Gas is part of Australia’s energy future, Labor has assured fossil fuel bosses.

A greens NSW election campaign launch event was held on Thursday, April 28th. Adam Brandt, Mereen Faruqi, and David Shoebridge were main speakers, after a reflective "welcome to country" by Aunty Rhonda.

MP for Melbourne, and Greens leader Adam Brandt outlined climate and energy measures from Greens election platform, which presents fully costed policies and opportunities for the future of Australia. All the policies detailed have been officially costed by the Parliamentary Budget office. If all revenue raising measures and benefits are implemented, they represent a net savings to the Australian Federal Budget.

The measures outlined in Greens policies meet criteria of excellent social and economic management, and supply the "missing in action" policies still most needed for climate change mitigation, environment protection and repair.

Parramatta Greens Media Release

The Greens announce Councillor Phil Bradley as their Federal candidate for Parramatta.

Phil Bradley, who made history as the City of Parramatta’s first Greens Councillor, has been selected by the Greens as their candidate for the Federal electorate of Parramatta. “I will prioritise urgent climate action,” Clr Bradley says. “Along with Greens Senate candidate David Shoebridge, change is within reach!”

PARRAMATTA GREENS MEDIA RELEASE – 21 October 2021 

Most Parramatta Councillors oppose “doing our fair share” for the climate crisis.   Greens Councillor Phil Bradley called on Parramatta Council to “do its fair share” when it comes to climate change action. He moved that the Council commit to at least a 40 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, but Council failed to do so.

Parramatta Council is planning to replace real grass with synthetic grass in four of its parks - and the Parramatta Greens are sounding the alarm. 

Greens Councillor Phil Bradley says fake grass is much hotter and is bad for the environment.

“Synthetic turf parks are made from non-recyclable plastic and shed microplastics,” Councillor Bradley says. “We can’t let them be rolled out across Parramatta.”

The council is planning to lay synthetic grass on playing fields at Old Saleyards Reserve in North Parramatta, Acacia Park in Telopea, FS Garside Park in Granville and Robin Thomas Reserve in Parramatta. 

Parramatta Council passed the following motion, which was supported by all but Councillors who are Liberal Party members.

Subject: Notice of Motion for 12 July 2021 Council - Probity Checks for Chair, Alternate Chairs and Independent Experts for the City of Parramatta Local Planning Panel

MOTION

That Council write to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces the Hon. Rob Stokes MP referring to his letter IRF 21/584 and asking if the probity checks also included whether the statutory declarations of each chair and expert also declared they were not a close relative or associate of a property developer or real estate agent, and if not, recommending to the Minister that this be done as soon as possible.

Investigation into the Queensland GasFields Commission in 2019 - Doubt was cast over whether the "process adequately manages coal seam gas activities in areas of regional interest". 

Labor supported the Greens Amendments to allow the vote to be passed in the Upper House of Parliament. The Liberals and Nationals members voted against the ban. 

Council elections and politics can attract interesting and "colourful"  candidates, who may prefer not to publicly highlight their associations with developer interests.  This article refers liberal party council pre-selection nominations in the federal electorate of Cook, Scott Morrison's seat. On June 24th 2021, the NSW upper house voted to ban property developers serving as councillors.

The government wants to bulldoze the Willow Grove Heritage house to make way for the new Museum to be built on the banks of the Parramatta River. The North Parramatta Residents Action Group opposes the suitability of the site.

This started with a proposal to move the Ultimo Powerhouse Museum here. The case against is summarized here made so little sense, that the only reason for the move appeared to be a setup for land-grab by developers, as high rise estate redevelopment in Sydney is worth hundreds of millions. Now the original site is to be revamped, the ultimo museum is to stay where it is, and a new additional facility is planned to open on the same proposed site in Parramatta. The original site is to get a $500 million dollar "facelift".   The Parramatta site is likely to be subject to increased flooding risks due to climate change. 

Media Release:

Students won landmark climate case. In global first, Minister has duty of care to protect young people from Climate Change

SYDNEY MAY 27, 2021: Eight high school students have welcomed today’s landmark judgment in the Federal Court of Australia that found the Federal Environment Minister has a duty of care not to cause them harm from climate change.

With Parramatta growing at a rapid rate, Greens MP David Shoebridge says now is a crucial time to elect more Greens to Parramatta Council.

"Parramatta Council seriously needs more Greens, to ensure the public, and not just property developers, benefit from the building boom,” he says."Whether it is protecting irreplaceable heritage, ensuring core services get to those in need, or restraining over-development, there is so much work for this team to do on Parramatta Council. "Greens on council are a voice for the community and a sure vote in favour of more green open space and protection of the environment.”

Physicist Dr Matt Palmer will be the Greens’ lead candidate for Parramatta’s Epping Ward in the September 4 council elections. Having lived in one of Epping’s many recently built apartment blocks for the past three years, Matt understands the issues facing local residents. “I am concerned to see many more residential developments planned in the area, in the absence of an accompanying plan for improving the subsequent traffic and school overcrowding,” Matt says. “In Epping, we need to keep these developments in check. The vision for Epping should be of a friendly, green, airy suburb that is attractive and welcoming to visitors and residents alike, and somewhere healthy for kids to grow up.

The Parramatta Greens today announced the first three of their lead candidates for the City of Parramatta Council Election on 4 September 2021. Our first three lead candidates will be Councillor Phil Bradley, Franceska Strano, and Greg Edwards. Phil will re-contest Parramatta Ward, Franceska will run in Rosehill Ward, and Greg in North Rocks Ward.

Elizabeth Farrelly with latest on how too much grand development plans for Sydney get in the way of good living.

ABC's Big Ideas podcast, from Judith Brett, Emeritus Professor, Latrobe University. Author of book 'The Coal Curse'.  Australian government has been overly preoccupied with mining resource wealth, with serious neglect of very important issues for environment, society, employment resilience and climate.

Australia is facing an environmental, social and economic crisis.  

We are in a climate emergency. The science is in and it is clear – we must urgently move to a zero carbon society. Yet our government continues to expand rather than phase out the biggest source of climate pollution: the mining, burning and exporting of coal, oil and gas.

To make matters worse, too many of us are not getting a fair go: studying hard and completing university or TAFE too often ends in underemployment, job insecurity and low pay. And, if you’re lucky enough to land a good job, chances are you still can’t afford a house because the government has rigged the housing market against you.

Its just as well that the Greens have a Recovery Plan