Tuesday 30 August 2016

SCG Planning, Greyhound Racing Ends, Devonshire Street Work, Support Safe Schools, Art from the Heart of the Cross and Office Move

SCG Planning

The government and opposition joined to block my bill that would have required SCG Trust development proposals to involve public consultation, and independent assessments and determinations. Currently developments get signed off by the sports minister behind closed doors and neighbours find out when buildings go up.

Neither government nor opposition gave any credible justification for this extraordinary exemption, which does not apply to developers, schools, universities, hospitals, churches, jails, aged care facilities or government departments.

My media release is HERE and speech is HERE.

Greyhound Racing Ends

The NSW Parliament banned greyhound racing from 1 July 2017. Greyhound racing supports systemic cruelty including thousands of dogs killed for being too slow, long term kennelling of racing dogs, DIY treatment of injured dogs, live baiting and the reliance on gambling and during debate I congratulated the government for making a decision based on compassion. Disappointingly the opposition played politics and opposed the bill. My speech is HERE. 

Devonshire St Work

Work on the light rail project along Devonshire Street Surry Hills begins from 29 August, with a work zone between Chalmers and Elizabeth Street and changes to traffic and parking. Use other routes if you can.
Information: ALTRAC Light Rail [email protected] or general enquiries 1800 684 490 Construction Response Line 1800 775 465.

Safe Schools

I share community concern about a petition tabled in Parliament asking the government to end the Safe Schools program in NSW schools. Despite the scare campaigns and misleading information about the program’s content, many schools support the Safe Schools program and their students do better. All schools should be safe and inclusive for all students!

Details about the Safe Schools program: www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au.

Sign the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby petition in support of Safe Schools HERE.  

Art From The Heart Of The Cross

Join me 1pm Saturday 3 September for the annual Art from the Heart of the Cross at the Kings Cross Neighbourhood Service Centre 50 Darlinghurst Road. The exhibition features paintings, drawings and poems showcasing the creative and artistic abilities of Medically Supervised Injecting Centre clients and is open to till 17 September. RSVP: [email protected] or telephone 9360 1191.

Office Move

NSW Parliament is moving the Sydney electorate office in mid-September following the end of the lease in Paddington. The new and accessible office is: Ground Floor 21 Oxford Street Darlinghurst (the former Subway shop). Email stays the same but the telephone will change: phone 9267 5999. I’ll let you know when the moving date is set.