Tuesday 19 June 2018

Stadium Rebuild, Marriage Equality, Destroying Forests, Cutler Footway & DeafBlind Awareness

STADIUM REBUILD

The concept plan for a new Sydney Football Stadium is on exhibition for public comment until 11 July. This includes demolishing the existing stadium to build a 45,000 seat building a few metres away. Another 26 trees will be removed and I am concerned about impacts on Moore Park and local traffic during events. Details HERE.

There is no justification for the massive waste of public funds and the government is rushing this process. Please make a submission to raise your concerns! Send me a copy so I’m aware of all the issues for my objection.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Six months after federal marriage equality laws passed, the NSW Parliament updated state laws to reflect that married people include same sex couples and couples who are in gender diverse relationships. While the bill mostly involved consequential changes to language, it also removed the cruel and discriminatory ‘forced trans divorce’ provisions, which prevented someone who had undergone sex affirmation surgery from updating their birth certificate with their new sex if they were already married. I welcome this further step towards equality and in Parliament called for more work to remedy the attacks on vulnerable people during the plebiscite campaign, including trans and gender diverse people and the children of same-sex parented families.

I am committed to working with government, opposition, and crossbench MPs to remove the need for forced surgical intervention for people transitioning sex or gender and welcome the Attorney-General’s commitment to consider proposals. My speech is HERE.

DESTROYING FORESTS

Logging our State forests is unsustainable. It drives biodiversity loss, pollutes our waters and contributes to climate change. Alarmingly operations are intensifying and traditionally protected areas like old growth forests could be at risk from a drive to supply timber. There is no such thing as ‘sustainable forestry’ and we urgently need to develop a transition plan that creates new opportunities for regional communities like forest conservation, national parks and tourism, sustainable plantations and different industries like oyster farming. Forestry jobs are declining and a creative and resourceful government would find a solution that protects the long term future of forests.

Business as usual is not an option and in Parliament I opposed the government bill that will prolong logging until there is almost nothing left. My speech is HERE.

Don't forget the National Parks Association of NSW, Nature Conservation Council and Wilderness Society forest logging report launch I’m hosting in Parliament 6.30-8.30pm Wednesday 20 June. Learn about native timber logging impacts and what you can do to change this HERE. There’s also a rally to stand up for public native forests and wildlife outside Parliament Thursday 12.30-1.15pm, information HERE.

CUTLER FOOTWAY

Work is due to start on a new footway attached to the Burton Street viaduct, including drainage and work in Boundary Street and Barcom Avenue. Free 389 bus travel remains in place for those unable to use the stairs up and down across the road. Details HERE.

DEAFBLIND AWARENESS

Events during the week 24-30 June promote the abilities of people with deafblindness and works to build their full inclusion in their communities. Support the campaign by wearing red and white on Monday 25 June and check local events HERE.