Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Senator for NSW, has congratulated and thanked Greens candidates, members and supporters for a strong Greens result in the NSW state election but has also warned of the challenges for the Federal election with the far right’s re-introduction in NSW parliament. The Greens have retained all their lower house seats with increased margins and are on track to electing two members to Upper House.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“The Greens campaigned for a bold vision for our future, for tackling climate change, to build a 100% renewable energy revolution and to end the influence of big money in politics. These messages have resonated with the community who have placed their confidence in the Greens in NSW by returning seats in Ballina, Newtown and Balmain with increased margins.
“A massive thank you to Greens members, candidates and volunteers who worked hard over many months building our collective movement to change the political agenda. We will continue to hold the Liberal-National Government to account and stand against their destructive agenda.
“The NSW election result also brings a warning that hate politics are back on the scene. The re-introduction of One Nation with their openly racist views and policies is a challenge that has to be addressed head on at the Federal election.
“There must be no tolerance of racism in our country. There is no room for division in our society.
“Only the Greens will stave off the far-right and fearlessly stand up against bigotry and xenophobia,” she concluded.
Month: March 2019
M4 work will be paid off by September 2019, why will Western Sydney pay for 43 years?
Analysis of NSW Road Toll Data has revealed that if toll revenue continues at its current rate, the M4 widening will be paid off by September 2019.
Despite this, Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian has locked Western Sydney into paying tolls for 43 years.
Regular Western Sydney commuters are slugged more $2,000 a year travelling on the M4, making the toll one of the biggest cost of living issues of the election.
NSW Labor Leader, Michael Daley said: “The Liberals are keeping their M4 toll, while Labor is re-introducing the M4 Cashback.
“The voters of Western Sydney have a clear choice.”
This follows Premier Berejiklian announcing that there will be a second new M4 toll under a Liberal Government in the Sky News leader’s debate. Then in a late night tweet she said she wouldn’t introduce a new M4 toll.
In the debate the Premier was asked if there would be a second toll west of Parramatta. She said there would be under the Liberals. This part of the M4 is currently toll-free.
“Every person I speak to is already feeling the pinch from rising costs. Western Sydney motorists shouldn’t have to pay this unfair toll for 43 years.” Labor’s candidate for Penrith, Karen McKeown said.
Consequences for cotton farmer who ripped off the river
The Australian Greens are renewing calls for a federal Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin following the conviction of a NSW cotton grower who stole water from the river.
“The conviction of Anthony Barlow, who has admitted to stealing water from the river, should send shock waves through big corporate irrigators throughout the Murray Darling Basin. The river is in crisis, a Royal Commission is sorely needed to clean out the rot and hold those responsible to account,” Greens environment and water spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“It has been almost two years since allegations of Anthony Barlow’s water theft were exposed on ABC’s Four Corners, and five months since he pleaded guilty to charges. We know the scandals plaguing our river run much deeper than one cotton farmer doing wrong by his neighbours and the environment.
“The Greens push for a federal Royal Commission has a groundswell of support across the country. Particularly from those on the frontline in affected river communities – people who have no clean water to drink or bathe in, or have been victims of neighbours stealing water from the River. The message must be clear: if you steal water from the environment and your neighbours, there will be consequences.
“The Murray Darling Basin Plan is in tatters, thanks to water theft, meter tampering, and special treatment from the Nationals for their big corporate irrigator mates. River communities will not sit by while corporate greed kills our environment and drains our water supply.
“We urgently need a Royal Commission into the mismanagement and over-extraction of water in the Murray Darling Basin. Australians deserve better, we need a healthy river – it is the lifeblood of our country.”
Greens announce plan for federal fracking ban
The Greens will move to protect Australia’s precious groundwater by extending the ‘water trigger’ to all types of unconventional gas mining as part of the their plan to ban fracking across Australia, mining and resources spokesperson Larissa Waters will announce today.
Senator Waters said while working on the ultimate goal of a complete ban, amending the ‘water trigger’ to ensure the Environment Minister must fully consider any negative impacts on water or groundwater of an unconventional gas mining project before deciding whether to approve it, would go a long way to protecting our water.
“Fracking is a disaster for our farmland, groundwater, environment and climate, with dangerous methane pollution leaking from wells and pipes as ‘fugitive’ emissions,” Senator Waters said.
