State Media Releases

Greens Set to Double Their Upper House Representation

SA - Sun, 21/03/2010 - 10:30

The Greens have recorded their strongest showing yet in the SA election, and are set to add another member to the Legislative Council.

Categories: State Media Releases

MEDIA ALERT: Greens MP to Protest at Opening of Duck Season

Victoria - Fri, 19/03/2010 - 14:07

WHO: Victorian Greens MLC, Sue Pennicuik

WHEN: Saturday 20 March 2010

Victorian Greens MP and animal welfare spokesperson, Sue Pennicuik, will travel to Gippsland this weekend and accompany duck rescue teams at the start of the 2010 duck season.

read more

Categories: State Media Releases

Greens: the fastest growing political force in the country

SA - Fri, 19/03/2010 - 12:30

Tomorrow, South Australian voters have a genuine alternative to the old parties, and can join over million voters Australia wide who vote Green, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

Categories: State Media Releases

Call for mining and health inquiry

NSW MP Lee Rhiannon - Fri, 19/03/2010 - 11:59

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the NSW government to hold an independent inquiry into the health impacts of the coal industry on people living in the Hunter region, and for the rules that mines operate under to be enforced. (SMH, pages 3 and 9, http://tinyurl.com/yaatqo7)

"Coal companies and the NSW government have been reckless with people's health and the consequences can no longer be ignored," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The government must change its ways so it acts as the defender of public health rather than an agent working to boost the profits of the coal industry.

"The Hunter is exposed to unacceptable levels of air pollution.

"An inquiry is urgently needed to help ensure the health of local communities is not damaged when coal companies break the rules they are suppose to operate under.

"The Greens have received many complaints from locals about coal companies continuing to mine on windy days.

"The result is toxic dust clouds settling over their communities and when they complain it is rare for a government inspector to even turn up and prosecutions are unheard of.

"The government must re-establish a Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water office in the region to monitor, investigate and prosecute offences.

"When the government responds to the mounting community concerns about the health impacts of mining they need to stop taking half measures to try an appease the coal industry.

"After years of pressure 14 air monitoring stations are to be set up in the Hunter but only three will test for the dangerous small particles and none will test for the majority of chemicals found in the mining haze that locals have to live with.

"This region provides enormous wealth to the state and the country and the local communities deserve a commitment that they can live in a clean, healthy environment.

"Research conducted by the Greens of government data shows mining companies commonly breach license conditions and are rarely subject to infringement notices or prosecution.

"For too long Labor and the Coalition have allowed the coal industry to ignore legitimate concerns about the health impacts of mining," Ms Rhiannon said.

 For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Categories: State Media Releases

People power forces cycleway celebration

SA - Fri, 19/03/2010 - 11:30

This morning's formal opening of the South Road Tram Overpass cycle path is a celebration of people power in the face of Government opposition, says Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

Categories: State Media Releases

New FOI laws for NSW delayed

NSW MP Lee Rhiannon - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 16:32

"Yesterday in Question Time I was told by the Attorney General that the commencement of the legislation and appointment of a Commissioner would occur 'soon', but the government is clearly dragging its heels," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Today the Attorney General tabled two related reports from the NSW Law Reform Commission, but offered no starting date for the FOI regime.

"The Government Information (Public Access) Act was slated to begin in early 2010. Now the Information Commissioner's site says it will commence 'in the near future'.

"A permanent Information Commissioner was promised for November 2009, but we still have an acting one, despite an extensive selection process.

"Since Nathan Rees' departure as Premier there has been not a word from Kristina Keneally on this important area of government accountability, with the public left to use the shoddy old laws.

"This legislation is too important to sit idle. It was to be the sign of the NSW government entering a new era of openness, but change has stalled.

"The new FOI laws require the proactive publications by government agencies of information on the web.

"Without these new laws the lights will be continue to be kept dimmed on the operation of government," Ms Rhiannon said.
 
The two NSW Law Reform Commission reports tabled today are:
§ Report 125 The Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners (dated December 2009) 
§ Report 126 Access to Personal Information (February 2010)

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
LRC reports are now on the website

Categories: State Media Releases

Nurses take the lead on safe patient care

NSW MP Lee Rhiannon - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 16:26

Ms Rhiannon called on the NSW Government to improve staffing levels in state hospitals.

"The Greens congratulate the NSW Nurses' Association for its strong and ongoing commitment to delivering safe patient care," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The NSW Government needs to match this commitment by increasing funding to address inadequate staffing and skill mix, rather than putting pressure on nurses to do more with less money.

"Much recent media attention has focussed on who should be funding public health services. This is an important consideration, but it is one that masks long-term under-funding.

"What matters more than where the money comes from is how much there is to recruit, train and support the people who look after us, including nurses.

