NSW Greens MLC Dr. John Kaye launched the campaigns for the Greens candidates for Shortland, Phillipa Parsons and Charlton, Ian McKenzie.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Launch of Greens candidates for Shortland and Charlton
NSW Greens MLC Dr. John Kaye launched the campaigns for the Greens candidates for Shortland, Phillipa Parsons and Charlton, Ian McKenzie.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Hannah Gissane and myself taking it to Charlestown... to the bus stop on Pacific Highway!
Do you think we have enough corflutes?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Media Release: Too much of a gamble?
The Greens candidate for Shortland, Phillipa Parsons believes the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission regarding gaming laws need to be addressed by the federal government as a matter of urgency. “These changes are desperately needed to address the social and economic problem of gambling addiction, a subject rarely discussed by politicians but one which has huge impacts on families,” she said.
“One significant recommendation easily implemented is for periodic shutdowns of gambling areas. This would be in addition to the current mandatory six hour (overnight) shutdown period. Under this proposal, poker machines would be shut down for 10 minutes every hour or half an hour every three hours,” said Ms Parsons.
“Problem gambling is the focus of the Commission’s report and urgent action is recommended to address this destructive addiction. Yet while both the government and the Coalition are aware of the urgency required it hasn’t rated a mention in the political maelstroms of spin emanating from both sides,” Ms Parsons said.
“Unlike some of the non-issues being relied upon by both major parties to draw battle lines this election, this is a real issue, one that is affecting Australian families right now and one that can so easily be addressed. My question to both major parties is do you have the political will to follow through these much needed recommendations?” Ms Parsons asked.
“Most of the harm minimization measures recommended by the Commission can be implemented quickly and at relatively low cost, with few transitional issues, however the financial gain by the state governments explains why there is such resistance to banning or restricting poker machines in hotels,” she said.
“The federal government needs to act and there is no doubt it has the power to act in this area. The Greens support minimizing the harm caused by problem gambling and with the balance of power in the senate, would work to ensure these recommendations are implemented,” she said.
Media Release: Look after our aged care workers!
“Aged care workers must be the most undervalued in
“Some multi-national companies operating aged care facilities are attempting to shape agendas and policies to enhance their bottom line, whilst milking the Australian government and underpaying NSW aged care nurses. The federal government needs to ensure that pay rates for aged care workers are in line with the invaluable service they provide in our communities,” Ms Parsons said.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Media Release: Labor needs to include an interim carbon tax!
Phillipa Parsons, Greens candidate for Shortland today urged local Labor MP Jill Hall to pressure her party to include the Greens interim carbon tax proposal in any election announcement on climate change.
“We know the community wants strong action on climate change and Prime Minister Julia Gillard needs to seriously consider the Greens proposed interim carbon tax before the election,” said Ms Parsons.
“I believe that people are sick of both major parties debating this issue as if Australia had a choice and I call on Jill Hall to lobby Prime Minister Gillard to back the Greens proposed carbon tax. We cannot afford to delay action on reducing Australia’s carbon emissions until 2013,” she said.
“Under the Greens' proposal, a carbon tax would currently collect $23 per tonne, and would stay in place until an effective Emissions Trading Scheme has been developed and is in place. Indeed, a Climate Institute report released this week shows the Greens' policy of a carbon tax will save households and businesses money as power costs soar, helped by federal government and opposition inaction,” said Ms Parsons.
“Shortland has many people and families vulnerable to rising power costs and Labor’s CPRS would have punished them instead of rewarding them for changing to renewable energy. We need a scheme that makes polluters pay, not households. The Greens would invest the money raised from a carbon tax in renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes to grow our low carbon economy and create new jobs.
“As a coastal electorate, Shortland has many areas that are vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate and sea level rise. It is imperative that Labor has interim measures in place to move Australia to a lower emissions economy whilst debating a long term solution and the Greens’ carbon tax serves that purpose,” she said.
“We know the community wants strong action on climate change and Prime Minister Julia Gillard needs to seriously consider the Greens proposed interim carbon tax before the election,” said Ms Parsons.
“I believe that people are sick of both major parties debating this issue as if Australia had a choice and I call on Jill Hall to lobby Prime Minister Gillard to back the Greens proposed carbon tax. We cannot afford to delay action on reducing Australia’s carbon emissions until 2013,” she said.
