Monday 5 May 2017

FESL Review, Addressing Homelessness, Makaratta, Assessing Pokies, This is Sirius & Sydney Pride

FESL Review

I’ve written to the Treasurer to oppose big increases in the Fire and Emergency Services Levy after constituents calculated what they would have to pay under the new system. The government promised reduced costs by basing the levy on property ownership instead of insurance coverage but the new formula is producing phenomenal increases.  

The widespread outrage led the government to now defer the levy and review the formula. The existing insurance levy will stay for now. Information HERE.

Addressing Homelessness

I’m concerned about the increased numbers of people sleeping rough across the inner city and in Parliament asked the Minister for Social Housing for action to help those sleeping rough in Woolloomooloo, Belmore Park, Martin Place, and Wentworth Park.

We urgently need a second Common Ground project like that in Camperdown, which provides long term homeless people with complex needs a home and onsite support to get back on their feet. My questions are HERE and HERE.

Assessing Pokies

Liquor and Gaming NSW is reviewing the impact assessment process for approving poker machines. The process is meant to stop the concentration of poker machines in neighbourhoods but this has not worked well. You can comment by 18 June HERE.

Makaratta

Fifty years on from the 1967 referendum that changed the Australian constitution, the Statement on the First Nations National Constitutional Convention released the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ to set a new agenda for reconciliation with Australia’s First Nations people. It calls for a representative voice to contribute to the Parliament and a treaty or Makaratta. I’ve asked the Premier what the NSW Government will do to further this process, HERE.

Information is available at referendumcouncil.org.au, theconversation.com and australianstogether.org.au

The NSW Parliament is holding a ‘Late Night Sitting’ event with Professor Larissa Behrendt, Research Director at the UTS Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning discussing the 1967 referendum 5-7pm Tuesday 20 June. Visit the historical exhibition on the topic in the vestibule. Details HERE.

This is Sirius

The ‘This is Sirius’ exhibition celebrates the purpose-built brutalist Sirius building at The Rocks and its residents, with about 60 exhibits and a preview of the documentary ‘Forced Out’ about the destruction of the Millers Point social housing community. The exhibition is at the Annie Wyatt Room, National Trust Centre Observatory Hill from 8 to 16 June 10am-4.30pm. Details: http://saveoursirius.org/

Sydney Pride

The Sydney PRIDE Festival runs from 9 to 28 June. Details: www.sydneypride.com or facebook.com/sydneypridefestival