Greens Call for Full Transparency in Response to Latest WestConnex Approval
In response to the latest shameful rubber stamping approval of the next stage of WestConnex the Greens are urging the NSW Upper House to support the call for all papers relating to the sale of WestConnex.
Jenny Leong MP Member for Newtown and NSW Greens spokesperson on WestConnex:
“We know NSW Labor and the cross benchers are concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability of the Liberal/National Coalition when it comes to state infrastructure and their privatisation agenda which is why we are urging them to support the Greens Call for Papers to release all documents related to the tender and sale of the Sydney Motorway Corporation.
Read moreRMS releases flimsy response to WestConnex Stage 3 submissions
NSW Roads and Maritime (RMS) has released a huge but vacuous document responding to the 13,000 submissions about Stage 3 of WestConnex, including from other Government departments and local councils.
“It is extremely alarming that so many serious concerns about this project have been not been responded to in an adequate manner, said Jenny Leong MP, Greens Member for Newtown.
“There were 13,000 community submissions against this plan including detailed objections from the EPA, NSW Health, the City of Sydney and the Inner West Council – reading through the hundreds of objections and the flimsy responses is shocking.
NSW Government Peak Environment Agency Rejects Latest WestConnex EIS
NSW Greens WestConnex spokesperson and Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP has joined with NSW Greens Environment and Transport spokesperson, Mehreen Faruqi to call on the Premier for an immediate halt to the WestConnex tollroad after the NSW Government’s own independent peak environmental agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a submission rejecting the Environmental Impact Statement for the final stage of the project as it does not have adequate information to enable an assessment.
Read moreGreens: Compensation and Certainty Needed for Latest WestConnex Bungle
Greens WestConnex spokesperson and Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, today called on the Premier in question time to intervene to provide just compensation the property owners who received incorrect information from the Central Register of Restrictions as a result of WestConnex.
Read moreNew WestConnex investigation increases pressure on govt
Yesterday’s announcement that the NSW Auditor General will undertake a second investigation into WestConnex puts the Berejiklian government under increasing pressure as the project again is scrutinized because of its huge costs, risks and the ongoing public interest in this project.
“The investigation comes on top of this week’s Citigroup report showing that the Business Case predictions are out by 10% as well as news of the ICAC referral of the Darley Road dive site acquisition process by my colleague Jamie Parker,” Jenny Leong MP, NSW Greens spokesperson on WestConnex said today.
Read moreAustralianSuper: #DontSuperFundWestConnex
We want our superannuation funds to support healthy and secure lives in our retirement. But, what if the money in our super funds was contributing to the exact opposite?
What if our super funds were considering investing our money in polluting and unsustainable projects like WestConnex? What if our retirement money was helping fund the very things we're trying to stop from destroying our neighbourhoods?
Large multinational companies like Transurban are lining up to bid for the chance to own a controlling stake in WestConnex and more dirty tollroads throughout Sydney. But, they will only be able to do this if our superannuation funds provide them with the financial backing using OUR money!
We have the chance to disrupt the financing of WestConnex—and stop the construction on the 8-lane tunnel before it even begins—by urging our super funds withdraw financial support for WestConnex.
Let’s make everyone’s future greener and cleaner by not allowing our retirement money to fund dirty tollroads.
Contact your super fund and tell them #DontSuperFundWestConnex
ATTN: Mr. Ian Silk, CEO and Trustee Board members: Heather Ridout, Dave Oliver, Paul Bastian, Jim Craig, Brian Daley, Lucio Di Bartolomeo, Daniel Walton, Grahame Willis, Innes Willox, Nixon Apple, Peter Burn, Brad Crofts, Anne Flanagan, Warren Kensett-Smith, Robert Lewtas, Russell Maddox, Michele O’Neil, George Stamas, Mike Nicolaides, Stephanie Weston.
I the undersigned member of AustralianSuper, support AustralianSuper’s adherence to strong environment, social and governance (ESG) principles.
I understand that AustralianSuper ensures ESG opportunities and risks are fully considered and regularly reviewed, so I ask that you urgently consider my opposition to AustralianSuper funding any forthcoming bids for WestConnex and the Sydney Motorway Corporation.
I want my superannuation funds to support clean and sustainable infrastructure, not projects like WestConnex which will pollute the environment, disrupt communities and put my health and children at risk.