“We’re on the driest inhabited continent on the planet, which is experiencing unprecedented drought, protection of our precious groundwater must come before the profits of gas companies.
“It’s time for Australia to join the global movement against fracking. Bans or moratoriums are already in place in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Wales, Scotland, New York State in the USA and Quebec in Canada.
“States and Territories like Tasmania, Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and parts of NSW have already responded to the community and taken the first steps towards phasing out this dangerous industry – but sadly, fracking is still legal in Queensland, Western Australia and the NT.
“The Greens have been campaigning against the polluting unconventional gas industry since 2010 but Labor and the LNP continue to champion gas because they take political donations from the gas companies.
“Landholders, including traditional owners, cannot say no to unconventional gas because the major parties keep saying yes to their mining donor mates.
“We have energy alternatives which don’t threaten our climate, health, land, and that will create new jobs for workers and communities – CSG can frack off, for the sake of a better future for all of us.”
Stop Fracking and Unconventional Gas policy here: https://greens.org.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Greens%20Election%202019-Stop%20Fracking.pdf
Motorcyclist dies in Hunter Valley crash
The New England Highway remains closed to southbound traffic following the death of a motorcyclist in a collision in the Hunter Valley tonight.
Emergency services were called to the New England Highway near Whittingham, after a motorcycle and two cars collided shortly before 7.30pm (Friday 22 March 2019).
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District rendered assistance; however, the 50-year-old rider died at the scene.
All southbound traffic on the New England Highway is closed at the Golden Highway; diversions are in place. Northbound traffic is reduced to a single lane.
Officers from the Crash Investigation Unit are en route to the scene and traffic is expected to be disrupted for some hours.
The Liberals' secret plan to toll the M4 from Penrith to Parramatta revealed
In a massive hit to Western Sydney families just days out from the election, Premier Berejiklian said there will be a second new M4 toll under a Liberal Government in the Sky News leader’s debate.
The current M4 toll is the single largest cost of living issue affecting many M4 commuters in Western Sydney.
In a late night tweet Premier Berejiklian then said she wouldn’t introduce a new M4 toll.
In the debate the Premier was asked if there would be a second toll west of Parramatta. She said there would be under the Liberals. This part of the M4 is currently toll-free.
“Either the Premier is so out of touch she doesn’t know where the tolls are or she slipped up and revealed her real plans for after the election,” Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car, said.
The current M4 toll costs more than $2,000 a year for a regular commuter – dwarfing soaring electricity prices.
The Liberals are keeping their M4 toll, while Labor is introducing a M4 toll Cashback.
“Every person I speak to is already feeling the pinch from rising costs. A secret new toll would be cruel and unaffordable. It will blow the family budget for tens of thousands of Western Sydney commuters.” Labor Leader, Michael Daley, said.
“This will not happen under Labor. I cannot be more certain, under a Government I lead there will no new tolls on old roads. In fact we will introduce massive cut to tolls paid with our M4 Cashback.”
“This will send a shockwave through Western Sydney,” Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, Prue Car, said.
“It is a disaster for family budgets and the Liberals know this, it’s why they have never whispered a word of a new toll before tonight.”
Labor is committed to a M4 Cashback, which was costed in the independent Parliamentary Budget Office’s official statement.
Labor to deliver justice for light rail victims
Michael Daley and Labor will set aside $100 million to make sure the affected residents and businesses devastated by Premier Berejiklian’s botched Sydney Light Rail project will be properly compensated so they can repair the damage done to their lives and livelihoods by Premier Berejiklian’s pet project.
Labor’s plan will provide additional resources for residents and businesses who are affected so they can get back on their feet and restore some order to their lives wrecked by this project which has dragged on for years.
A Daley Labor Government will also ask the independent NSW Ombudsman to examine complaints made in the past to determine whether Transport for NSW dealt with complainants fairly and in good faith.
Residents and businesses affected by these disastrous project have suffered;
- Property damage
- Excessive dust & debris
- Construction at all hours
- Excessive noise at all hours
- Excessive light
- Loss of access to homes and businesses
- Loss of foot traffic and trade
- Destruction of heritage and loss of public space
- Reduced accessibility to homes and businesses.
