Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Weeks rap up in the local papers.



This weeks campaigning has been set aside to deal with some issues at Shoalhaven City Council.

The Ordinary meeting was so ordinary that Councillors couldn't have been blamed for sleeping on the job - that is until the confidential session.

I think my colleagues would describe me as vigorous but fair debater, I aim not to play the politics of the personal but stick to the main game of policy, however there are some things which just cross the line for me and that is bullying, harassment and intimidation. I also despise caucus that results in binding decisions with no real explanations. 

This is how it unfolded in the press.

Temple buy back voted down... this is where I explain what made me feel so outraged that I reported the meeting to the media.

I was totally shocked that with no explanation a complete reversal of opinion could be arrived at.

This was quickly followed by this

Bullying Claims rock Shoalhaven Council...

and then Fridays edition of the register ran the following.

Explosive Bullying Claims rock Shoalhaven Council...

what is most telling is the contribution by the community via the comment threads

The general manager contributed with this.

General manager defends transformation...

My original press release is as follows...


Democracy or Dictatorship: Council throws out opportunity.

 Council has waived their right to ever get the land back, if the Shaolin are unwilling or unable to do anything with it.

On Tuesday night Council decided to end all contractual ties with the Shaolin Organisation when it voted to not to proceed with an existing buyback deed for a further two years.

After six years on Council Greens Councillor Amanda Findley says it was an absolute low in her Council career.

‘I was absolutely shocked to the core last night when Team Gash Councillors decided to vote against keeping the buyback deed, it would have been the most frustrating meeting I have ever attended and it broke down into complete disarray’

‘ Just two weeks ago each member of Team Gash in attendance at the property steering confidential session with Councils lawyer all agreed that keeping the deed in place for a further two years was the best way forward, they were so convincing in their support’

“ I agreed with this position whole heartedly as it did two things, firstly giving Council the option to buy back at the original contract price and secondly providing a little pressure to the Shaolin to get on with the long awaited job. The risk was that Council had to be prepared to buy the land back for the original sale price’.

‘ I left the meeting two weeks ago feeling reasonably happy- Council had made a good decision and everyone in attendance except CLr Guile had made the decision with conviction’

‘ I was completely horrified as that conviction dissolved last night as Clr Kearney moved to throw the deed out. I was less than constrained ‘

 ‘My questions to Team Gash were simple , Why had they changed their mind so radically,  what information did they receive that I did not to make such a change and when did this happen. No one answered my question and my frustration boiled over’

 ‘I have ignored the not so secret, secret meetings, stayed out of the argument to a great degree, but I cannot do that anymore. Shoalhaven Council is not a democracy but a dictatorship, Team Gash are openly Caucusing in Council offices despite the Code of Conduct frowning on this. Any idea that other non-team Councillors are welcome is completely ludicrous, any shred of respect that I had for The Mayor and her Team has gone. It seems to me that Team Gash also receives privileged information that other Councillors cannot access for decision making. The constant bickering between Gash and Guile is completely unbearable, with Gash constantly telling Guile to grow up; my work place is unpleasant and toxic.’

‘I am not making excuses for my own behaviour,’ telling my colleagues that their actions are fucked isn’t acceptable and I take full responsibility and have apologised for that’.

 



Save our Local Community Services - They are fantastic and should not be lost!

Standing Maxine from Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Centre and Tracy from Nowra Women's Services seated Terry Barratt Greens Candidate for Kiama and Amanda Findley Greens candidate for South Coast.
Members of the Coalition would argue that the services haven't been lost merely made more efficient - an economic rationalists way of saying - see you later!

The Shoalhaven really needs its variety of community services that are often run through neighbourhood centres and provide flexible and timely support for the community.

Check out these fact sheets from the ASU

Fact Sheet #1 Governments are changing how they fund services.

Fact Sheet #2 How the changes will hurt you and your local community.

Fact Sheet #3 What is at risk with the reforms

It makes it easy to sign the pledge when your party actually believes that community services should be funded and given security of tenure.

