Australia Day. What does it mean?

For the First Australians, it represents the take-over of their land with the arrival of the first governor and the subsequent events which led to dispossession, disease, genocide and prejudice, not to mention mismanagement and destruction of the land and water systems that had provided for them for so long.

It re-emphasises the failure to acknowledge that Indigenous people were here for tens of thousands of years before the British flag was planted on the soil of what was conveniently called “Terra Nullius” - land belonging to no-one.

This in turn is further emphasised by the flying, draping, parading and wearing of the Australian flag, featuring the colonisers’ Union Jack in the left hand corner. And if that wasn’t enough, the notion of Terra Nullius is rammed home even more by the singing of the National Anthem with its first lines - “Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.”

What’s to celebrate? (more…)

Greens NSW MP John Kaye today issued a challenge to the owners of the Eden chipmill to publicly debate their proposed 5 megawatt native forestry biomass power station.

Dr Kaye said: “The Rees government has effectively shut the public out of the planning process for this highly destructive proposal.

“It is essential that the plans are tested in an open forum. If the power station goes ahead, it will have devastating impacts on the native forests of the South East. Greenhouse gas emissions will increase and local air quality will be damaged.

“There are huge question marks over chipmill owner SEFE’s long term plans. (more…)

The Member for Indooroopilly, Ronan Lee, is Queensland’s first Greens MP. Mr Lee resigned from the Labor Party today.

Mr Lee, who won Indooroopilly from the Liberals in 2001 and then retained the seat in 2004 and 2006, says he will provide a strong, sensible response to the climate crisis for Queensland.

Mr Lee said, “Queensland needs to take advantage of its natural advantages to make our state the world’s leading solar power economy.

“We also need to focus our infrastructure spending on building a world-class public transport system.”

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said, “Ronan Lee’s move will give the Queensland Parliament a strong and intelligent Greens advocate to lead debate on the best social and economic way forward in an age of environmental and economic crisis”.

“Now there will be a responsible voice free to challenge those old Labor and National-Liberal policies which, for example threaten the death of the Great Barrier Reef and tens of thousands of jobs dependent on it within a generation”. (more…)

The Greens in the four NSW by-elections to be held on October 18 will recommend that voters do not preference Labor or the Coalition parties.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said “The Greens by-election campaigns in all four NSW seats will issue how-to-vote cards that show how voters can ensure their preferences do not end up with either Labor, Liberal or National candidates.

“Preferences in these by-elections could be crucial. The Greens are urging voters to ignore the major parties and direct preferences to maximise the chances of a Greens or progressive independent MP being elected.

“The Labor government’s record on public service delivery, power industry sell-off plans and poor performance on environmental protection highlight that they do not deserve preferences.

“Coalition policies are weak in key environmental and social justice areas. Voters would be unwise to give their preferences to either Liberal or National candidates. (more…)

Contributions from Cr Moore, including Matters arising (that demolition again, the Araluen Progress Association’s missing submission, and Cr Gardiner’s report card); councillor remuneration; the mayoral bid; meeting venues; and Questions and Statements (including the death of Christoph Alternburg, thanks for support): (more…)

Jamie Parker was elected as the first Greens Mayor of Leichhardt at last night’s council meeting at Leichhardt Town Hall. Fellow Greens councillor Michele McKenzie was elected Deputy Mayor.

Councillor Parker has served on Council since 1999 and has previously served as Deputy Mayor.

He was elected by nine votes to three over Liberal Party nominee, Gordon Weiss. In addition to the votes of the six Greens councillors Councillor Parker received support from the two Labor and the Independent Councillors. Councillor McKenzie was elected Deputy Mayor by the same margin.

The election of Leichhardt’s first Greens Mayor has been welcomed by Sylvia Hale the NSW Greens MP and Local Government spokesperson.

“Jamie Parker joins the popularly elected Jan Barham from Byron Bay as the Greens second Mayor arising from the recent local government elections,” said Ms Hale.

“The result in Leichhardt, where the Greens received over 46% of the primary vote, is a wonderful vote of confidence in the work of Greens councillors.” (more…)

The Greens say a landmark agreement by all sides of politics to urgently investigate how to save the Coorong and lower lakes of the Murray can be a blueprint for future action by the Senate.

Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young today moved that the Rural and Regional Affairs Committee “urgently inquire into the availability of water for the Murray River’s lower lakes and Coorong regions, to save our Storm Boy country”, which was supported unanimously.

“Today we moved from talk to action to save a national icon and help Australians in need. There’s nothing Australians can’t achieve when all sides of politics work together,” Senator Hanson-Young said. (more…)

(councillor contribution for August edition of the Palerang Bulletin)

At the last Council Meeting Cr Matt presented Part One of his report card for Palerang Council and suggested that other councillors might like to do the same, as we come to the end of our term. It’s a good idea, but if I’m to give my personal perspective, I am hard pressed to come up with much that’s positive.

The last four years have provided some of the more unpleasant experiences of my life. I’ve talked before on these pages about my early attempts to introduce safe meeting procedure, rejected by nearly all around the table. And when things deteriorated, I requested that we have team building and conflict resolution, but the professional employed to talk to us all individually and then come up with a plan to help us sort out our differences and get on with the job came to the conclusion that it was a lost cause, and that there was nothing he could do for us. (more…)

Business Arising, notes for agenda items, including Amendments to the DCP, Telstra towers, questions and statements (more…)