Local koala populations at risk

Photo: A dead koala at the side of Ewingsdale Rd Byron Bay July 2018, courtesy Friends of the Koala

 Our local koala populations continue to be at risk from vehicle strikes as well as from disease and habitat loss.

 Content warning - Heartbreaking footage from 2017 of a koala trapped in the St Helena tunnel has been released by the RMS after some dedicated work by members of our community to obtain the video.

Short term letting law means less choice for locals

Media Release

15 August 2018

The Liberal/National Party last night voted against Greens amendments that would have given communities like Byron Bay and local councils more power to regulate short-term rental accommodation including Airbnb.

The Greens support the sharing economy and the new business models and opportunities it provides.

However, the Fair Trading Amendment (Short-term Rental Accommodation) Bill 2018 passed last night fails to balance these opportunities with the impacts on people and communities, particularly in popular coastal destinations such as Byron Bay and the NSW South Coast.

E news 3 August 2018

Sea Shepherd visits Byron

It was my pleasure to meet Mal Holland, the captain of Sea Shepherd's flagship vessel the M/Y Steve Irwin, when it called in to Byron Bay, and to hear about his commitment to stopping the $16.5 billion coal mine, rail link and coal port proposed by Adani for Queensland’s Galilee Basin.

Shark policy should be guided by science not polls

Media Release

3 August 2018

A turtle caught in a shark net

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith said today the NSW Government should listen to the science on the ineffectiveness of shark nets, not make it a popularity contest.

Celebrating environmental campaigners at Bryon Writers Festival

Tamara Smith, Member for Ballina, Christine Milne, and climate scientist Joelle Gergis, author of Sunburnt Country.

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith is celebrating the achievements of strong women environmental campaigners at this year’s Byron Writers Festival.