As discussed with those in attendance at our pledge signing- you cannot undervalue or underestimate the power of community service which gives back way more than the costs. Follows are my comments to the Milton Ulladulla Times...


The Greens are absolutely committed to making sure the needs of unique community services are funded and offered security.

Ulladulla, St Georges Basin, even Nowra are disadvantaged by being part of the Illawarra. The Going Home Staying Home reforms need to be abolished.  

We have a massive need for community services in women’s health, youth, family, mental health and drug and alcohol.  Services offered in these areas by community organisations are very supportive and often help prevent crisis and acute needs yet they often deal with acute needs as well. These services save government money in the long run.  The Coalition is concerned only with numbers; there is no room for the quality of help given to people. Small local services are flexible and at the front line of community need. These small services struggle under the burden of constantly needing to apply for funding and need the security of 5 year contracts.

Here is the report in the South Coast Register

Candidates urged to back services


Illawarra Knitting nanas - knit in at Shelly Hancock's Office

Illawarra Knitting Nanas outside Shelly Hancock's Office
It was a great treat to hang out with the IKNAG (Illawarra Knitting Nanas against gas) during their recent protest in Nowra.


The Nanas having been staging their knit in's all across the state campaigning to stop the destruction of coal seam gas mining.

Check out the Knitting Nanas  and catch up with their activities on Facebook.

Check out the press release from the Nana's after the event.

Illawarra Knitting Nannas Against Gas (I KNAG) and South Coast Knitting Nannas from CSG Free Shoalhaven, converged on Shelley Hancock’s office today in Nowra for a ‘knit-in’.


Sittin’, knittin’ and natterin’ furiously about the deadly serious state election issue of coal seam gas mining in our drinking water catchment, the Nannas want action from the government to permanently protect our water.


“Leichhardt Resources lost their exploration licence last year,” said Nowra Nanna, Trish Kahler, gran of three, “but until we have a permanent ban there is nothing stopping another miner taking it up. AGL has a license that covers the northern part of the catchment for the Tallowa Dam on the Shoalhaven River, Nowra’s water supply. Sydney Water’s website says it feds Sydney’s dams too, as soon as they drop to 70%. I have to ask though, why am I charged top dollar for water to grow organic vegies to fed my family but these miners get water for free? Then to add insult to injury CSG mining produces huge amounts of waste water contaminated with coal chemicals and salt, where are we going to store that?”


“Last week the Baird government announced they would buy back the CSG mining license covering the Sydney Basin area”, added Nanna Annie Marlow, “but not a mention of the 4 licenses covering the Sydney Drinking water catchments. This has got to be a vote catching stunt by the Liberal Government. If CSG is too risky to be where Sydney-siders live then it is certainly too risky to be near Sydneysiders’ drinking water.”


Uncle Gerry Moore from Habitat Personnel, next door to Ms Hancock’s office, was very pleased to see the knit-in. He added a pack of bottled water to Trish’s organic vegies for the Nannas to share.


The Nannas are surveying politicians and candidates in the electorates they visit asking for simple yes/no answers to 3 questions, (“Do you support a ban of CSG mining in water catchment?”,  “Will you vote for legislation for such a ban?”,  “Will you move legislation for such a ban?”) . Responses will be published before the election.


Greens candidate, Amanda Finley was there with a score of 3 ‘yeses’ to the survey questions. There was no word from Labor candidate, Fiona Phillips, who was sent the survey and an invite. Ms Hancock, Liberal, was unavailable.

Nanna Shirley Gadding said “We want evidence of commitment. But like other government MPs we have visited, Shelley Hancock has left us a page of waffle that we could pick holes in like loose knitting. We are waiting for her response to our questions knowing that only ‘yes’ answers will commit her to action to protect our drinking water. Voters must know what their representatives in Parliament will do before the election.”


The Nannas will continue their peaceful public knit-ins, pointing their needles directly at our politicians until there is a legislated ban on CSG mining in water catchment.


