Phillipa Parsons - The Greens

Coal royalties should fund a regional transport authority

2011-03-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

A regional transport authority could be funded if the share of mining royalties returned to the region is increased.

CFMEU Mining and Energy Division estimate that in the financial year 2010/2011 almost $1.8 billion will be paid to the NSW government in mining royalties. A huge chunk of that comes from the Hunter region. Yet, both major parties appear unable to commit to providing our rightful share of that staggering sum. This is money that could be used to improve our infrastructure, health and education. It could be used to improve our woeful public transport system to get people out of cars, reduce road congestion.

Part of the millions returned to the Hunter region could then be used to fund a regional transport authority, to bring together stakeholders and the community and plan the best possible outcomes for our communities. For too long, public transport planning has been Sydney-centric. This region, especially the Lake Macquarie area, is always the poor relation when it comes to allocating funding for public transport. There really is no viable public transport option. It is certainly not an attractive option for most people – to leave the car at home or park and ride on public transport.

A regional transport authority would have to be apolitical, focused on our region and populated not only by qualified transport planners but by local people who actually use or would use public transport. There must also real consultation with the community and ultimately be accountable to the community.

Separation of Church and State is crucial in a democracy!

2011-03-17T20:13:00.001-07:00

Since when is it healthy in a democracy for the church to be interfering in politics? It is fundamental to our democratic process that there be a separation of church and state. However that does not appear to be the view of the Fred Nile led Christian Democratic Party. Noreen Tibbet, the CDP candidate for Swansea is quoted in the Newcastle Herald today as wanting to get elected to make sure all legislation that is passed is in line with a biblical ethos! Isn't that like sharia law? And which bible is she talking about - not the Old Testament I hope.

It is very scary that the Liberals are preferencing these religious zealots in the Upper House. Scary religious people who want to control women's bodies and indocrinate children with their own particular version of religious dogma.

Religion is much more sinister than just 'opium for the masses'. It masquerades as social justice, human rights and equity but in reality it is about power, control and maintaining the patriarchal hegemony. The latest attack on the Greens by some Catholic bishops demonstrates that they are feeling the loosening of their grip on people. What scares them the most is that people are beginning to actually think for themselves and the conclusions they are reaching are not favouble to churches and religion.

In reality, the Greens policies are more closely aligned with the teachings of that great humanitarian, Jesus Christ. The Greens stand for social justice and equity, human rights and the rights of the individual to control their own body, the right to equitable education, transport and health care.

Our most precious resource

2011-03-16T20:32:00.001-07:00

Greens candidate for Swansea, Phillipa Parsons, has called on the State government to urgently redress the disparity in wages between early childhood teachers working in community based preschools and those in others.

“University qualified early childhood teachers who opt to teach in community based preschools rather than in Department of Education and Training preschools and schools, are paid up to 20% less, equating to about $14,000 less per year,” Ms Parsons said.

“The State government has had quality teachers working for reduced wages for too long and it is now time to step up to the plate and ensure parity of wages for all preschool teachers, regardless of the way they are funded.

It is Greens policy that all children should be able to access publicly funded, quality preschool education for two years before school age. We need professional early childhood teachers in all our preschools, including community based preschools and long day care centres, yet the lower wages do nothing to attract or retain quality staff” she said.

“Early childhood teachers are some of the most undervalued members of the educational profession, yet the work they do cannot be overestimated. They do it for love and the sheer enjoyment of guiding and educating our youngest children in their formative years, and they should be remunerated accordingly.

This occupation is traditionally seen as a ‘female’ type of employment and the graduate numbers prove this to be correct. I would argue that if this was a role mainly staffed by men, the wages would be raised without hesitation,” alleged Ms Parsons.

“If this situation is not rectified, NSW will see a loss of qualified early child hood teachers in a climate where quality childcare is becoming more difficult for parents to access. The same rules that apply to schools must also apply to early childhood education so that it is accessible for our most precious resource, our children.”

Buildev and NSW Labor - a match made in heaven?

2011-03-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Greens candidate for Swansea, Phillipa Parsons, has challenged the denial of property developers, Buildev and the member for Swansea, Robert Coombes that donations to the NSW Labor Party have influenced planning decisions.

“Buildev is quoted in Newcastle Herald (17/3/11) as stating that developer donations to political parties were banned before this development proposal process began. Conversely, I have the 18 page document entitled ‘Blacksmiths/Swansea: commercial development opportunity expression of interest, Buildev group: December 2009.’ Developer donations were not legislated against until 2010,” Ms Parsons said.

