Archive for February, 2008
Friday, February 29th, 2008
“The lifting of bans on Genetically Modified crops today in Victoria and New South Wales will threaten Australia’s clean, green reputation and cost farmers huge amounts of money,” said Senator Rachel Siewert.
“The evidence from the Gene Technology Regulator last week in Senate Estimates indicated very clearly that there was not a national segregation system in place and farmers and consumers would be left to pay the price of contamination.
“The ban is being lifted today, but they have no way to ensure that non-GM crops using trucks, silos and handling facilities that have stored and transported GM crops are not contaminated,” said Senator Siewert.
“This will threaten our premium markets. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Genetic engineering, Community, Ecological Sustainability | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is calling on Planning Minister Frank Sartor to rescind his decision to rezone Tralee land to residential and give donations made to the NSW ALP by the developer, Village Building Company, to charity.
“Mr Sartor is dodging a broadening donations scandal by arguing he rezoned land for the Tralee development because of housing shortages,” Ms Rhiannon said.
“Minister Sartor’s own expert panel found in 2006 that there are ‘alternative areas for residential development’ not so adversely affected by significant aircraft noise. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Planning, Political donations, Openness & accountability, Corporate welfare | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
Greens members and MPs are today joining unionists and community activists to tell the NSW government to abandon Treasurer Michael Costa’s scheme to privatise the state’s electricity industry.
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: “Treasurer Costa has wedged his own government.
“Premier Iemma and the Labor caucus can either rein him in and back down on the sell-off or they can blunder on with the increasingly unpopular scheme and pay the political price. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Events, Community, Social justice, Ecological Sustainability | No Comments »
Friday, February 22nd, 2008
After questioning Climate Change Minister Penny Wong in Senate Estimates hearings today, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said that the Government’s claim to have science-based climate change policies is a complete nonsense.
Senator Milne said “The Rudd Labor Government has plucked its 60% 2050 target from the atmosphere and has foolishly locked itself into this target even though it must now understand it has no scientific validity.
“When asked what her understanding of dangerous climate change was, Minister Wong could not answer. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Planning, Climate change, Renewable energy | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008
(letter to the Braidwood Times, February 20)
Abolishing Section 94 developer contributions – now there’s an idea (“Section 94 rorts”, BT, Feb 6). Perhaps at the same time we could encourage all developers to make their sub-divisions into the 99 year lease variety as opposed to strata title, something that Council almost approved for a local development at its Feb 14 meeting. I say almost because the business papers recommended that the conditions be modified as per the developer’s wishes but a late report to the meeting revealed that it was probably not in Council’s (or the community’s?) best interests to agree to this as it would mean that only one, not 70, set of rates and charges could then be applied. A close call. (more…)
Posted in Letters to the editor, Democracy, Community, Planning, Local Government, Social justice, Palerang Council | No Comments »
Monday, February 18th, 2008
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Planning Minister Frank Sartor to stand aside while an independent investigation is carried out into his involvement in soliciting developers to attend his own fundraiser that raised more than $500,000.
“Premier Morris Iemma needs to take action. For a planning minister to hold a function for developers opens the government up to perceptions of bribes and corruption,” Ms Rhiannon said.
“Mr Sartor should stand aside from his portfolio responsibilities while an independent investigation is carried out. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Community, Planning, Political donations, Openness & accountability, Corruption, Corporate welfare | No Comments »
Friday, February 15th, 2008
(councillor contribution for February edition of the Palerang Bulletin)
The first Council meeting of the year has got off to a flying start with the rejection of a proposal to hire a consultant to complete the first draft of the new LEP by July. The $100 000 required to fund it, a drop in the ocean compared to what has been spent on the LEP so far, was available in the budget due to some unfilled planning positions, and agreement to hire a consultant might have freed up planning staff to focus on the large backlog of development applications, but it was not to be. (more…)
Posted in Democracy, Water, Community, Planning, Elections, Social justice, Political donations, Palerang Council | No Comments »
Thursday, February 14th, 2008
Matters arising, questions and statements… (more…)
Posted in Genetic engineering, Water, Community, Planning, Social justice, Political donations, Palerang Council, Openness & accountability, Indigenous | No Comments »
Thursday, February 14th, 2008
The Senate descended into climate chaos today in response to a motion moved by Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, calling on the Government to phase out perverse subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and reverse its decision to cut research funding into climate change science and renewable energy programs.
Senator Milne said “Anyone who thought a new era on climate had dawned, with the new Prime Minister saying that ‘climate change represents one of the greatest moral, economic and environmental challenges of our age’ had better think again. At the first test in the first sitting week, the new Government voted against a motion to prioritise climate programs
above fossil fuel subsidies. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Climate change, Ecological Sustainability, Renewable energy, Corporate welfare | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
A gas-fired baseload power station being built near Wollongong further undermines the NSW government’s pretext for electricity privatisation, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
Commenting on a story on page 5 of the today’s Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Kaye said: “Treasurer Michael Costa argues that public ownership of the state’s electricity supply industry is a barrier to private sector investment in baseload capacity.
“Mr Costa needs to get out more. “On the shores of Lake Illawarra, near Wollongong, China Light and Power’s Australian subsidiary, TRUenergy is close to completing a 400 MW gas-fired baseload power station. (more…)
Posted in Media releases, Community, Planning, Climate change, Social justice | 1 Comment »