Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen today learnt in Parliament that possibly for the first time ever, the umpire’s report on the secrecy of the details of government funding for Boral, would itself remain ‘secret’.

“On the 18th October, 2006, the government allowed my ‘call for papers’ on the detail of at least $22 million dollars worth of government funding for Boral, under the Forest Industry Structural Adjustment Program.

“Having allowed my ‘call for papers’, the government, via the Department of Primary Industries eventually released some documents, but with relevant information withheld under privilege. (more…)

A Bill to fast track the $1.5 Billion Penola Pulp Mill project has been introduced into State Parliament, bypassing normal planning rules.

“The legislation to approve the Penola Pulp Mill is a shoddy piece of work based on old science containing scant details about how the mill will be built and operated”, was the initial reaction of Greens MLC and environmental lawyer, Mark Parnell.

“The Parliamentary Select Committee looking into the Bill must seriously consider the option of abandoning a legislative approach and insisting on a proper Environmental Impact Assessment before the Pulp Mill progresses any further”, he added. (more…)

Dr JOHN KAYE [5.36 p.m.] (Inaugural Speech): As a matter of protocol, and also as a mark of respect, I acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land on which this Parliament sits. I pay my respects to the elders, past and present. I also pay my respects to those who, 40 years ago, struggled for and achieved constitutional recognition for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their rights to at least be counted as part of the census. Their success sits proudly in the great Australian history of struggle—a history of social justice activists, unionists, environmentalists and a stirrers, people who created a powerful tradition of taking the notion that it does not have to be this way and translating it into action. That tradition even to this day says that working people deserve a fair share of this nation’s wealth, that corporations should not be allowed to ravage our environment, and that economic disadvantage should neither be punished by impoverishment nor allowed to become an inherited condition. (more…)

(councillor contribution for May 30 edition of Bungendore Bulletin)

I was horrified to hear recently news of the clearing of 750 hectares of the Gwydir floodplain – internationally protected wetlands which were home to more than 200 species of rare and endangered birds.  I heard the report on breakfast radio last week, and the most chilling part about it was the email from a group calling itself the “Commonwealth Property Protection Association”.  This group refused to be interviewed by the ABC but an email sent to the national broadcaster suggested that much worse was yet to come.  (more…)

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey described the Legal Affairs inquiry into her Court Procedures Amendment Bill, as both important and constructive.

“The Legal Affairs Committee has recommended a model Bill to provide legal protection for public participation in political issues.  The model Bill is informed by the evidence collected during the committee process and would improve on the Bill I introduced in 2005″ Dr Foskey said today.

“As a committee we found that there is a need for legislation to protect the right of citizens and organisations to publicly participate in and contest proposed developments and activities.”   (more…)

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called on the Rann Government to immediately release the report of climate change Thinker in Residence Stephen Schneider.

Responding to an interview in today’s Advertiser, in which Professor Schneider stated that the nine month delay was because the report was ‘too controversial’, Mark Parnell stated:

“What’s the point of paying to bring international experts out here, if you are not even prepared to listen to what they say? (more…)

The state government has removed a requirement for all new sewage treatment plants built near rivers and creeks to undergo an environmental impact assessment.

The government introduced the regulation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision in favour of a Blue Mountains community group which had taken legal action against a proposal to build an 84 dwelling housing and tourism development which would require an on-site sewage treatment plant to be built next to a world heritage area and within 150 metres of
a creek that feeds into the Sydney water supply. (more…)

The Greens today reaffirmed their opposition to AWAs and statutory individual agreements in the wake of allegations that a company owned by Therese Rein underpaid employees on common law contracts.

“What this whole episode shows is the vital importance of a strong award safety net of wages and conditions. With an award underpinning their contracts, these employees and others like them are able to claim their underpaid wages back,” said Greens industrial relations spokesperson, Senator Rachel Siewert. (more…)

Profits made by the NSW Government for construction and health services at the internationally condemned Nauru immigration detention facility should be donated to refugee charities, Greens immigration spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle said today.

“The Labor party cannot have it both ways; either it is against the Pacific solution or it profits from it,” Senator Nettle
said.

“The NSW Government is up to its eyeballs in the squalor of the Pacific solution. Now it’s time to come clean,” Senator Nettle said. (more…)

The Environmental Risk Management Authority’s (ERMA) decision to allow field testing of genetically engineered brassica crops risks sending good money after bad, with no chance that the New Zealand public will ever agree to eat this plant or have it grown commercially here.

“This decision will allow for pest resistant forage kale, cabbages, cauliflower, and broccoli containing a caterpillar killing pesticide to be taken out of the laboratory into a field.

“Brassica is a particularly problematic crop. Brassica pollen travels large distances, the seeds are small and brassicas cross easily, with hundreds of variants in existence. (more…)