"Particularly in Western Sydney and Regional NSW, cuts to staffing levels and a lack of recruitment are putting immense undue pressure on nurses, and this in turn creates risks for the community.

"In negotiations, nurses see workloads, skills mix and safe patient care as equally important as pay conditions.

"It's a poor reflection on the NSW government that due to inadequate funding the Nurses' Association has to organise workshops to help nurses cope with inadequate staffing levels.

"We need to take care of the people who take care of us," Ms Rhiannon said.

Categories: State Media Releases

Greens call for ban on mining on prime farmland

Queensland - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 15:55

18 March 2010 - The Queensland Greens are calling for a ban on mining on Queensland’s prime farmland, after the government’s weak discussion paper on strategic cropping land which would still allow mining on most cropping land.

Categories: State Media Releases

Queensland Government Must Make Noosa River a “Priority” Catchment

Queensland - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 15:40

Media release sent 14 March 2010.

Categories: State Media Releases

Norrie has ungendered certificate withdrawn: government must reform laws

NSW MP Lee Rhiannon - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 14:56

"The NSW government should act to implement a key recommendation of a 2009 Human Rights Commission report that a person over 18 should be able to choose to have an unspecified sex noted on documents and records," Ms
Rhiannon said.

This week the Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages deemed invalid a previously issued certificate which established Norrie's sex as 'non-specified'. Norrie today lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Ms Rhiannon was invited there to provide support.

"The Attorney General told me in Parliament today that following the extensive media coverage of Norrie's win, legal advice was sought from the Crown Solicitor.

"The Attorney General says NSW laws require that a person in this situation must have their sex stated as either male or female.

"If there is a problem with the law that stops the Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages from issuing such a certificate, the compassionate thing is for the NSW Government to change the law to support Norrie and others in a similar situation.

"Doctors have declared that Norrie cannot be categorised as a male or female and clearly Norrie's Recognised Details Certificate should reflect that.

"The Australian Human Rights Commission report, The Sex Files,
addressed the legal recognition of sex in documents and government records.

"Norrie received a Recognised Details Certificate on 25 February 2010 which had ‘not specified' listed in the 'Sex' field.

"Norrie is now back at square one and it is understandable that Norrie has made a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.

"If NSW laws prohibit Norrie and other gender diverse people having their status recognised, the NSW government should act to change these laws, in line with the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Categories: State Media Releases

Stop privatisation of TAFE by stealth

SA - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 13:30

The Greens have called on both Labor and Liberal to commit to greater protection of our publicly funded TAFE sector.

Categories: State Media Releases

Stop taking Carers for granted - Greens

SA - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:30

The Greens have today released their 2010 Election Platform on a better deal for the State's 222,000 carers with a focus on respite, transport and financial support.

Categories: State Media Releases

Greens win NSW Upper House support to keep Carramar Nursing Home in public hands

NSW MP Lee Rhiannon - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:28

Ms Rhiannon moved the motion following a recent meeting with the Carramar Carers' Group. Over 30 staff, residents and supporters travelled from Leeton to NSW Parliament today to hear the debate.

"The Greens won support today for a motion calling on the NSW

Government to keep the Carramar Nursing Home in public hands," said Ms Rhiannon.

(see motion below)

"The Greens won the vote with the support of the major parties.

"The passing of this motion sends a strong clear message to the NSW government to keep Carramar Nursing Home in public hands.

"I am pleased the NSW Upper House has supported this growing community campaign backed by the Leeton Shire Council and the Carramar Carers' Group.

"The $750,000 raised by the Leeton community is testament to its commitment to keeping Carramar Nursing Home in public hands.

"If the plan is implemented it will have a negative effect on residents and jeopardise the future of Leeton Hospital.

"It is an important win for the staff, patients' relatives and supporters of the Carramar Nursing Home who are fighting to retain it as a Department of Health facility.

"Staff cuts would have been inevitable if the beds had been sold, as cost cutting is the only way the owners would make such a venture a going concern.

"This win for Carramar Nursing Home follows a similar victory last year which halted an attempted sell off of the Wallsend Aged Care Facility in the Hunter Valley.

"It is clear that communities in NSW are not prepared to stand by and let the Labor Government sell off public health facilities," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: Lee Rhiannon - 0427 861 568

Read the full debate on the NSW Parliamentary website.

Categories: State Media Releases

Minister misrepresents real costs for councils of rate-pegging

NSW MP Sylvia Hale - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:25

“The Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry, has announced the rate-peg will be set at 2.6% for 2010-2011,” said Ms Hale.

“Councils, however, face an expected CPI rise of 2.1%. In effect what the Minister is saying is that rates can increase in real terms by only 0.5%.

“Councils are already bearing the burden of an estimated $431 million worth of costs that the State and Federal governments shifted to councils in 2007-2008.