“It is just too coincidental that Buildev donated money to NSW Labor twice in 2009, the same year they submitted their Expression of Interest to develop the foreshores of Swansea Channel in Blacksmiths and Swansea.

The amount donated is way over and above what they donated to the Liberals in the same year. From January to June 2009 Buildev donated $45,000 to NSW Labor and between June and December 2009 they again made a donation, this time of $30,000. Compare this with the relatively paltry sum of $13,000 donated in 2009 to the Liberals,” she said.

Mr Coombes is now singing the praises of Buildev’s Expression of Interest, despite the current zonings of the sites being primary conservation and public open space, and with ecological concerns about one. Mr Coombes has stated that the process was open and transparent but I challenge him to present a coherent argument of how this overdevelopment can be substantiated. We certainly do not need another marina in Lake Macquarie to fulfill any community need,” she said.

“Yet, consistent with the modus operandi of this developer-friendly government this proposal will most likely be classified as ‘state significant.’ This means it will be dealt with solely by the State government under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning Act, as has the development proposal at Catherine Hill Bay. This of course, means that Lake Macquarie City Council and the community will be ridden over roughshod once again by this Labor government.”

"I'm not racist but...." Oh yes you are!

2011-02-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

The Shadow Minister for Immigration, Scott Morrison's blatant demonising of the bereaved asylum seekers is racism, pure and simple and worthy of the label 'Hansonism.' This capacity to create an 'us and them' mentality, whereby fellow human beings in distress can be viewed through a lens of fear and difference rather than concern and empathy, is shameful. When we profess our christianity yet practice something far less than what Jesus Christ would do, we are making a mockery of everything we declare our nation to be built upon. How can any one of us begin to compare what the asylum seekers have been through, with our lives? To suggest it is unfair to assist them with burying their dead and petulantly exclaim that we wouldn't be offered the same service shows a lack of maturity and understanding of all the issues. I am ashamed that there is still a deep vein of racism running through our society, though always prefaced with the ubiquitious "I'm not racist but...." Conversely, I suggest that if you find yourself nodding along as some politician dog whistles about sight seeing tours and how these 'lucky' people have their funerals paid for then you need to engage in some self-reflection.

Phillipa Parsons - The Greens: Save Catherine Hill Bay from overdevelopment

2011-02-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

Phillipa Parsons - The Greens: Save Catherine Hill Bay from overdevelopment

Save Catherine Hill Bay from overdevelopment

2011-02-04T19:35:00.001-08:00

I was pleased to see at lease 500 people at the Save Catho protest this morning, on the beach at Catho! The Catho Boardriders had laid out surfboards on the sand to spell out 'Save Catho' and the Channel 7 helicopter hovered for ages filming us all, wearing red t-shirts and waving! Didn't see the Libs candidate, Garry Edwards but did see Independent Gillian Sneddon and sitting ALP member Robert Coombes. Surprised Mr Coombes was there given his previous statement that development at Catho is "inevitable".

This area was originally a mining town, set up for the purpose of housing the miners employed to work in the coal mines underneath the whole area. Now, it is an iconic reminder of our heritage and should be returned to the community as a conservation area, not turned into a mcmansion paradise with little public transport, no real amenities and poor infrastructure. It should be retained as a buffer between the expanding cities of Lake Macquarie and Wyong, not turned into a satellite suburb that will destroy the ambiance and heritage value of the place. Indeed, it is only the land deal between the rotten state Labor government and Rose Group that has seen the proposal get this far. Catho was listed near the bottom of the list of potential development sites in the Lower Hunter Regional Strategy until Rose Group called in favours from NSW Labor (see www. democracyforsale.com.au for a list of donations). This of course was only possible due to then Planning Minister Sartor's notorious Part 3A amendments to the EP&A Act - really the 'key to the door' for developers to move in on any area of NSW and bypass local councils and communities. Well, enough is enough and the people have well and truly spoken - stop any development of Catho, rezone to conservation and get rid of the dirty Part 3A to prevent anything like this happening again.

Why not a ferry service on Lake Macquarie?

2011-01-31T00:51:00.000-08:00

I was interviewed on local ABC radio this morning to air my views that a ferry service on Lake Macquarie is a great idea. It is ludicrous that there is no public transport on the lake at all! Surely the state government could conduct a feasibility study rather than just dismiss it as the sitting member for Swansea did today in response. The fact is that the state government is going to have to really begin to take action on climate change and peak oil! How long can we continue to build more roads, build more cars.....? We need better, more effective and more convenient public transport to get cars off the roads and with an improved bus service from ferry wharves, think about how many people would be willing to park and ride or even cycle from home to ferry wharf and then to work from the destination point. It is merely populist rhetoric that keeps politicians (and candidates I might add!) promising to upgrade this road, or add an extra one here etc. The truth is that people would be more willing to utilise public transport on a regular basis if it was really more convenient, reliable and frequent. Tell me what you think....