Zoe the dog, who came with Nowra Nanna Jill, was heard to say, ‘I love to drink clean water, that’s why my mum brings me to Stop CSG knit-ins!”
 
And their little clip from the day
 
 


 

 

Equality for a Fair Go - Sign the pledge

Terry Barratt Greens Candidate for Kiama with Judith Reardon from Shoalhaven Anti Poverty Committee and          Amanda Findley Greens candidate for South Coast - signing pledges for Equality for a Fair Go -  March 2015


Shoalhaven Anti Poverty Committee have been working hard for some time now to benchmark the issues around poverty in our area. Led by the Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Centre this collective certainly knows what it is talking about as many of the agencies involved in the Anti Poverty Committee work on the frontline of community issues.

Read the Anti Poverty Committees most recent report Perspectives on Poverty

The Anti Poverty committee have kick started a new campaign called  Equality for a Fair Go which firstly seeks to raise awareness about inequality across society and secondly to start addressing it through policy changes. This State election can make a difference and whatever government is elected need to drop some of the more punitive policies that have been enacted under a false sense of austerity that is being driven from Canberra.

You too can take the pledge just follow the link above and sign on - it certainly makes you think about the direction our society is heading with more and more people being left behind and the gap between rich and poor ever widening.

The Greens don't pander to the desires of the Corporations or uber wealthy but are concerned with wealth distribution across society through fair tax and sustainable tax structures.


Sunday, March 1, 2015

National Parks Association ask Candidates about the big issues.

Following is my response to a recent survey conducted by the local National Parks Association. My responses are the blue text.



The Milton NPA would like to take this opportunity to ask leading candidates in the March NSW State election (South Coast constituency) to outline their own and their party’s position in four key areas, as follows:

1.The Shooters and Fishers Party have draft legislation (the National Park Estate (South Western Cypress Reservation) Amendment Bill 2012), whose aim it is to revoke the status of the bed level of Meroo Lake as a national park. [Please indicate your own and your parties position on this matter].

Personally I am outraged at this proposal, I couldn’t attend a recent media awareness event at Meroo but was able to arrange for my husband Glenn and friends Gail and Michael to attend on my behalf, they were stunned at the stupidity of this recommendation and have become advocates for the issue. The Shooters and Fishers are promoting self-centred, short cited policy positions that will have no benefit into the future.

The Greens in no way support this Bill and will endeavour to keep the status of Meroo as it currently stands.

2.Many of the walking tracks in the various national parks in the Shoalhaven, in particular Morton National Park, have not been properly maintained in recent years and are now increasingly difficult to use other than by experienced bushwalkers. NPWS indicate that they would require additional funding to properly maintain these walking tracks. [Please indicate you own and your parties commitment to the proper funding of these walking tracks]

I understand that many walkers would be frustrated by lack of investment in track maintenance. National Parks and the Office of Environment and Heritage generally are considering low hanging fruit by Coalition governments for budget cuts, many departments have reached a critical point in the funding squeeze that they are at the edge of becoming dysfunctional. The Greens would increase the funding to OEH and National Parks in particular as we believe that conservation plays a major part in resilience. Economically Australia has some issues even though we are still one of the wealthiest countries in the world, we demand services not service cuts and need an improved tax regime to distribute wealth across the 3 levels of government. Abolishing corporate welfare would fund many of the services that NSW is crying out for.