NSW Labor Leader Michael Daley said, “Residents and businesses affected by this botched project have been waiting for years for a Government that treats them with the respect they deserve.
“Premier Berejiklian and Minister Constance haven’t listened to the people affected by this project, residents and businesses feel completely ignored by the Government.
“This is long overdue for the residents and businesses across Sydney who have been hurt by these projects. A Labor Government will see justice done.”
Unemployment at equal lowest level in 10 years
Today’s ABS labour force figures show the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.9 per cent, the equal lowest level since December 2008.
There are more Australians in work than ever before. Total employment has increased by 284,100 over the year, to a record high of 12,763,400. Full-time employment is 210,000 higher than it was a year ago.
Again, the level of female total employment has reached a new record high of 6,002,400. Female full-time employment also stands at a record high, at 3,249,100.
A total of 1,288,200 jobs have been created since the Government came to office in September 2013.
Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP, said today’s figures show the danger of changing course from an economic plan which is working.
“Our economy is facing global headwinds and that’s why we need to stick to our plan, which is helping to build a stronger economy,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
“By contrast, Labor’s only plan for the economy is $200 billion of higher taxes on your retirement, your superannuation, your house, your business and your income.”
“Let’s not forget that the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 4.4 per cent to 5.7 per cent under Labor. In their final year in office, full-time employment actually fell by 20,300.”
“All that Labor’s taxes and job-destroying policies will do is hurt Australians, including many on low and middle incomes, and older Australians,” Minister O’Dwyer concluded.
Greens announce plan for federal fracking ban
The Greens will move to protect Australia’s precious groundwater by extending the ‘water trigger’ to all types of unconventional gas mining as part of the their plan to ban fracking across Australia, mining and resources spokesperson Larissa Waters will announce today.
Senator Waters said while working on the ultimate goal of a complete ban, amending the ‘water trigger’ to ensure the Environment Minister must fully consider any negative impacts on water or groundwater of an unconventional gas mining project before deciding whether to approve it, would go a long way to protecting our water.
“Fracking is a disaster for our farmland, groundwater, environment and climate, with dangerous methane pollution leaking from wells and pipes as ‘fugitive’ emissions,” Senator Waters said.
“We’re on the driest inhabited continent on the planet, which is experiencing unprecedented drought, protection of our precious groundwater must come before the profits of gas companies.
“It’s time for Australia to join the global movement against fracking. Bans or moratoriums are already in place in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Wales, Scotland, New York State in the USA and Quebec in Canada.
“States and Territories like Tasmania, Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and parts of NSW have already responded to the community and taken the first steps towards phasing out this dangerous industry – but sadly, fracking is still legal in Queensland, Western Australia and the NT.
“The Greens have been campaigning against the polluting unconventional gas industry since 2010 but Labor and the LNP continue to champion gas because they take political donations from the gas companies.
“Landholders, including traditional owners, cannot say no to unconventional gas because the major parties keep saying yes to their mining donor mates.
“We have energy alternatives which don’t threaten our climate, health, land, and that will create new jobs for workers and communities – CSG can frack off, for the sake of a better future for all of us.”
Stop Fracking and Unconventional Gas policy here: https://greens.org.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Greens%20Election%202019-Stop%20Fracking.pdf
Greens Environment Commission would fund and track threatened species recovery
Reports that the Federal Government has not kept track of threatened species recovery shows the need for the Greens’ proposal to strengthen environmental laws and establish a National Environment Commission.
“We need to get serious about threatened species recovery. The days of throwing small amounts of money at pet projects without any follow through must end. A National Environment Commission would ensure that threatened species recovery was prioritised and tracked,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Our environmental laws are broken, and the hard work of the many excellent staff in the Environment Department is undermined and eroded by a system that is too easily flouted.
“The Liberals cannot be trusted on saving our threatened species, as we learn time and again. Labor is yet to commit to strengthening our environmental laws.
“Our care for the environment should be based on facts, not the whims of the government of the day. We need to get down to the business of restoring ecosystems, addressing climate breakdown and making sure we leave a thriving planet.
“The Greens have a plan to restore and protect our environment, which includes stronger environmental laws, establishing a body to fund and track the recovery of our threatened species, and a national Environment Protection Authority with teeth to enforce real consequences for those who are wrecking our natural world.”