“Additional costs have been imposed on Councils, which are now required to find extra money to pay for upkeep of roads, management of dangerous dogs, inspection of restaurants and cafes, an increase in the fire levy, funding 50% of rebates for pensioners, medical services in country areas, administration of contaminated land issues, and the list goes on.

“Local Government is also expected to bear the huge cost increases for water and electricity as a result of the State Government ramping up charges in the lead up to privatisation.

“Energy Australia have increased its charges by 30% to local governments in inner Sydney in the last year, and the State Government has given no protection to ratepayers from this profit gouging.

“Similarly Section 88 dumping charges have been increased way above inflation as the Government prepares to sell off Waste Services NSW.

“At the same time the government has reduced the ability of councils to levy developments. This has further reduced council’s income.

“The United Services Union will be seeking pay rise for council employees – so councils will also have to budget for that, and many Councils have 3% yearly wage rises already agreed to.

“Government says local government must take responsibility for itself, yet the Minister wants to cap rates to a real rise of less than half a percent.

“While it is quite proper for there to be pressure on every level of Government not to waste money, as a result of rate-pegging local government rates in NSW are among the lowest in Australia and the backlog of capital works across NSW grows every day.

“As we saw with the road collapse that killed a family on the old Pacific Highway near Gosford, local government cannot afford essential maintenance work. That failure may see more people killed and injured as services and maintenance continues to decline.

“The Minister need to give councils a fair go so councils can provide adequate services to their residents,” concluded Ms Hale.

Contact: Colin Hesse 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124

Categories: State Media Releases

Urban Taskforce ‘shying away from public scrutiny’

NSW MP Sylvia Hale - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:17

“The Keneally Government is notorious for the Part 3A approvals it has given in the past, especially for developments associated with generous party donors”, said Sylvia Hale MLC, Greens spokesperson for planning and Western Sydney.

“For the Government to belatedly begin to reject projects in western Sydney indicates that the Government is well and truly aware of how unpopular Part 3A of the Planning Act is.

“That unpopularity is probably equalled only by the unpopularity of the Government itself in western Sydney and indeed throughout the State.

“The prospect of retribution at the polls next March is clearly weighing on the minds of local Labor members of parliament.

“If the proposals the Urban Taskforce complains about are so beneficial for the people of western Sydney, then the proponents should not hesitate to seek approval from the relevant local councils.

“But that might open them up to greater public scrutiny and independent assessment of their merits – something that the developers clearly want to avoid.

“They must be spectacularly bad projects if even this State Government will have nothing to do with them,” said Ms Hale.

Further information: Colin Hesse on 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124

Categories: State Media Releases

Greens call on Keneally to debate planning laws

NSW MP Sylvia Hale - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:12

“We agree with the Premier that we need a serious debate within the community about a Government’s unfettered right to compulsorily acquire private property and then hand it to developers,” said Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning.

“The Greens believe this proposal is so important that the public should know both the details of what the Government proposes and what political parties in the Parliament have to say on the issue.

“If the Premier is serious, she’ll discuss this with The Greens, and not just the Liberals whose policies seem less and less distinguishable from the Government as each day passes.

“The Greens believe that compulsory acquisition of land should take place only where that serves a genuine public interest and not be a source of private enrichment. Where the value of land increases as a result of rezoning, the windfall profits should be taxed for the benefit of the public.

“Last year the Liberal Party supported the Government’s Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Amendment Bill to allow Parramatta City Council to compulsorily acquire its own roads and adjacent privately owned land and transfer that land to a private corporation. Unlike the Opposition, The Greens opposed that Bill.

“The proposal the Premier announced last week goes even further. It would allow the Government to acquire privately owned land and on-sell it to developers. It would be exempt from existing local planning controls, and its future use determined by an unelected and unaccountable new development authority.

“The proposal, modelled on the laws that overrode local planning requirements in order to access Federal Government’s Stimulus funding, would mean that existing heritage and residential zoning protections afforded properties under local planning laws would simply be ignored.

“It’s encouraging that the Liberal’s have so far opposed the Government’s proposals, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that their opposition is more opportunistic than policy based.

“In the last few years the Labor Government has stripped away planning powers from elected local councils and handed those powers over to unelected panels appointed by the Minister.

“The effect of the new planning approvals system has been to reduce public scrutiny of planning and to reduce the voice of the public in how their suburbs are planned and what kind of buildings are built next to them.

“There is no doubt that we need a serious discussion of how we live and where we live, and the Greens are pleased to be a responsible part of that discussion”, said Ms Hale.

Further information: Colin Hesse on 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124

Categories: State Media Releases

Coal industry - time for a transition plan

NSW MP Lee Rhiannon - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:09

SMH, page 1 today.