“Under the Greens' proposal, a carbon tax would currently collect $23 per tonne, and would stay in place until an effective Emissions Trading Scheme has been developed and is in place. Indeed, a Climate Institute report released this week shows the Greens' policy of a carbon tax will save households and businesses money as power costs soar, helped by federal government and opposition inaction,” said Ms Parsons.
“Shortland has many people and families vulnerable to rising power costs and Labor’s CPRS would have punished them instead of rewarding them for changing to renewable energy. We need a scheme that makes polluters pay, not households. The Greens would invest the money raised from a carbon tax in renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes to grow our low carbon economy and create new jobs.
“As a coastal electorate, Shortland has many areas that are vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate and sea level rise. It is imperative that Labor has interim measures in place to move Australia to a lower emissions economy whilst debating a long term solution and the Greens’ carbon tax serves that purpose,” she said.
Monday, July 12, 2010
My motion for support for the No New Coal Power campaign was successful! One small step .....
Support for No New Coal Power campaign
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has written asking councils and other organizations, both private and public, to join together in signing an Open Letter to the NSW Parliament in
support of “No new coal power”. A copy of the Open Letter is attached.*
There is little doubt that climate change, accelerated by greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the most serious environmental threats facing our planet. Lake Macquarie City Council has made a firm commitment to taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change through a number of policies and Action Plans. The ‘Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets Policy 2008’ and the ‘State of the Environment Report 2009– Atmosphere’ specifically outline a goal for a transition for Council to move away from coal power to renewable energy. Moreover, contained within the latter under the heading ‘The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect – Future Directions’ lists the goal for Council to “catalyse the development of renewable energy generation in the city.”
The purpose of these polices, plans and reports is to assess our progress to date and further identify actions that Council can undertake in its own operations, and other ways to involve the wider community in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However our actions can only ever contribute in a small way to the reduction of greenhouse gases in the whole of NSW.For real change, there needs to be a positive approach taken to means of energy generation and energy efficiency, through the limitation of reliance on energy
from coal fired power stations, the promotion of investment in renewable energy
and the expansion of energy efficiency measures.
It is for this reason that I believe Council should support the campaign on No new
coal power and become a signatory to the open letter to NSW Parliament.
* Please note that at time of writing, the author has not determined whether Lake Macquarie City Council personally received a request and copy of this letter from Greenpeace as did other councils in or around April 2010. There are potentially many more signatories that have added their names since this time.
Motion:
I therefore move that -
Council becomes a signatory to the Open letter to the NSW Parliament in
support of “No new coal power”.
Attachment 1
An open letter to the NSW Parliament in support of
"No new coal power"
We are writing to express our serious concern about the proposal for new coal fired power stations in New South Wales and to urge you to prohibit the construction of new coal-fired power stations inthe State.
The two propose new power stations at Bayswater and Mt Piper, if powered by coal, would create over 22 Million tonnes of greenhouse pollution annually, and would increase the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by almost 15%. This is more than the emissions from the entire NSW transport sector. It would lock NSW into a fossil fuel future of increasing power bills and would undermine the potential for clean energy jobs in NSW.
NSW does not need new baseload power generation. A recent study by the Institute for Sustainable Futures shows that future energy demand can be more effectively met through a combination of energy efficiency improvements and distributed energy — with significantly lower greenhouse emissions and at significantly lower cost. We urge you to take action in parliament to prohibit new coal-fired power in NSW and to instead create a positive vision for the State's energy future through strong policy and investment inefficiency improvements and renewable energy.
