Welcome to Lee Rhiannon's website

Albanese should block funding for M5 expansion

susie — 2010-02-09T05:15:13Z

Ms Rhiannon says she will work with the community and local Greens
councillors to build on the ‘no M5 expansion’ campaign when NSW
Parliament resumes in mid February.

The ‘Rally Against the Road’ is at 11am, Sat 6 February, Tempe Lands,
South St.

“This monster road project will destroy residential communities,
increase greenhouse emissions and air pollution, induce more traffic
and rob funds from public transport solutions. It will also make the
controversial M4 East inevitable,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“If Mr Albanese gives the nod to funding the project he will severely
erode the climate change credentials the Rudd government is attempting
to build.

“Labor at both Federal and State levels has created a monster traffic
problem by expanding Port Botany and Sydney Airport. They are now
struggling with the wash up.

“The M5 expansion is a bankrupt, non-solution which fails to consider
better alternatives to congestion like public transport, freight on
rail and active transport.

"The NSW government has failed to learn from history and is again
condemning Sydney to another motorway disaster, like the Cross City
Tunnel, the Lane Cove Tunnel and the current M5 motorway.

“Premier Kristina Keneally has tarred herself with the same old Labor
government brush by backing this ill-conceived project before
releasing the long overdue Transport Blueprint.

“The M5 feasibility study again shows the government prefers to listen
to the RTA and big business rather than local communities and public
transport planners.

“The proposed Southern Sydney Connection, a four lane surface road,
will crash through the $17 million remediated Tempe Lands, the site of
Saturday’s rally, and spew traffic into local streets in St Peters and
Alexandria.

“The Inner West community will not thank Labor at the polls for this
mega-road project.

“Both Federal and State Labor would be wise to dump the proposal, or
see damage at the ballot box,” Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information – 0427 861 568

Hugh Bamford Reserve saved from blight

susie — 2010-02-04T03:02:12Z

"Protecting our iconic coastal areas from industrial development is

paramount. This is a win for the community, common sense and the

environment," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The major parties continue to display a disturbing lack of balance

when it comes to development.

"Jamming a two storey, underground $20 million depot into Bondi's

coastal cliffs should have been laughed away at the first instance.

"The community should be congratulated for their tenacious battle

against such a nonsensical project," Ms Rhiannon said.

Waverley Greens Councillor Mora Main said:

"This reserve overlooks iconic Bondi Beach and is part of the famous

South Head to Botany Bay coastal walk. With its rich Aboriginal and

early military heritage, it should always have been off limits to

development

"Coastal open space in Waverley is like gold. It is enjoyed by the

whole of Sydney and well beyond, and our responsibility is to protect

and restore its unique natural values, not to dig it up for a truck

depot.

"The Greens will continue to work with the community, and through

Council, to ensure our precious parkland is not sacrificed as a result

of ill-thought through development proposals.

For more information:

Greens MP and local resident Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Waverley Greens Councillor Mora Main 9387 2535, 0416 021 612

Sacked Young workers deserve full entitlements

susie — 2010-02-04T01:04:34Z

"The Rudd government needs to work with the people of Young on a funding package to provide clean green growth industries for the region, as well as guaranteeing the entilements of the 310 sacked workers," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The workers at the Burrangong Meat Processors abattoir are out of a job because of federal Labor's failure to implement its own policy to provide stronger protection for all workers' entitlements.

"The policy adopted at last year's ALP conference sets out harsher penalties for directors of companies that go into receivership, without making provision for workers' entitlements.

"The failure of the federal Labor government to change the Howard regime on entitlements is why directors can still shut down their company without providing the required pay outs.

"If Industrial Minister Julia Gillard had been committed to protecting workers' rights the directors of Burrangong Meat Processors abattoir would be now facing prosecution.

"The failure of Ms Gillard to act on her party's own policy means that the 310 workers and the wider Young community face an uncertain future.

"The people of Young have a right to hear from Ms Gillard today.

"She should announce a plan to immediately guarantee 100 per cent of accumulated employee entitlements, and to provide retraining and re-employment to assist workers.

"In Australia if a person loses their job they can also lose their entitlement - it does not matter how long they have worked. Germany provides government compensation of about 60 per cent of wages, and Denmark 90 per cent.

"The government's plan for Young needs to include funding for industries that will provide sustainable jobs growth.

"The potential for renewable energy production and manufacturing in the Riverina is huge. The government should be working on a transition program for the affected workers to ensure these sackings have minimal local impact," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

2010 set for bumper donations fundraising

susie — 2010-02-01T00:59:52Z

"Today's disclosure shows that nationwide the major parties fundraising efforts slumped during 2008/09, attracting $93 million down from $216 million in 2007/08," said Ms Rhiannon.

"Last year's drop in donations suggests that this year Labor and the Coalition will organise many fundraisers to fill their coffers for the upcoming elections.

"We know that Tony Abbott's leadership coup has incited a flurry of Liberal party fundraising. With the economy on the upturn and four elections on the horizon we will see intense competition for the corporate dollar this year.

"There is sure to be a federal election this year as well as state elections in SA, Tasmania and Victoria, and a NSW election early next year.

"With a stalled donations reform process after the Rudd Government abandoned its promise of a new, cleaner system of political funding before the next election, both major parties will be relying on corporate money.

Donations in NSW

"In NSW, Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell remain locked in a battle to attract money from property developers, hotels and finance companies.

"This year's figures show that NSW Labor is still ahead in the donations race, accepting over $7 million in donations, with only $2.7 million over the $11,000 disclosure threshold.

"Big donors to NSW Labor last year include $180,000 from the Australian Hotels Association and Clubs NSW, $110,000 from Star City Casino, $73,000 each from the developer Multiplex and Sydney Markets, and $50,000 from the developer Kingson Investments.

"Labor took less than $500,000 from developers last year, down from $1.8 million in 2007/08.

"The NSW Liberal party declared accepting $5.7 million in donations, with only $1.5 million disclosed over the $11,000 threshold.

"The NSW Liberals are tapping into alcohol industry money, accepting $84,000 from the AHA and Clubs NSW, $50,000 from the hotelier Argos Investments, $33,000 from Star City Casino and $25,000 from Reserve Hotels in Randwick.

"The NSW Liberals continue to take money form big tobacco, pocketing $44,600 from British American Tobacco," said Ms Rhiannon.

For more information: Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Visit www.democracy4sale.org for latest data

Rally to save Tamarama Gully

susie — 2010-02-03T22:10:24Z

The Greens Waverley councillors have been working to have Council

purchase 362 and 364 Birrell St and incorporate the land into the park

and to have the Birrell St 'road' in the Gully closed. This will help

save the waterfall and the Gully's unique Indigenous history.

The rally had as its special guest Jack Mundey.

Greens NSW MP and local resident Lee Rhiannon said, "The Tamarama gully

has been called the Cinderella of the Eastern Suburbs beaches -

nestled between the far more well-groomed Bondi and Bronte beaches.

"The time is ripe for this Gully, with its rich and complex heritage,

to be restored and returned to public hands.

"The government, working with Waverley Council, has a unique

opportunity to reverse the sins of the past which have been imposed on

this once magical gully.

Greens Councillor Prue Cancian said, "The community and the Greens are

urging Council to purchase the properties to help return this iconic

gully to local residents.

"We have a real opportunity now to gift Tamarama a deeper reputation

than 'Glamarama'.

"The Waverley area is already short on public open space, but

development in the gully threatens to rob more of this from local

residents.

For more information:

Greens MP and local resident Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.

Waverley Greens Councillor Prue Cancian 0416 220 245