2011 NSW state election - Here we go again!!

2011-01-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

Yes it's on again, election campaign time! I am officially announced as the Greens candidate for the NSW state seat of Swansea, a huge electorate currently held by ALP Robert Coombes. A very safe Labor seat with a margin of about 15%, this time it will be different! Mr Coombes has upset quite a few people with his silence of the massive overdevelopment proposal by Rose Group and Coal and Allied at Catherine Hill Bay and Gwandalan. By the way there is a rally planned for 9.30am Saturday 5 Feb at Catho if you can make it! The whole Part 3A legislation must be disposed of - it strips councils of any power and rides roughshod over local communities.

Another big issue has been Housing NSW self-approving low cost affordable housing on sites that have not been properly assessed and without undertaking any community consultation at all.

The Greens offer a real alternative to the two old parties and I believe the people of Swansea will not automatically vote ALP this time yet are not quite ready to vote for a Coalition government. I think we'll see a big swing to the Greens again in 2011!

Launch of Greens candidates for Shortland and Charlton

2010-08-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

NSW Greens MLC Dr. John Kaye launched the campaigns for the Greens candidates for Shortland, Phillipa Parsons and Charlton, Ian McKenzie.

Hannah Gissane and myself taking it to Charlestown... to the bus stop on Pacific Highway!

2010-07-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

Do you think we have enough corflutes?

2010-07-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

The ballot draw at the ACE office om Charlestown today. The Greens position on the ballot paper will be No. 1. Which is nice.

Media Release: Too much of a gamble?

2010-07-29T16:18:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-07-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

“Aged care workers must be the most undervalued in Australia if pay rates and lack of adequate government regulation of providers are any indication,” said Greens candidate for Shortland, Phillipa Parsons.“Shortland has an older than average population and the Federal government must ensure that those caring for our aging citizens are adequately cared for in return. Poor rates of pay compared with other sectors of the health industry may equate to a lack of quality, caring staff to adequately care for our aging population,” she said.“Lee Rhiannon has worked tirelessly in the NSW Upper House for the people of NSW and will continue to represent NSW aged care workers in the Australian senate by working towards delivering better recognition of the valuable work they do and to improving wages,” said Ms Parsons.“The Australian government spends millions of taxpayers’ money subsidising aged care providers yet aged care nurses consistently earn much less than nurses in hospitals and most other healthcare settings. The Greens will work to redress this imbalance,” she said.

“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.

2010-07-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

Our first day of taking it to the streets! Sara Donald and I spent a couple of hours talking to the good citizens of Swansea this morning (Saturday). Definitely a lot more people are giving real consideration to voting Green for the first time - Vote 1 Greens in the Senate!

Media Release: Labor needs to include an interim carbon tax!

2010-07-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

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.

My motion for support for the No New Coal Power campaign was successful! One small step .....

2010-07-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

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

Greens announce Parsons as Federal candidate for Shortland

2010-07-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

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.

Phillipa Parsons - The Greens: Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past

2010-06-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

Phillipa Parsons - The Greens: Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past

Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past

2010-06-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

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

If asylum seekers were English would they be treated with more respect?

2010-06-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-06-08T02:02:00.001-07:00

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.

2010-06-08T02:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Skate Parks and Other Stuff!

2008-08-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

Hey this is my first foray into 'blogworld!' Standing as a Greens candidate for Lake Macquarie City Council means a lot to me. I am passionate about our beautiful city and believe stronger frameworks need to be in place to protect from unsustainable development. I also believe that the people of Lake Macquarie need to have more of an input into what happens in their suburb.As a mother of three children I will stand strongly on better facilities for parents, children and youth.

The current debate on skate parks is interesting in that it has polarised the community of Swansea. I believe young people have a right to their own facilities and should be encouraged to self-manage the park through a youth committee. Residents have expressed fears such parks attract a 'hoodlum element.' However, with local youth managing the area, potential troublemakers from both inside and outside the local area could be well-managed. I believe open and honest communication between stakeholders to be paramount, therefore I would encourage a youth committee to meet with residents to ensure misunderstandings are minimised and everyone works together to get the best of all worlds!