Yours sincerely,
Linda Selvey, CEO, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF-Australia
Denise Boyd, Campaigns Manager, Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
Cate Faehrmann, Executive Director, Nature Conservation Council NSW
Jeff Angel, Executive Director, Total Environment Centre
Holly Creenaune, Friends of the Earth Australia
Anna Rose, Director, Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Rex Graham, Uniting Church NSW
Simon Sheikh, Get Up
Blair Palese, CEO, 350.org Australia
Tom Mullaney, Climate Action Newtown
Lizette Salmon, Wodonga & Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH)
Paul Hanly, Drummoyne Climate Action Group
Janet France, North Shore Climate Action
Tassia Kolesnikow , Sutherland Climate Action Network
Terry Mc Bride, 450ppm, West Ryde
Annie Nielsen, Parramatta Climate Action Network (ParraCAN)
Rising Tide Newcastle
Sydney University Climate Action Collective
Derek Bolton, Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle
John Kellett, Bathurst Community Climate Action Network' (BCCAN)
Thomas Ebersoll, President, Lithgow Environment Group
Tara Cameron, President, Blue Mountains Conservation Society
Cilia Kinross - Central West Environment Council
Jocelyn Hulme - Mudgee District Environment Group
North Sydney Council
Wyong Shire Council
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has written asking councils and other organizations, both private and public, to join together in signing an Open Letter to the NSW Parliament in
support of “No new coal power”. A copy of the Open Letter is attached.*
There is little doubt that climate change, accelerated by greenhouse gas emissions, is one of the most serious environmental threats facing our planet. Lake Macquarie City Council has made a firm commitment to taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change through a number of policies and Action Plans. The ‘Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets Policy 2008’ and the ‘State of the Environment Report 2009– Atmosphere’ specifically outline a goal for a transition for Council to move away from coal power to renewable energy. Moreover, contained within the latter under the heading ‘The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect – Future Directions’ lists the goal for Council to “catalyse the development of renewable energy generation in the city.”
The purpose of these polices, plans and reports is to assess our progress to date and further identify actions that Council can undertake in its own operations, and other ways to involve the wider community in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However our actions can only ever contribute in a small way to the reduction of greenhouse gases in the whole of NSW.For real change, there needs to be a positive approach taken to means of energy generation and energy efficiency, through the limitation of reliance on energy
from coal fired power stations, the promotion of investment in renewable energy
and the expansion of energy efficiency measures.
It is for this reason that I believe Council should support the campaign on No new
coal power and become a signatory to the open letter to NSW Parliament.
* Please note that at time of writing, the author has not determined whether Lake Macquarie City Council personally received a request and copy of this letter from Greenpeace as did other councils in or around April 2010. There are potentially many more signatories that have added their names since this time.
Motion:
I therefore move that -
Council becomes a signatory to the Open letter to the NSW Parliament in
support of “No new coal power”.
Attachment 1
An open letter to the NSW Parliament in support of
"No new coal power"
We are writing to express our serious concern about the proposal for new coal fired power stations in New South Wales and to urge you to prohibit the construction of new coal-fired power stations inthe State.
The two propose new power stations at Bayswater and Mt Piper, if powered by coal, would create over 22 Million tonnes of greenhouse pollution annually, and would increase the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by almost 15%. This is more than the emissions from the entire NSW transport sector. It would lock NSW into a fossil fuel future of increasing power bills and would undermine the potential for clean energy jobs in NSW.
NSW does not need new baseload power generation. A recent study by the Institute for Sustainable Futures shows that future energy demand can be more effectively met through a combination of energy efficiency improvements and distributed energy — with significantly lower greenhouse emissions and at significantly lower cost. We urge you to take action in parliament to prohibit new coal-fired power in NSW and to instead create a positive vision for the State's energy future through strong policy and investment inefficiency improvements and renewable energy.
Yours sincerely,
Linda Selvey, CEO, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF-Australia
Denise Boyd, Campaigns Manager, Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
Cate Faehrmann, Executive Director, Nature Conservation Council NSW
Jeff Angel, Executive Director, Total Environment Centre
Holly Creenaune, Friends of the Earth Australia
Anna Rose, Director, Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Rex Graham, Uniting Church NSW
Simon Sheikh, Get Up
Blair Palese, CEO, 350.org Australia
Tom Mullaney, Climate Action Newtown
Lizette Salmon, Wodonga & Albury Towards Climate Health (WATCH)
Paul Hanly, Drummoyne Climate Action Group
Janet France, North Shore Climate Action
Tassia Kolesnikow , Sutherland Climate Action Network
Terry Mc Bride, 450ppm, West Ryde
Annie Nielsen, Parramatta Climate Action Network (ParraCAN)
Rising Tide Newcastle
Sydney University Climate Action Collective
Derek Bolton, Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle
John Kellett, Bathurst Community Climate Action Network' (BCCAN)
Thomas Ebersoll, President, Lithgow Environment Group
Tara Cameron, President, Blue Mountains Conservation Society
Cilia Kinross - Central West Environment Council
Jocelyn Hulme - Mudgee District Environment Group
North Sydney Council
Wyong Shire Council
Greens announce Parsons as Federal candidate for Shortland
Lake Macquarie Greens councillor Phillipa Parsons will be The Greens candidate for the Federal seat of Shortland in the forthcoming Federal election, the party announced today.
