Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday 4th March

Clean Up Australia Day is next Sunday. I'll be at the Warner's Bay Foreshore clean up site and I look forward to joining the many thousands of volunteers who will be doing their bit to clean up our communities and natural environments.

Clean Up Day is a wonderful initiativethat would be made a lot easier for those involved if we produced less waste on the other 364 days of the year.

A 10-cent deposit on drink bottles and cans would dramatically improve recycling rates in NSW and force industry to take more responsibility for the waste it creates.

Survey figures released today by Clean Up Australia show that 83% of people in NSW believe a ten cent deposit and refund scheme would encourage more people to recycle bottles and cans, and that 89% think drink manufacturers should be involved in setting up such a deposit and refund scheme.

A 10-cent deposit scheme would force industry to be more responsiblefor this waste and would also boost recycling rates enormously.

In South Australia, where they have a deposit scheme, the recycling rate is over 80 per cent.

Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) would work hand-in-hand withcouncil kerbside recycling to reduce waste going to landfill.

The current national agreement to reduce waste, the National Packaging Covenant, does not force the packaging industry and retailers to take on a fair share of the costs of recycling.

Taxpayers continue to foot the bill to prop up kerbside recycling while the companies that create the waste in the first place sidestepany responsibility for where the waste ends up.

A container deposit scheme would create a level playing field where consumers and producers shared responsibility for dealing with waste. Landfill space is fast running out and more effective ways of recycling are urgently needed.

It would also help make Clean Up Australia Day a cost effective exercise for those fantastic people that get involved in it.

Corporate Donations

At a Greens fundraiser on Saturday night each local candidate was asked to respond to a specific election issue.

My question was

"The Newcastle Greens don't accept any campaign donations from businesses or developers etc whereas both the other major parties do. How have you addressed this as an election issue and how important is it to you personally?"

My response - which has become a theme for my campaign - is as follows:

Corporate donations, and the real or perceived influence which accompany such donations, is one of the major issues I have been campaigning on in Charlestown. For me this issue fits into the broader election theme of integrity in government – something I am quite passionate about – and something that our current government demonstrates time and again is currently lacking in NSW.

Since 2003 property developers have donated over $7.7 million to the ALP and the coalition in NSW.

In the words of Terence Cole QC:
“People in business are not normally accustomed to making substantial donations to anyone unless they perceive there is some advantage in it”

The Rose Corp development at Catherine Hill Bay will more than likely go ahead with the approval of the planning minister, ignoring the protests of the local community, Wyong and Lake Macquarie councils - and a decision of the Land and Environment Court.

Many other developments have been or will be “called in” by the planning minister, giving the public more reason to question the state governments’ priorities – is it communities or developers that come first?

The Greens have the solution to this problem of percieved (or real) influence. In 2003 Lee Rhiannon introduced a private members bill to ban developer donations to political parties. The Labor, Liberal and National parties all voted against the Bill. The Greens do not accept donations from developers. In fact all donations over $200 are now continuously disclosed on our website.

Last week at a candidates forum in Dudley I took the opportunity to challenge my fellow candidates to adopt a similar policy of continuous disclosure - from now until the election. I don’t believe they took my challenge seriously. But this is a serious issue!

How can local communities feel that their interests come first when

Ø developers donate millions of dollars to the government, the opposition, and as I now know, at least one of the independent candidates
Ø secret clauses in public private partnerships put corporate profit ahead of the best interests of the community (cross city tunnel, Mater hospital)
Ø public assets are sold off and privatised (Dudley, Singleton)
Ø there is a revolving door between the corporate sector and senior politicans (Bob Carr and Macquarie Bank)

As the greens candidate for Charlestown I will continue to highlight the Greens commitment to integrity in government.

I am also working hard to increase our Green presence in parliament - giving us a loud, clear and ethical voice in state parliament – a voice that will not be compromised by the influence of developer donations

On the campaign trail..

I had a busy week last week with candidate's forums at Warner's Bay and Dudley. Thanks to the organisers of both, and to all who attended. It's great to hear the concerns people have regarding local issues and state policies in the lead up to the election.

