June_2015_Newsletter
Transcription
June_2015_Newsletter
Newsletter #11 June 2015 It’s a real privilege to be back in parliament representing Greens members and the people of New South Wales. The recent passing of legislation to sell public ‘poles and wires’ is another indication of what we are up against with this neo-liberal Coalition Government. As I meet communities across NSW it is clear that they are standing up against this agenda to privatise and sell-off NSW. It will be challenging, but also exciting, to continue to work with you all and join with other progressive movements to build a huge momentum for change. IT’S TIME TO TRANSFORM PUBLIC TRANSPORT PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIOS Animal Welfare | Drug and Harm Minimisation | Environment | Lower Mid North Coast | Multiculturalism | Status of Women and Prevention of Domestic & Family Violence | Roads and Freight | Transport | Voluntary Euthanasia | Western Sydney | Young People MATERIALS Marine Parks, Climate Change, Attacks on our Environment, Since their re-election the Coalition government’s transport agenda continues to North West Rail Link, NorthConnex, be dominated by building urban motorways and privatising our existing transport assets. The devastating sale of electricity infrastructure has meant the government Newcastle Rail is now attempting to lock NSW into road congestion and the private takeover of the LGBTI rail network. Projects such as Sydney Rapid Transit (now known as ‘Sydney Metro’) Decriminalisation of Abortion, will put large portions of our rail network into private operation with very little Foetal Personhood Laws expansion in overall capacity. My office is in the process of organising a new, allCCTV in Abattoirs, Animal Free encompassing public transport campaign for NSW through which the Greens will Circuses, Fin Free NSW be able to put forward our progressive alternatives to the government’s agenda. This campaign will advocate the Greens’ 2020 Transport Vision as released during the election. We have also been active in support of cyclists who are defending the College St cycleway and advocating for a full network of cycleways throughout Sydney. The tragic death of yet another cyclist has led to a resurgent community movement around bike infrastructure and cyclist safety laws. A Greens freedom of information request exposed the continuing collapse of the bus network in Newcastle, demanding much stronger government investment as well as the immediate reinstatement of the rail line. I met with Hunter residents just prior to this SDC to strategise for the next stage of campaigning to retain the rail line. BACK TO GRASSROOTS: TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITIES WESTERN SYDNEY LOWER MID NORTH COAST Absolute pleasure to meet new members in Blacktown last month and speak at the Hawkesbury Greens AGM in Windsor on transport issues, air quality and preventing domestic violence. Hawkesbury Greens AGM Windsor - June 2015 On recent visits to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, I spoke with Greens members, community and the local media about domestic violence, youth unemployment and climate change. Three Rivers Greens - Port Macquarie - June 2015 Mid North Coast Greens - Coffs Harbour - June 2015 STAFF: Matt Hilton Mike De Waal Tamara Rouse THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS: Ashley, Georgia, Jack, KO, Natalie & Sarah ENDING FACTORY FARMING There is absolutely no place for cruel intensive factory farming in New South Wales. That is why I have reintroduced bills to ban sow stalls for pigs and battery cages for hens as well as preparing a similar bill to regulate the dairy industry. I will also be holding an ‘Ag Gag’ roundtable with animal welfare groups to strategise the best way to defeat regressive laws that would target activists who expose animal cruelty. I prepared a submission guide and submitted a paper to the Parliamentary inquiry into puppy farming, calling for a legislated minimum standards, a registered breeder scheme and a ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores. COMMUNITY & STAKEHOLDER ACTIVITY 20/04/15 Bulga Residents’ Action – Sydney 06/05/15 Remembrance Event for Domestic Violence – PH Sydney 08/05/15 Save Our Women-Only Services (SWOS) Meeting – PH Sydney, Nepal Candlelight Vigil, UTS 11/05/15 Nepal Fundraiser – Sydney 15/05/15 – 17/05/15 Australian Greens National Conference – Melbourne 18/05/15 Mangrove Mountain Citizen’s Meeting – Central Coast 21/05/15 UNSW Alumni Dinner – UNSW Sydney 22/05/15 Sydney Writers Festival Panel – Speaker Sydney, Engineers Australia (EA) Fellows Luncheon – Host - PH Sydney, Rohingya Protest – Sydney Town Hall 23/05/15 Blacktown New Member’s Picnic – Blacktown, Rhymes with Silence Plays – Sydney 26/05/15 Stop Killing Women - Speaker – UTS 27/05/15 Secondary School Parliamentary Education Program – Speaker – PH Sydney 28/05/15 UNSW Nura Gili Event – UNSW Sydney 29/05/15 - 30/05/15 Meetings with Community and Greens members – Port Macquarie 01/06/15 Coffs Coast Advocate DV Petition Handover – Coffs Harbour, Mid North Coast Greens Meeting – Coffs Harbour 03/06/15 Nature Conservation Council Meeting – PH Sydney 04/06/15 Bike Rally – Speaker - Sydney, Hawkesbury Greens AGM 06/06/15 Pakistan Acid Burn Victims’ Fundraiser –Speaker – Granville 09/06/15 Philippines Greens’ Meeting – PH Sydney, Beverly Hills Precinct WestConnex Meeting – Beverly Hills 10/06/15 Australia for Dolphins, Sea Shepherd Shark Team meeting – PH Sydney, Meeting with Senator Larissa Waters – PH Sydney 15/06/15 Green Business Council Meeting – PH Sydney 16/06/15 EA Women in Engineering Roundtable – Sydney, No WestConnex Community Forum – Speaker – Leichhardt 17/06/15 Bicycle NSW Meeting - PH Sydney, People Just Like Us Refugees’ Talks Launch Parramatta 18/06/15 Newcastle Rail Activists Meeting Newcastle STATUS OF WOMEN & PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE I have been working with the Greens NSW Women’s Working Group on the campaign to decriminalise abortion since introducing the Abortion Law Reform (Miscellaneous Acts Amendment) Bill 2015 last month. Polling to guage community attitudes will soon get underway. I have also had the pleasure, along with Senator Larissa Waters of meeting Subeta Vimalarajah’s and supporting her campaign ‘Stop Taxing My Period’. Removing sexism from our tax system is long overdue. On my recent visit to Coffs Harbour, I received the Coffs Coast Advocate’s community petition calling on the Government to take action on preventing domestic violence. In Sydney, I attended ‘Rhymes with Silence’ a series of plays on domestic violence and heard Rosie Batty speak. I also spoke at a vigil organised by Save Our Women-Only Services (SWOS) at UTS remembering the women who have been killed in acts of violence this year and at an event raising awareness of domestic violence perpetrated on women in Pakistan. Coffs Coast Advocate Petition Coffs Harbour - June 2015 With Subeta Vimalarajah and Senator Waters - Sydney - June 2015 Pakistani Acid Burn Victim Fundraiser - Granville - June 2015 CALLONTHEMINISTERTOSTANDUPFORTHEENVIRONMENT Following on from my editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald (6 May) calling on the NSW Minister for the Environment to show leadership, I have launched a campaign focussed on conserving our biodiversity, calling on ‘Minister Speakman to Speak Up for the Environment’. With the NSW Government agreeing just two days before the election to repeal the Native Vegetation Act 2003 and expand the disastrous biodiversity offsetting program. Download a letter on my website at www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/speakup. I am also very happy to print off copies for local groups to use in their campaigning. SYDNEY WRITERS FESTIVAL I had the pleasure of joining academic Sahar Amer and poet Sara Mansour at the Sydney Writers Festival in May in conversation with Linda Mottram about veiling, culture, and identity, broadcast live on ABC 702. CONTACT ME: Democracy only works when we’re working together, so please stay in touch! @mehreenfaruqi [email protected] facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au Authorised by Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC | NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000 | July 2015