“This federal election will be contested on several key issues at which the Greens stand at the forefront,” Ms Parsons said.
“The failure to deal adequately with the ‘greatest moral challenge of our time’ and the accompanying spin coming from both major parties is making people cynical about the political process.”
“The Greens advocate for real government action to advance a transition from dependency on coal-fired power to an economy based around clean renewable energy.”
"Recent polls indicate that our No.1 Senate candidate, Lee Rhiannon, has a strong chance of being elected to the Federal parliament, and that’s exciting, not just for The Greens, but for the Hunter and Australia as well.”
“I think much of the increased support for the Greens comes from our work with communities across NSW on a diverse range of issues; in health, education, the environment and social justice and equity,” said Ms Parsons.
“This Federal election is a crucial one for those issues that have historically been viewed as Greens’ core policies, both locally and nationally, and The Greens have proven they are a party with principles,” she said.
“It’s clear to me that people have become disillusioned with Australian politicians’ continual political point scoring and consequent inability to adequately deal with the challenge of climate change,” Ms Parsons said.
“The Greens have real and workable solutions but both Labor and the Coalition have fallen drastically short of the expectations of the nation who quite rightly expected leadership from the government in this crucial policy area.
“The doomed and unworkable Emissions Trading System was only negotiated with the Coalition, rather than The Greens because the government knew it fell far short of what needs to be done to develop an effective system.
“Moreover, the government-commissioned Garnaut Climate Change Review’s Final Report has been ignored in this arrogant push for an ETS. Why won’t either the government or the Coalition consider the report’s recommendation for an interim carbon tax on polluters while a long term solution is negotiated?
“It is Greens’ policy that this is fairest, most equitable and easily achieved option. An interim two year levy on polluters will get Australia really moving on climate action, while the Senate deadlock around the proposed emissions trading scheme is worked out,” Ms Parsons said.
“The Greens are not interested in combative, partisan politics but working towards real solutions and in that regard I am committed to ensuring you have the best representation possible both in Parliament and in the electorate. However, I will not back down from my principles and belief in strong and workable solutions to real problems and an open and transparent democratic process.
“Locally, I’ll be continuing to push for politicians’ accountability to the community and for implementation of Federal policy initiatives for a just and sustainable transition. Applied to our region, this means moving our local and regional economies away from coal dependency and toward new green collar jobs.
“The national skills shortage is an opportunity to create new apprenticeships in green collar industries and to foster new relationships with entrepreneurial industries making advances in renewable energy technologies,” said Ms Parsons.
“Since European settlement this electorate has been built on industry. We need to move into new sustainable areas of industry as the international demand for coal falls. We need to start planning now for our children’s and grandchildren’s future,” Ms Parsons said.
“This federal election will be contested on several key issues at which the Greens stand at the forefront,” Ms Parsons said.
“The failure to deal adequately with the ‘greatest moral challenge of our time’ and the accompanying spin coming from both major parties is making people cynical about the political process.”
“The Greens advocate for real government action to advance a transition from dependency on coal-fired power to an economy based around clean renewable energy.”
"Recent polls indicate that our No.1 Senate candidate, Lee Rhiannon, has a strong chance of being elected to the Federal parliament, and that’s exciting, not just for The Greens, but for the Hunter and Australia as well.”
“I think much of the increased support for the Greens comes from our work with communities across NSW on a diverse range of issues; in health, education, the environment and social justice and equity,” said Ms Parsons.
“This Federal election is a crucial one for those issues that have historically been viewed as Greens’ core policies, both locally and nationally, and The Greens have proven they are a party with principles,” she said.