Here is the edited text of the talk I presented at Dudley, which focused on the issues of Planning/Development and the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy:

I am standing as the Greens candidate for Charlestown because I have a vision of a more just, peaceful, sustainable and democratic future for our children and grandchildren.

In joining the Greens I made a decision to join the party that is here for the people!

I am completely committed to government which serves people, and during this campaign and as your elected representative I will be working hard to listen and respond to the issues of local communities and local people – giving us a loud, clear and ethical voice in state parliament.

In response to the issues you have raised :

Part 3A Planning Laws and Integrity in Government

The Part 3A amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act were opposed by community groups and local councils across the state. That opposition continued last Sunday with a rally in Hyde Park.

The Government continues to ignore all of the valid objections raised. We now have the situation where the “Lord Mayor of NSW”, Frank Sartor, can decide that any development is “state significant” and then approve it.

This is the type of ministerial intervention which has seen the Newcastle Harbour foreshore covered with some of the city’s biggest buildings while in places the roads have become narrow canyons.

The NSW Government has a credibility problem. The public will no longer accept that decisions made by the planning minister on sensitive developments are not influenced by donations in cash or in kind.

Since 2003 property developers have donated over $7.7 million to the ALP and the coalition in NSW.

In the words of Terence Cole QC:
“People in business are not normally accustomed to making substantial donations to anyone unless they perceive there is some advantage in it”

The Rose Corp development at Catherine Hill Bay will go ahead with the approval of the minister, ignoring the protests of Wyong and Lake Macquarie councils - and a decision of the Land and Environment Court. Given Rose Corp’s publicised donation of land for a National Park on the Wallarah peninsular, are we wrong to suspect this may have influenced the minister’s decision.

Many other developments have been or will be “called in” by the planning minister, giving the public more reason to question the state governments’ priorities – is it communities or developers that come first?

The Greens have the solution to this problem of percieved (or real) influence. In 2003 the Greens introduced a private members bill to ban developer donations to political parties. The Labor, Liberal and National parties all voted against the Bill. The Greens do not accept donations from developers. In fact all donations over $200 are continuously disclosed on our website.

And I would like to take this opportunity to challenge my fellow candidates to adopt a similar policy of continuous disclosure from now until the election.

How can local communities feel that their interests come first when
Ø developers donate millions of dollars to the government,
Ø secret clauses in public private partnerships put corporate profit ahead of the best interests of the community (cross city tunnel, Mater hospital)
Ø public assets are sold off and privatised (Dudley, Singleton)
Ø there is a revolving door between the corporate sector and senior politicians and bureaucrats (Bob Carr and Macquarie Bank)

The Greens will continue to campaign to

Ø Stop all corporate donations to big parties
Ø ban pollies and senior pub servants from taking appointments in the private sector for two years after they retire
Ø stop the dodgy PPP and privatisation
Ø have open and accountable government
Ø reform the development laws to put the community and the environment ahead of the developers

Ministerial power under part 3A is a threat to Dudley, as it is to any other place on the coast. The minister can make any decision he wants. He doesn’t have to justify it and there’s no appeal. Unless something changes, a lot of Dudley residents will get a good view of Charlestown – the Minister can set his own height limit just like he has for Newcastle Hospital.

Peter Debnam is parading in sheep’s clothing, speaking out against the development at East Darling Harbour, and attending the rally against the Part 3A planning laws on Sunday. Let us not forget that the Coalition supported these planning laws when they were introduced in 2005.

I believe that Charlestown will be better served after this election by a Member who belongs to the party that opposed the introduction of the Part 3A planning laws.


Lower Hunter Regional Strategy –Population Growth and Infrastructure

I’d like to begin by pointing out that the Greens, along with a large coalition of community groups, have called for the LHRS to be re-exhibited, as the final document varies so much from the draft which was put on public exhibition.

This is yet another example of community consultation being ignored in the planning process!

We are also wondering what happened to the infrastructure plan - which needs to exist alongside the lower hunter strategy.