"The Greens are calling on the NSW government to develop a transition

plan from coal mining and coal fired power to clean sustainable jobs in

renewable energy and energy efficiency technology," Ms Rhiannon said.

"In NSW coal mines are being approved at a record rate.

"The Hunter and other traditional coal mining areas do not gain the

same jobs benefit that was once associated with this industry.

"The high level of coal mining mechanisation means jobs growth has

slowed.

"Coal industry expansion makes it much harder for clean energy

manufacturing to establish. This is where long-term jobs growth lies.

"Premier Kristina Keneally and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should stop

the multi-million dollar subsidises that the coal industry receives

every year.

"These handouts go to multinational companies that send the bulk of

their profits overseas.

"The Rudd Government's plans to spend $580-million on the Hunter

Valley coal rail line.

"The rail infrastructure through the s has been built to help speed up

exports and facilitate the coal rush on prime farming land in the

Gunnedah, Mudgee and Upper Hunter regions," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

plan from coal mining and coal fired power to clean sustainable jobs in

renewable energy and energy efficiency technology," Ms Rhiannon said.

"In NSW coal mines are being approved at a record rate.

"The Hunter and other traditional coal mining areas do not gain the

same jobs benefit that was once associated with this industry.

"The high level of coal mining mechanisation means jobs growth has

slowed.

"Coal industry expansion makes it much harder for clean energy

manufacturing to establish. This is where long-term jobs growth lies.

"Premier Kristina Keneally and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should stop

the multi-million dollar subsidises that the coal industry receives

every year.

"These handouts go to multinational companies that send the bulk of

their profits overseas.

"The Rudd Government's plans to spend $580-million on the Hunter

Valley coal rail line.

"The rail infrastructure through the s has been built to help speed up

exports and facilitate the coal rush on prime farming land in the

Gunnedah, Mudgee and Upper Hunter regions," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Categories: State Media Releases

Time to throw some light on the secret side of SHFA

NSW MP Sylvia Hale - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:06

“Alarm bells should be ringing about the private negotiations, the absence of public tendering, and the culture of secrecy surrounding the way in which the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority manages and leases public properties under its control,” says Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning, Sylvia Hale.

“We have a public body administering public assets worth more than $1 billion entering into agreements with large tenants that are never competitively tendered.

“For SHFA’s rental income to slide at the same time the value of its properties is rising suggests the Authority is either incompetent or something unusual is going on.

“It’s inevitable that public suspicions are aroused when SHFA pours more than $6 million of public money into renovating a heritage property it then leases to a company with links to the Labor Party. That it does so in the face of objections from the Police and the National Trust simply adds to the unease.

“The Government claims that the ICAC investigated the leasing of 100 George Street, The Rocks, and found nothing to be concerned about.

“But all the ICAC seems to have looked at was a report by the CEO of SHFA on the activities of his predecessor. That’s hardly an arm’s-length investigation.

“Even more concerning is that the Deloitte probity review, paid for by SHFA, did not find anything unusual in the Authority making commitments to the eventual lessee, Australian World Trading P/L, well before the lease was signed – commitments that may have tied SHFA’s hands when negotiating the terms of the lease.

“When parliament resumes next week I will be moving to have all documents associated with SHFA’s leasing policies and the leasing of 100 George Street made public,” said Ms Hale.

Further information: Colin Hesse on 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124

Categories: State Media Releases

Yet another Government attack on community rights

NSW MP Sylvia Hale - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:01

“It is outrageous that the Labor Government should even be considering forced land seizures whose effect would be to swell the profits of private corporations.

“If the Government needs to obtain land for significant public projects it should be able to do so, provided it pays fair compensation.

“But any land acquisition must be for a genuine public purpose, such as providing affordable public housing.

“Over the last 10 years the Government has systematically stripped away public rights. First we had Part 3A of the Planning Act, then the effective removal of democratically elected councils from the planning process and their replacement with appointed, unaccountable Planning Panels.

“This latest proposal comes hard on the heels of the Premier saying in February that the Government is interested in expanding the powers of the Coordinator General to cover major transport, commercial and residential projects. Currently there is no appeal against any of the Coordinator General’s decisions on any grounds in relation to federal-stimulus projects that the Coordinator General’s office oversees.

“Now it wants the right to seize private land to hand it to developers.

“Clearly the government is intent on steamrollering over the community.

“Given its abysmal track record, why would anyone trust the Government to do anything other than feather the pockets of its developer donor mates in the Urban Taskforce and the Property Council of Australia,” asked Ms Hale.

Further information: Colin Hesse on 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124

Categories: State Media Releases

Release investigation into Govt alcohol adviser - Greens

SA - Thu, 18/03/2010 - 09:30

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called for the release of a Department of Health report into claims of conflict of interest involving the State Government's chief adviser on alcohol policy.

Categories: State Media Releases