“It’s clear to me that people have become disillusioned with Australian politicians’ continual political point scoring and consequent inability to adequately deal with the challenge of climate change,” Ms Parsons said.
“The Greens have real and workable solutions but both Labor and the Coalition have fallen drastically short of the expectations of the nation who quite rightly expected leadership from the government in this crucial policy area.
“The doomed and unworkable Emissions Trading System was only negotiated with the Coalition, rather than The Greens because the government knew it fell far short of what needs to be done to develop an effective system.
“Moreover, the government-commissioned Garnaut Climate Change Review’s Final Report has been ignored in this arrogant push for an ETS. Why won’t either the government or the Coalition consider the report’s recommendation for an interim carbon tax on polluters while a long term solution is negotiated?
“It is Greens’ policy that this is fairest, most equitable and easily achieved option. An interim two year levy on polluters will get Australia really moving on climate action, while the Senate deadlock around the proposed emissions trading scheme is worked out,” Ms Parsons said.
“The Greens are not interested in combative, partisan politics but working towards real solutions and in that regard I am committed to ensuring you have the best representation possible both in Parliament and in the electorate. However, I will not back down from my principles and belief in strong and workable solutions to real problems and an open and transparent democratic process.
“Locally, I’ll be continuing to push for politicians’ accountability to the community and for implementation of Federal policy initiatives for a just and sustainable transition. Applied to our region, this means moving our local and regional economies away from coal dependency and toward new green collar jobs.
“The national skills shortage is an opportunity to create new apprenticeships in green collar industries and to foster new relationships with entrepreneurial industries making advances in renewable energy technologies,” said Ms Parsons.
“Since European settlement this electorate has been built on industry. We need to move into new sustainable areas of industry as the international demand for coal falls. We need to start planning now for our children’s and grandchildren’s future,” Ms Parsons said.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past
Dr Niko Leka of Newcastle's No War Collective received from this from Alex, a Tamil refugee who spent many months on board the boat in Merak Harbour, Indonesia. Why is this not in the media? Contact Alex to let him know that you know tamilassylumseekers@gmail.com>
"Sadly I have some really bad news Niko. Another boat of asylum seekers trying to seek safety had tried but it has left 7 dead.
two smaller boats had tried to take the asylum seekers to the larger boat, however the wind was too strong. Supposedly one had toppled over throwing all that were aboard into the open sea. The information I got was that 7 people had died, two of who were close friends of mine who had escaped from the boat in merak before I even left the boat.
The saddening news is the fact that this happened on the 7th and it has not been told to anybody, that means that 7 bodies have been floting in the open seas. 7 families not knowing about their deaths. 7 more asylum seekers finding death as their only source of freedom.
I am not concerned about the others as they will find freedom one way or another, hopefully without sacrificing anyone else. What worries me is that 7 deaths have gone untold. My heart gets weaker with each death, Im not sure how many more have to die for the world to understand that Tamils will risk all to seek freedom as they have no home to return to and only hope for a country to accept them."
I dont understand how Countries and continents can close doors and put upwalls declaring that this is our land we found it first, and we dont want you here....
Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past.
----------------------------------------------------------
Niko Leka
"Sadly I have some really bad news Niko. Another boat of asylum seekers trying to seek safety had tried but it has left 7 dead.
two smaller boats had tried to take the asylum seekers to the larger boat, however the wind was too strong. Supposedly one had toppled over throwing all that were aboard into the open sea. The information I got was that 7 people had died, two of who were close friends of mine who had escaped from the boat in merak before I even left the boat.
The saddening news is the fact that this happened on the 7th and it has not been told to anybody, that means that 7 bodies have been floting in the open seas. 7 families not knowing about their deaths. 7 more asylum seekers finding death as their only source of freedom.
I am not concerned about the others as they will find freedom one way or another, hopefully without sacrificing anyone else. What worries me is that 7 deaths have gone untold. My heart gets weaker with each death, Im not sure how many more have to die for the world to understand that Tamils will risk all to seek freedom as they have no home to return to and only hope for a country to accept them."
I dont understand how Countries and continents can close doors and put upwalls declaring that this is our land we found it first, and we dont want you here....
Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past.
----------------------------------------------------------
Niko Leka
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
If asylum seekers were English would they be treated with more respect?
