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.