'Pains, trains and automobiles', pp 4-5, Daily Telegraph today.

"Mega motorway proposals, like the M4 East and the M5 duplication, have hurt Labor in the past and will do so again. They are a non-solution to manage traffic congestion in Sydney," Ms Rhiannon said.

 "It is clear $10 billion for the M4 East would be better spent on public transport in the many areas of Sydney deprived of this bread and butter service.

"Both the M4 East and M5 duplication will add to congestion and air pollution and divide communities. These motorway proposals will certainly not be vote winners in the Inner West.

"The Keneally government's motorway plans smack of desperation. If these are the Premier's big 'transport' plans she deserves to be kicked out at the next election.

"In the final months of the reign of NSW Labor this government should put the public before its own self interest.

"The public would welcome this $10 billion ear marked for the M4 East to instead flow to the expansion and upgrade of public transport," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information:   Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568

“Governments should stop dawdling on this issue and stand up to Australia’s wood-heating industry which has worked to sabotage efforts to tighten standards to reduce pollution and improve public health,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Commonwealth and State ministers have been dawdling along, failing to do the leg work needed to set the tougher air quality standards the public deserves.

“Even in Sydney, where only 4.3% of households use wood as the main form of heating, wood-heaters are the largest single source of dangerous fine particulates or PM2.5 emissions.

“Woodheaters produce 4503 tonnes of PM2.5 a year, compared to 797 tonnes for all Sydney passenger cars.

“Self-regulation of the wood-heating industry has shown to be a failure.

“Australia must take the lead from New Zealand and develop stricter standards for wood-heaters to protect public health and allow national air quality standards to be met.

“In the interim, while stricter health based standards are being developed, Australia could adopt the tougher New Zealand standards, including not allowing new installations in areas where wood smoke builds up.

“Wood smoke irritates the lining of airways, leading to a shortening of breath, coughing and asthma. Wood–heaters also produce dangerous toxins like dioxin, arsenic, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

“Based on NSW Health’s estimates, that every kilogram of PM2.5 leads to health costs of at least $132, the average wood-heating in Sydney has health costs of more than $5,000 a year.

“Luring people away from using wood-heaters demands greater incentives to pursue energy efficient house design and cleaner, less toxic sources of heating,” Ms Rhiannon said.

"The Camberwell Village has been ravaged by mining, with residents trapped by mining developments on three fronts. This review should see the three new mining applications rejected, not be spun as a reason for them to now proceed.

"The government's response to the review is largely limited to strictly monitoring conditions of consent designed to limit pollution. This is what should have been done for years.

"Minister Kelly's pledge to establish a cabinet mining sub-committee is old news and is yet to be activated. The community would understandably view this as window dressing.

"This review reveals the results of the government's unrelenting expansion of mining, blind to community voices raising the alarm about dust and noise pollution.

"One of the air quality reports show ultra fine particulates, what scientists claim as the new asbestos, exceed national goals. Fine particulate standards are breached on up to 9 percent of days a year, and predicted to rise in future.

"The government admits breaches of air quality standards will have adverse health impacts, particularly on asthmatics and people with heart conditions.

"Cumulative mining noise levels at Camberwell Village are high and expected to rise.

"The additional air quality report, paid for by mining applicants, admits that in some areas results could not be provided because no air quality monitors have been in place, despite a long community campaign for better monitoring.

"The government has sat on several of these reports since June last year and it appears only media pressure saw their release. The appropriate response is to reject new applications for the area," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568 Visit Lee's mining campaign site at http://nonewcoal.greens.org.au/

Lee Rhiannon launched a campaign to reform NSW’s abortion laws in 2009.

The survey revealed 61 percent believe abortion should be lawful in

the first trimester, with 26 percent saying it depends on the

circumstances. 69 percent thought it should be lawful in the second

trimester in some circumstances.

"These survey results should act as a reminder to the government that

NSW laws are out of step with community opinion and in need of

change," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Victoria, the ACT and WA have all modernised abortion laws in the

last decade, treating abortion as a health not a criminal matter.

"The Keneally government could show itself to be responsive to

community opinion by modernising NSW’s abortion laws.

"Abortion offences still remain on NSW law books. This potential for

prosecution creates concern for both women and doctors.

"At any time a conservative judge or police commissioner can change

the status quo.

"This survey confirms what we already know - many women access

abortion services in NSW and the majority of Australians support a

woman’s right to choose.

"Current laws in NSW contribute to stigma and can lead to women

delaying abortions, suffering extra humiliation and distress.

"Anecdotal reports also suggest practitioners are deterred from

working in the field because of the risk of prosecution.

"Research illustrates that legalising abortion does not increase abortions.

Education and contraception are the key to keeping abortion rates

down," Ms Rhiannon said.

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