Do you think we have enough corflutes?
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.
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