Call me cynical but if those people fleeing war, oppression and persecution were 'white', christian and english speaking would Rudd and Abbot dare to use them as political footballs and ammunition? Would more people in the community then care about the situations they have fled and their future security in 'our' country? I want all politicians to remember that other than the traditional custodians of this wide land, we are ALL boat people. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land - it is not our right to refuse others entry into this land.
Greens hauled over the coals on coal impact motion
On Monday night I took this motion to Lake Macquarie Council. Considering the expansion of existing mines at the southern end of the lake and a proposed new mine to go in, I thought this motion would succeed. However it was beaten 10-2 (only the two Greens councillors voted for it) and I was castigated by the Mayor for bringing an issue to council that was outside our juresdiction. He argued that this was the state government's responsibility and that they and the coal mines themselves should be the ones doing this. Further, the Mayor argued that the mines already conduct air quality monitoring, to which I replied that this was like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse and that their monitoring did not require monitoring for the 2.5 micron particulates that cause all the asthma and bronchial problems! What do you think about this, is it a state government problem or as the level of government closest to the community, should council be undertaking these studies and then armed with the evidence, lobby the EPA to conduct regular extensive air quality monitoring?
1) That council call for a report and public briefing on the likely impact on council and the Lake Macquarie community arising from recently approved and currently proposed coal mines that are either within the Lake Macquarie local government area, or that will require the transportation of coal through our local government area.
2) That such report include (but not necessarily be limited to):
a) the scope and impact of any projected increase in road and rail transport of coal through the Lake Macquarie LGA, including any associated road safety and traffic management impacts, local air and noise pollution and amenity impacts, wear and tear on public roads and other public infrastructure, and any consequent financial impacts on council, and
b) the estimated contribution that the coal transported through the Lake Macquarie local government area will make to global greenhouse gas emissions over the foreseeable future, on both a per annum and total basis.
The Battle for Bunya Park
Unfortunately the Warners Bay Community Garden Group's extensive plans to establish a community garden in Bunya Park have been put on hold. Council voted 6-6 on Monday night with the Mayor using his casting vote to defer the garden until a management plan is put in place by council staff. The Greens moved to support the gardens in-principle and to allow stage 1 of the 4 stage garden plan to proceed after council staff assessment. Further, that a 6 month review be conducted and that stage 2 is not to proceed until that time. Fair enough I thought but it was just defeated. Very disappointing for this community group who have worked long and hard to grow to about 300 members, all keen to get their hands dirty. I am still amazed at the vicious propaganda campaign run against them by this so-called 'Save our park' mob who made all sorts of ridiculous and spurious allegations about the garden. My favourite was that the garden would attract drug addicts! Of course we all know how those junkies love their gardening! Anyway we've lodged a recission motion and need one councillor to re-think their decision to get this fantastic project up and running.
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Saturday, May 29, 2010
Why I didn't support a payrise for councillors
In light of the current climate of cost cutting – in fact we’re cutting 17 million from the 2010/2011 budget – I personally just couldn’t justify giving councillors and the mayor a pay rise. It was argued that we are paid a paltry amount anyway of just over 19K a year and this rise amounted to only $600 pa, however it’s not a good look to be giving ourselves a payrise when we are asking everyone else to tighten their collective belt! Council is increasing fees and cutting services; we will cut some 40 staff through natural attrition over the coming year so how can we possibly rationalise giving ourselves more money. It’s not that councillors don’t deserve a payrise, on the contrary! If a living wage was being suggested and that meant I could put my teaching career on hold to devote myself full time to being a councillor then I would support it. However, this raise is tokenistic and while it is miniscule, it sends a message to the community that council can find the money when it needs to fund councillors payments but can’t provide the full range of services/staffing etc! Only Cr. Hannah Gissane (Greens) and myself voted to not receive the increase and I know this hasn’t done anything to increase our popularity with our colleagues, but I guess where not there to make friends! Interestingly, Cr Barry Johnston approached me after the meeting and said that whilst he supported my stance and held similar beliefs, he couldn’t vote with us because he has been told that it appears to be grandstanding! I deny that I had any agenda other than my personal conviction that a payrise could not be justified at the moment.
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