WestConnex is a multibillion dollar project that has significant identified risks in relation to the business case benefit cost analysis, the public’s opposition to tolls, the demand for public transport, and construction and operational risks due to technical difficulties, climate change and health and safety.
I note that as trustees, you have a statutory requirement to act in the best interest of the members of the fund and I will consider lodging a formal complaint if you take actions that contravene these interests.
If AustralianSuper provides funds to support the purchase of WestConnex and the Sydney Motorway Corporation, I will consider transferring my contributions and will encourage my family and colleagues to do the same.
UniSuper: #DontSuperFundWestConnex
We want our superannuation funds to support healthy and secure lives in our retirement. But, what if the money in our super funds was contributing to the exact opposite?
What if our super funds were considering investing our money in polluting and unsustainable projects like WestConnex? What if our retirement money was helping fund the very things we're trying to stop from destroying our neighbourhoods?
Large multinational companies like Transurban are lining up to bid for the chance to own a controlling stake in WestConnex and more dirty tollroads throughout Sydney. But, they will only be able to do this if our superannuation funds provide them with the financial backing using OUR money!
We have the chance to disrupt the financing of WestConnex—and stop the construction on the 8-lane tunnel before it even begins—by urging our super funds withdraw financial support for WestConnex.
Let’s make everyone’s future greener and cleaner by not allowing our retirement money to fund dirty tollroads.
Contact your super fund and tell them #DontSuperFundWestConnex
ATTN: Kevin O’Sullivan CEO, Ian Martin AM (Chairman), Nicolette Rubinsztein, Mark Armour, Professor Lelia Green, Keith Tull, Grahame McCulloch, Neville Kitchin, Professor Peter Dawkins AO, Professor Jane den Hollander AO, Dr Susan Gould, Stephen Somogyi
I, the undersigned member of UniSuper, appreciate that UniSuper seeks to be a responsible investor and to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks as part of your investment approach.
I want my superannuation funds to support clean and sustainable infrastructure, not projects like WestConnex which will pollute the environment, disrupt our communities and put my health and that of children at risk.
WestConnex is a multi-billion dollar project which has significant identified risks in relation to the business case benefit cost analysis, the public’s opposition to tolls, the demand for public transport, and construction and operational risks due to technical difficulties, climate change and health and safety.
I note that UniSuper has its largest holding of Australian shares in Transurban which is lining up to purchase over 51% of WestConnex and the Sydney Motorway Corporation.
I note that as trustees, you have a statutory requirement to act in the best interest of the members of the fund and I will consider lodging a formal complaint if you take actions that contravene these interests.
If UniSuper provides funds to support the purchase of WestConnex and the Sydney Motorway Corporation, I will consider transferring my contributions and will encourage my family and colleagues to do the same.
Don't SuperFund WestConnex
We want our super funds to support healthy and secure lives in our retirement. But, what if the money in our super funds was contributing to the exact opposite?
What if our super funds were considering investing our money in polluting and unsustainable projects like WestConnex? What if our retirement money was helping fund the very things we're trying to stop from destroying our neighbourhoods?
Large multinational companies like Transurban are lining up to bid for the chance to own a controlling stake in WestConnex and more dirty tollroads throughout Sydney. But, they will only be able to do this if our super funds provide them with the financial backing using OUR money!
We're targeting these funds because reports have referred to the involvement of these funds, or investment bodies (IFM) connected to these funds, in the forthcoming purchase of WestConnex and the Sydney Motorway Corporation.
We have the chance to disrupt the financing of WestConnex and stop construction on this eight-lane tunnel before it even begins by urging our super funds to withdraw financial support for WestConnex. Let’s make everyone’s future greener and cleaner by not allowing our retirement money to fund dirty tollroads.
See the letters we've written to the CEOs and Boards of some key Australian superannuation funds asking them not to fund WestConnex
Australian Super
UniSuper
Host Plus
HESTA
Media Super
You can contact your super fund here or write directly to your fund and tell them: #DontSuperFundWestConnex.
Approval for "Indicative" Stage 3 Westconnex EIS: Question to the Premier
Our question to the Premier asking how approval can be granted to Stage 3 of Westconnex based only upon an "indicative" Environmental Impact Statement.
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