Monday 10 April 2017

Planning Bill, Greyhound Backflip, St Peters Interchange, New Ferries, Women of Pyrmont and Radio Reports

Panning Bill  

Climate change is the biggest threat to our future and while highly polluting activities like mines and roads are approved through the planning system, climate change targets were not featured in the draft planning bill. My submission supported environment groups’ calls for a climate change object in the act to guide all decisions.

The draft bill included important improvements to community consultation and complying development oversight, but it did not represent the new direction needed to protect the state’s future sustainability and liveability. My submission is HERE. 

Greyhound Backflip

Backflips in politics should be reserved for bad decisions but last week the government and opposition joined forces to overturn the greyhound racing ban, which was introduced out of compassion for animal welfare following shocking revelations of cruelty. While the bill included some improvements to welfare standards, cruelty will continue because the industry is notorious for cover-ups and cruelty is party of the business model. A truly civilised society does not promote suffering and torture of animals for the sake of gambling and I voted against the bill. My speeches are HERE and HERE.

St Peters Interchange

The appalling plans for the Westconnex St Peters interchange are on exhibition for public comment until 30 April. The ugly spaghetti-lane junction will overpower Sydney Park with concrete barriers, noise and pollution, funnelling thousands of cars onto an already congested inner city network. Hundreds of trees will be lost. It’s all the more shocking with revelations in The Sydney Morning Herald today that government transport planners have been told to prioritise roads projects over more beneficial and economical public transport options.  I encourage you to attend the information session Wednesday 12 April 5pm-8pm at the Community Information Centre 27 Burrows Road St Peters and to make a submission opposing the plans. For information phone 1800 660 248 or visit www.westconnex.com.au.

New Ferries

I asked the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure last year about return ferry trips from Pyrmont back to the CBD to improve public transport access from this densely populated peninsular. So the commitment to a new F4 ferry route from October that includes Pyrmont, Barangaroo, Balmain East, McMahons Point, Milsons Point, Circular Quay, Rose Bay and Watsons Bay is good news and will help residents and workers.

Women of Pyrmont 

I was pleased to join federal MP Tanya Plibersek to launch the new book ‘Women of Pyrmont’, which shows how women in the newly redeveloped Pyrmont built a strong and connected community. I congratulated all those involved with the book in Parliament, HERE. 

Radio Reports

I recently talked on ABC Radio National’s Nightlife with Sarah Macdonald, who asked Californian Senator Ricardo Lara and me about friendship, politics and marriage quality (30 mins), listen HERE.

Dean Beck interviewed me on Joy FM about my work as an MP and advocate (1 hour), listen HERE.