3.Countries such as New Zealand and South Africa have made major investments into sustainable eco-tourism in areas similar to the Shoalhaven. The Milton NPA is of the view that such investment is both a major provider of local jobs and also provides a strong economic incentive to properly maintain the local natural environment. [Please indicate your own and your parties view on this matter, and any concrete action plans you may have in this regard]

My experiences on Shoalhaven Council lead me to the conclusion that sustainable eco-tourism is a term that has been abused in the Shoalhaven area and has more often been adopted as a cover up for spurious development. However I consider the Shoalhaven to be an excellent location for a number of real developments. In particular I would like the future to see us develop the following types of assets, A Wetlands Ecology centre around Lake Wollumboola, A Marine ecology centre in Ulladulla or Huskisson and I don’t think we should forget the value of our forests in the South. Through my promotion of the Fossils at Ulladulla harbour I was one of the original drivers with Phil Smart on the Fossil Walk, I still think there is marvellous potential to bring together geology and forestry for an educational experience in the southern Shoalhaven.  I am not aware of any specific policy positions held by The Greens in regards to eco-tourism other than our planning policy which reinforces a community consultative approach. The Greens were at the forefront of the fight for Killalea State Park and making sure that community assets are not sold for private benefit. We would also benefit from an Aboriginal Cultural Centre- but such a project needs to be driven by that community.

4. Our national parks currently face the prospect of extractive industries, including logging, gaining entry into previously protected park areas. In particular, a trial “ecological thinning” programme is planned for the Red Gum national park in southern NSW.[Please comment on your own and your parties views on the possible opening up of national parks to logging and associated timber extraction ].

Hardwood logging in NSW should stop immediately. Forests NSW are currently running a $11million dollar loss on their hardwood industry which is covered up by the profits from softwood. It makes no sense to continue with this under-priced and undervalued industry. To transfer logging rights into the National Park Estate is ludicrous and will perhaps only extend the inevitable i.e. closure of the hardwood industry. It is absolutely criminal that hardwood logs are worth a mere $6 per tonne! I have written a proposal that would see all logging in the Shoalhaven Forests cease and a Forest Stewardship program be trialled in respect to measuring and caring for Forests as Carbon Sequestration assets. Forests are worth far more intact for their ecological services to the planet than they are as wood chip or undervalued wood products. If you would like further detail on my proposal it is available on my blog at…  http://amandashoalhavengreens.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/putting-carbon-back-in-native-forests.html

Perhaps some of the other article will interest your members.

The NSW Greens will campaign vigorously to protect our National Park assets from watered down policy.

Thank you for your input. If you agree, we will circulate your responses to our membership base.

I am very happy for you to share my correspondence with your membership, or to talk further on any particular matters.

Wollongong University making polotical donations - what the!


Picture courtesy of ABC

Wollongong University Please explain political donations. 

Greens Candidate for South Coast and Shoalhaven Councillor Amanda Findley is calling on the University of Wollongong (UOW) to please explain to students why it is preferentially donating to the Liberal Party.
 “As an Alumni and recent student of UOW , I was absolutely appalled to hear the University is donating to political parties” said Mrs Findley. 
“The University receives public funding and it is far better for them to remain on neutral ground. As a student and a member of a political party it was made clear to me that the University would not tolerate favouritism to one political party or the other, but it has clearly breached its own position with these donations”.
“ These donations taint the University’s reputation. Meanwhile the University cuts its services at Shoalhaven Campus. Will the University come clean and declare if they have made any donations for the current State election Campaign or will we have to once again wait months for that information buried deep in the data sheets of the Electoral Funding Authority”.
“ I understand that the Council guides ‘University Business ‘ but I simply cannot fathom how the University could arrive at a point that thought political donations are a good thing. Meanwhile students have been pepper sprayed and arrested while protesting threats to fees and university cuts across the country, this situation is a disgrace and we need answers”.
Mrs Findley was particularly concerned that donations to the Liberal Party were given during a period when Member for Kiama Gareth Ward was on the University's Council.
" Mr Ward was never quiet about his ambitions and had a great desire to be on the University Council, I see that the young Liberals must have a succession plan as Paul Ell a close associate of Mr Wards has replaced him."
 