In the brief appendix to the LHRS which deals with infrastructure, over the next 10 years there is one new school planned (and it has already opened). Many of the projects that are listed involve maintenance – not the provision of new infrastructure.

This is despite the strategy’s projected population increase of 160 000. As an interesting aside - this figure is higher than actual population growth estimates of 100 000 over the next 25 years – we suspect this is to allow more development than is really necessary.

Greens are also concerned that the areas identified for new residential development are not near existing transport infrastructure. We are creating more car dependant subdivision in locations that suit developers rather than in locations which would enhance the quality of life for residents.

Sadly, The Greens are unlikely to be in a position to form government after this election, but you can rest assured elected Greens will work tirelessly to ensure our region receives the infrastructure necessary to support this increase in population.

We have the expertise and the long term commitment to work on providing essential infrastructure to growing communities in a just and sustainable way.

We will not allow Newcastle and the Hunter to become and outer suburb of Sydney.

Over the past 4 years the three Greens in NSW parliament have worked hard to promote social and economic justice, environmental protection and democratic values. I have a summary of their achievements – which are too numerous to list individually but which include playing key roles in

Ø Stopping the Snowy Hydro sell-off
Ø Exposing the dodgy cross-city tunnel deal
Ø Saving the Newcastle rail line

On March 24 we have the opportunity to strengthen the Greens voice in the NSW parliament.

Jane Smith, and The Greens, are offering the people of Charlestown

- Jobs-rich, clean energy solutions to global warming
- A healthy and thriving natural environment
- Quality public services and infrastructure
-A vibrant and ethical democracy.

If, like me, you have a vision of a just, peaceful, sustainable and democratic future, the choice on March 24th should be obvious.

Libraries Starved of Government Funding

Libraries in the Hunter Region are struggling to make ends meet. The Greens are calling for a desperately needed substantial injection of State funding to enable libraries to keep pace with the growing needs of their local communities and ageing populations.

The NSW State Government has budgeted to give less to libraries than any other state in Australia in this year. The State Government will provide only 10% of the cost to run local government libraries in NSW, compared with Northern Territory 69%, South Australia 29%, Victoria 20% and Western Australia 19%.

The State Government actually reduced library expenditure this year by $248,000. The rest of the bill for libraries is footed by Local Government at a percentage that has been increasing year after year. From having to provide 76.4% of the funds in 1980, to now local government paying 92.2% in 2007. (2007 State Election Public Library Policy Platform by the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW)

In a recent report the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW has warned that many councils will be forced to close branches or reduce operating hours unless there is a major increase in State government funding. Councils may even be forced to charge for library services in the future.

Greens candidate for Newcastle, Michael Osborne, said, “Newcastle Council has struggled to build one new library in the past 35 years. Most libraries are housed in old inappropriate premises not designed to meet the changing needs of users."

“Most libraries in Newcastle operate on reduced hours, remaining shut for several days a week and increasingly having to employ cheaper less skilled staff. There are declining funds for books and the huge range of equipment modern libraries now need.”

Greens candidate for Charlestown, Jane Smith, said, “Libraries are under great pressure from an ageing population, with increasing demands for home library services to individuals and in nursing homes. Changing trends in education have also led to new demands and community expectations, including Internet access.”

“Recent studies have shown the Hunter has a higher level of need than anywhere in Australia, with fewer going on to tertiary education and therefore with lower employment prospects .A well funded public library service is all the more essential.”

The Greens will continue to push the State Government to shoulder its responsibilities and properly finance one of the community’s most important educational tools – its public libraries.

People's Occupation of the World's Biggest Coal Port

It was great to join with hundreds of concerned people from throughout the Hunter and beyond in this peaceful event on Saturday.


Greens candidates Lee Rhiannon (Upper House), Micheal Osborne (Newcastle) and Jan Davies (Maitland) join the flotilla on Newcastle Harbour on Saturday.

Greens Welcome Coal Debate

The Greens welcome the debate on the future of coal in the lead up to the state election and call on Premier Iemma and Opposition Leader Debnam to participate.

