamentary apology.

I also give a special shout out to the No Pride in Detention float that highlighted the terrible circumstances faced by refugees in Australian detention, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning refugees fleeing persecution. I also recognise the many outstanding community and organisation floats—including the ACON Aboriginal Project, Rainbow Families, Gayby Baby, Wear it Purple, Twenty10, various queer student networks, Rainbow Babies and Kids, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the Uniting Network, Australian Olympians and Paralympians, and Dykes on Bikes."

Links:

• ACON Aboriginal Project
• Rainbow Families
• Gayby Baby
• Weat it Purple
• Twenty10
• Rainbow Babies
• Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
• the Uniting Network
• Dykes on Bikes

Today the NSW Liberal Government granted the Transport Minister unchecked powers to close down public transport. The Greens will always stand up for effective and accessible public transport. 

Congratulations to the Mardi Gras staff, board, members and volunteers, and each of the 170 floats and 12,500 participants who danced their way up Oxford Street at the weekend.

NSW Greens spokesperson for Sexuality and Gender Identity and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong has welcomed the apology from Superintendent Tony Crandell, on behalf of the NSW Police, for the actions of police at Sydney’s first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978.

Ms Leong says “We’re pleased to see that the NSW Police have responded to the Greens call for a long-overdue apology, that amplified the community’s long-standing request for recognition of the police actions that have caused real hurt and harm.

Congratulations to the Australia Day Award recipients from the Newtown electorate. 

The NSW Parliament has finally offered a formal and long-overdue apology to the 78ers, the participants of the first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney on June 24, 1978.

NSW Greens spokesperson for Sexuality and Gender Identity and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong made a speech that called on the NSW Police to join the Parliament and apologise for the violence and intimidation perpetrated by NSW police on that night.

Today the Greens supported legislation to remove the statute of limitations for civil claims for the victims of child sexual abuse.