(Submitted to South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times Feb 2015)

Domestic Violence is everyones business




Domestic Violence and Women’s Refuge’s to important to underfund.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of death and injury to women in NSW. A domestic violence victim having to sleep on the floor of the police station In Nowra  is just one part of the body of evidence that government at all levels is failing women and children subjected to domestic violence.
The Federal Governments recent senate enquiry ‘Domestic Violence in Australia’ has to date recorded 163 submissions not one thinks we as a nation are getting this issue right.
“It’s unfair that women have to face a phone interrogation with Link 2 Home before they can even be considered for accommodation, women who present to the police are traumatised and need support not an inquisition ”. Said Greens candidate Amanda Findley.
According to Mrs Findley the NSW State Governments ‘Going Home-Staying Home’ strategy is failing women and children and placing vulnerable people back into dangerous situations.
“Crisis accommodation is urgent and in critical need here in the Shoalhaven. The services should be run locally through an integrated network of agencies looking out for the needs of women.”
The Greens have campaigned strongly to maintain funding to women’s refuges’ but sadly this hasn’t been achieved across the state.
The Greens recognise that family and domestic violence is a killer and has announced a range of initiatives to tackle this often hidden problem.
“The Greens initiatives include practical and preventative approaches we plan to put $100 million in new funding towards violence prevention, return and  increase in funds for refuge’s , and a safe supportive justice system.” said Amanda.
“The Greens believe like many of those who made submission’s to the enquiry that education from a young age is an important part of addressing the issue of domestic violence in Australia.”

·         Appointing a Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence tasked with ensuring integration and coordination across government agencies, the community sector and the justice system. 

·         Investing in violence prevention initiatives across all parts of society – communities, schools, workplaces, businesses, sport and recreation settings, and the media.  

·         Funding targeted education programs in schools from early childhood to high school to build awareness of gender stereotyping, inequality and attitudes that encourage violence. 

·         Funding community and workplace based initiatives to prevent violence and foster respectful and equal relationships between men and women. 

·         Funding specialised services to support men and boys who are at risk or have a history of violent behaviour in domestic and family situations to acknowledge and change behaviour. 

·         Restoring funding and increasing to women-only specialist services, refuges and shelters, and increasing funding to these services in rural/regional areas. 

·         Investing in programs and services that meet the specific needs of at risk groups, such as Aboriginal, immigrant. 

·         Investing in trauma informed support services for women and children that support and enable healing, including accommodation and post-crisis services. 

·         Investing in skills development for community workers at the front line of supporting victims of domestic and family violence. 

·         A safe and supportive justice system. Improving the justice system by providing access to specialist family violence support workers, court staff and magistrates who understand the dynamics of family violence, and increase funding for free legal advice for women.

 
Submitted to South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times

Planning Assessment Commission's decision on Shaolin site welcomed


Shoalhaven Councillor and Greens Candidate for South Coast Amanda Findley reconsiders her position on Joint Regional Planning Panel’s and Planning Assessment Commission as Team Gash reveal their ‘development at any cost’ colours.

“Under normal circumstances I would be 100% supportive of Council making absolutely all decisions in respect to development for the Shoalhaven, I have even campaigned along those lines” said Councillor Findley. 

Last night’s Council meeting asked Councillors to support the decision made by the Planning Assessment Commission in regards to Shaolin Temple. The Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) condemned the Shaolin Housing Project and golf course adding that it was untenable for house lots to remain in single ownership. 

“ Those people concerned with the downstream value of Currembene Creek and Jervis Bay welcomed the decision and believe that it is the best outcome that we could possibly hope for under the circumstances.” 

“ Team Gash Councillors Wells, Robertson, Kearney and Gash however openly declared that they thought the decision was wrong, with other team members following suit via the vote.” 

“ I believe that many Shoalhaven residents would be dismayed by this development at any cost mentality, the creation of a new village at Comberton Grange under the guise of temple development will put further financial demands on Council in the future with infrastructure and services” 

“ Recommendations to Shoalhaven City Council required Council to not build any more new towns or villages, but consolidate existing development through higher density. The Shaolin Housing development is a complete contradiction to that position.” 

“ In some instances like this Shoalhaven residents have been better served by the PAC than the elected council.”
 