Planning for an orderly phase out of coal mining and coal fired power stations will boost total employment and create a boyant economy based on the development of a renewable energy industry, according to Greens NSW Upper House candidate John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "Despite the unhelpful misrepresentation of Senator Bob Brown comments in today's Telegraph, The Greens position is to stop new coal projects and to start planning now for a post-coal future. This is not a phase out in three year as alleged in the Telegraph but a three year deadline to have a plan in place for a phase out."

"We have always argued that a key component of that plan must be to create high levels of new employment in communities that are currently affected by coal mining."

"This is not hard to achieve if the phase out of coal mining and export is accompanied by the development of a renewable energy industry."

"Approximately 40% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions come directly from the combustion of coal and from methane that escapes during coal mining."

"Australia's coal exports result in more global warming than all in-country emissions."

"Any plan to address greenhouse gas emissions in Australia is meaningless unless it looks beyond the coal industry and focuses on developing an economy based on manufacturing and exporting renewable energy."

"Clean coal is a convenient untruth. Even by the most optimistic forecasts it will take at least ten years for carbon capture and storage technology to be available for wide spread implementation. The IPCC and the Stern report both made it clear that emissions must be reduced now, not in ten years, if the world is to avoid a very high price."

"The renewable energy industry offers a larger and more resilient source of jobs. Each unit of energy generated by wind creates four times more jobs than coal."

"A planned transition to renewable energy would swamp the number of jobs lost in a phase out of the coal industry and would address high levels of youth unemployment in many parts of NSW."

"Strong government policy is required as markets alone will not deliver these outcomes," Dr Kaye said

Tim Flannery is Right on Coal

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Premier Morris Iemma to meet with Professor Tim Flannery to discuss the future of the coal industry.

“Mr Flannery’s clear warning on the dangers of the coal industry should kick-start the NSW government into planning for a post coal economy,” said Ms Rhiannon.

“The best thing Mr Iemma could do for NSW, the planet and his own electoral chances is to announce an end to coal exports and no new coal projects."

“Voters are looking for leadership and real solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Premier needs to realise that many people understand that phasing out the coal industry is the key to dealing with climate change."

"Premier Morris Iemma has named this the climate change election, but he has admitted that he is not willing to put limits on the coal industry."

“Now is the time for Mr Iemma to move past the coal age. A good place to start would be to talk with Professor Flannery."

“The links between the expansion of the coal industry and global warming are beginning to resonate with the electorate."

“We can have a win for the environment and for jobs by phasing out coal. Generating a unit of energy from wind power creates about four times the number of jobs as coal."

“The Greens are working with a range of community groups to plan for a just transition from the era of coal to a renewable and energy efficient future,” Ms Rhiannon said.

GREENS BELIEVE SAFETY LIES IN PROGRESSIVE POLICIES – NOT SIMPLY MORE POLICE

The Newcastle Greens
Media Release
5 February 2007

The Greens condemn the law and order bidding war being waged between the two major parties in the lead up to the state election in March and call for all parties to adopt Greens policies aimed at solving the social causes of crime.

The law and order bidding war has more to do with whipping up anxiety in the electorate about crime than working out ways to solve the causes of crime in the community.

“Providing adequate numbers of police to serve areas where populations are increasing is the role of government. The community should not have to wait for an election to receive resources necessary for the provision of basic services,” said Jane Smith, Greens candidate for Charlestown.

While the scattered geography of the Lake Macquarie Command must be taken into account when resources are allocated, the long term solutions to crime do not lie in simply boosting the numbers of police and increasing their powers.

Both leaders of the major parties are promising more police and police stations. Neither is addressing the underlying causes of crime or the solutions to it.

“There is no justice in locking people up without providing genuine preventative measures to tackle family stress, economic disadvantage, mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse” said Ms Smith.

It costs as much to hold a person in prison as it does to employ a teacher. The Greens support early intervention measures such as smaller classes and better educational opportunities, which reduce crime rates and can be funded by spending less money on gaols.

The Greens are committed to well-resourced rehabilitation programs and social support services as the way to cut re-offending rates and make our communities safer.