Hunter Region

Lee is the Greens NSW spokesperson for the Hunter region of NSW. Much of the party's founding history originates from grassroots membership in Newcastle. We still enjoy strong representation in communities and local government from Lake Macquarie to Newcastle, Cessnock, Maitland and the Upper Hunter.

Back to the future

On December 12, Lee joined over 500 Novacastrians in the annual Walk Against Warming event. In an article published in the Newcastle Herald on Saturday, Dec 19, Lee explores her personal connections to the area, along with what the future might hold for the Hunter.

Greens call on Bickham Coal to come clean on coal mine expansion plans

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Bickham Coal mine in the Upper Hunter Valley to come clean about its secret underground coal mine expansion plans that were exposed in a submission by the proposed Queensland Hunter Gas Pipeline project to the NSW Department of Planning.

State Greens call for Newcastle rail reassurance

The weekend state meeting of the NSW Greens in Newcastle has called on the NSW Government to reassure the Hunter community that it will maintain and improve existing rail services to Newcastle station, and not succumb to vested interests lobbying to remove the city’s vital public transport infrastructure.

Future of Hunter Valley woodlands endangered by open cut coal mining expansion

Commenting on the recent listing of three Hunter Valley woodlands as endangered and vulnerable ecological plant communities, Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said that the endangered listings are directly linked to land clearing for the expansion of open cut coal mining in the Hunter region.

RAAF keeps mum on secret Port Stephens pollution reports

Port Stephens locals have been putting up with the noise of RAAF defence operations at the Salt Ash Air Weapons Range for decades. Yet the government has greeted their concerns with deafening silence.

Federal budget backs coal industry, kills off Hunter

Greens MP and Hunter spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has said that the Rudd government budget support for the coal industry robs the Hunter of jobs growth transition programs in clean renewable energy technology.

Greens bill to protect farmland from mining voted down by Govt, Nile, Shooters

This evening, government MPs, the Shooters Party and Rev Fred Nile united to vote down a Greens bill in the NSW Upper House that would have protected prime agricultural land from mining, the Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water from Mining Bill.

Labor MPs block Greens motion to protect Mammy Johnson River from coalmine pollution

Labor MPs blocked a move by Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon to debate a motion in state parliament today calling on the NSW Government to reject the application by Duralie Coal to discharge polluted waste mine water into the Mammy Johnson River near Stroud in the NSW Hunter Valley.

Lord Mayor John Tate sells out Newcastle to a jobs poor future with coal

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon and Newcastle Greens Councillor Michael Osborne have slammed Newcastle Mayor John Tate's stunt in The Australian today, saying he is selling out future jobs growth for Newcastle by clinging to a bygone era when the coal industry delivered jobs growth for the Hunter.

Farmers and Greens – developing alliance to keep coal mining out of the Liverpool Plain

Driving with George and Tommy Clift across the Liverpool Plain gave me an insight into why farming communities on the rich alluvial floodplain of Caroona and Watermark are fighting so hard to stop BHP Billiton, Shenhua Energy, Santos and any other mining company that ventures over the horizon exploring for coal and gas in this region.