( Submitted to The South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times)

Cruelty to Animals - its just not on.


People all over the Shoalhaven are in shock after Monday night’s Four Corners revelations about animal cruelty in greyhound racing. Greens candidate for the South Coast Amanda Findley says that many people are angry and want something done. 

“Greyhound racing is supposed to self-regulate, and as people can see this has failed across the country, the compliance officers are simply too few.” 

“The Greyhound racing officials called blooding ‘abhorrent, illegal and immoral’ yet they seem incapable of managing the issue” 

“The Greens have a clear plan to improve animal welfare outcomes and creating an Independent Office of Animal Welfare will be a huge improvement”.

“We really need more vigorous policing and prosecution in cases of animal cruelty, we need to be the voice for the voiceless” said Mrs Findley. 

“The Greyhound industry will be reeling after the shocking revelations and I sincerely hope there are broad scale changes for the sake of animals across the state”
 
            The Greens have and will continue to pursue the issue of animal welfare in the        NSW State parliament.

(submitted to The South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times Feb 2015 )

 

TAFE - Slowly bleeding to death




TAFE is bleeding to death – slowly – with ongoing reductions to their budgets, finding a full time TAFE teacher is almost like finding a unicorn!

TAFE NSW has always been a fantastic place for education, from trade’s to diplomas and pathways to work, regional NSW has relied on the TAFE system to deliver programs for our young people and people interested in returning to work or changing career.

The NSW Government has been pouring money into private providers and for profit organisations that are benefiting from new income sources and directly challenging the bread and butter courses that have traditionally been provided by TAFE.  Privatisation by stealth. This is a terrible situation for regional areas such as the South Coast were our youth unemployment rates are some of the state’s highest. We need to keep and refund our TAFFE system to make it useful for training people for the services in the region. Around 60% of the South Coast lives on fixed income and we are a socio-economically challenged area, all but completely reliant on the private vehicle for transport. It makes no sense to force our people to travel long distances to train at TAFE as travel costs are often prohibitive.

In 2014 The Greens  put forward a Bill that sought to stop expanding funding for private training and restore TAFE’s budget however that was defeated. We don’t want NSW TAFE to end up like Victoria were only 27% of training is provided by TAFE. It’s bad for our people and bad for our economy. The Greens need your help to take this fight into the election and tell all candidates that TAFE is worth saving.
(Submitted and printed in the New Bush Telegraph Feb 2015)

ICAC Dodgy deals and secret donations - it should be having an impact on this election






The Rogues gallery of Politicians that have stepped aside due to allegations from The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) grew by one this week.

In an unprecedented year , 17 politicians are under investigation and have been forced to step down from their parties. So far 11 Liberals, 5 Labor and 1 Lord Mayor have been hauled in front of ICAC. On Friday 16 January the NSW Liberals axed any MPs still under investigation by ICAC from their candidate team.

The Greens have been at the forefront of cleaning up politics in NSW and were an integral part of having developer donations banned. It is alleged that the Liberals created sham companies to create slush funds of banned donations, trying to circumvent legislation that was to some degree working at reducing development decisions for donations.

The people of NSW have been let down by these politicians who appear to believe that they are above the law. Not acting in the best interest of the people makes you wonder what happened that compelled them to commit the alleged offences.

Ask the residents of Newcastle how angry they feel about being sold out by the ex-Mayors development gifts that have resulted in Newcastle’s city train service grind to a halt.

Being a politician isn’t a right, it’s a gift given by the people of NSW who should be able to have confidence in their chosen politician to do the right thing. Parties like The Greens who support grass roots democracy don’t ‘install career politicians’ but support candidates that understand the local area and the issues.

The Greens will continue to work hard on reforms that keep corruption out of politics; we are the only party committed to ending corruption.

 ( Submitted to New Bush Telegraph February 2015)

Shelter to Close it doors as letter requesting more rentals goes out.

Salt Care - follow link to see their services  I received the sad news that our local homeless shelter needs to close it's doors on Sund...