Monday 12 February 2018

ECT Consent, Return & Earn, Glebe Island Facility, RFA Review, ICLC Fundraiser, Fix Transport Rally, Chinese New Year & Mardi Gras 2018

ECT CONSENT

In Parliament I spoke against changes to the Mental Health Act to expand the ability of the Mental Health Review Tribunal to review involuntary treatment plans or authorise the use of electro convulsive treatment without a patient being present. Currently the tribunal attempts to phone every patient before a hearing to ensure they are given the opportunity to attend. Patient involvement is essential to recovery and I am concerned the tribunal will be forced to add more weight to what treating medical officers say. A recent government report exposed the trauma patients experience when excluded from decisions on their treatment, particularly when restraint and seclusion are used. My speech is HERE.

RETURN & EARN

There is strong community support for container deposit schemes but I’ve heard concerns from constituents that there are still limited options to return bottles and cans in parts of the inner city, particularly in Darlinghurst, Woollahra and Paddington. While I understand it will take some time for the system to function at its best, I’ve asked the Minister for the Environment to increase the number of collection points in the inner city, including at hubs where people buy drinks such as malls and train stations. My questions HERE. Check collection point locations HERE.

GLEBE ISLAND FACILITY

The Port Authority proposes a dry bulk materials facility at Glebe Island that would take delivery of sand and aggregates by sea. The project would operate 24 hours seven days a week and have an enclosed storage building to feed materials into storage bays, with internal truck facilities to reduce noise emissions. I am still reviewing the proposal and will make a submission. I’m concerned about possible noise, dust and pollution impacts and truck movements between the facility and the CBD.
Submissions close 28 February HERE.

RFA REVIEW 

Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are 20 year agreements between state and Commonwealth governments that set limits on logging in public native forests. Under these agreements, intensive logging has decimated our forests including habitat of threatened species including the koala and vital carbon stores. The agreements are up for review and the government has already committed to extending them before it has finished its consultation process. It is important that the community expresses its opposition of unsustainable logging and the need to protect what we have left. I will ask further questions in parliament and I encourage you to view environment groups’ submission guide to use to lodge your concerns.

Comments are due 23 February through the National Parks Association’s online tools HERE.

ICLC FUNDRAISER

‘In Conversation with Justice Michael Kirby & Uncle Jack Charles’ on 19 February 6.30-8.30pm at Belvoir Street Theatre will raise funds for the Inner City Legal Centre. The event looks at the portrayal, treatment and contribution of the LGBTIQ community with the law and theatre HERE.

FIX NSW TRANSPORT RALLY

A coalition of groups has organised a rally calling on the NSW Government to invest in public transport instead of private motorways.

It’s on Saturday 17 February 2-4pm at the Archibald Fountain Hyde Park, information HERE.

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Celebrate the Lunar New Year for the Year of the Dog at the City of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival 16 February to 4 March, with over 80 mostly free cultural events, markets, tours, exhibitions and entertainment: Information HERE.

MARDI GRAS 2018

The Sydney Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras Festival is on 16 February to 4 March and this year celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1978 protests with a range of cultural events, Fair Day at Victoria Park on Sunday 18 February and the massive parade on Saturday 3 March: Information HERE.