Media Release
31 May 2017

NSW Greens Education spokesperson and Member for Ballina Tamara Smith MP is calling on her Federal Greens counterparts in the Senate to reject Malcolm Turnbull’s Gonski 2.0

“The NSW Greens don’t accept that anything less than the original model of needs-based funding proposed by the Gonski review panel should be supported and we unequivocally call on the Federal Liberal National government to go back to the drawing board,” said Tamara Smith.

26 May 2017
Speech

Today marks a very important anniversary for members of the stolen generations and their families, as it will be 20 years since the "Bringing Them Home" report was tabled in Federal Parliament.

Media Release
May 10 2017

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith paid tribute today to the community members who have fought for several years to retain the Mullumbimby and District War Memorial Hospital in community control.

“Congratulations to the Mullumbimby Hospital Action Group and the community for forcing the government to recognise that it is community land,” said Tamara Smith.

10 May 2017

2nd Reading Speech: debate on the Transport Administration Amendment (Closure of Railway Line Between Rosewood and Tumbarumba) Bill 2017

We are very confident that with minor amendments in the other place this bill will be passed. We are very excited about and supportive of the Tumbarumba Rail Trial and the work that has been done by the member for Albury. I am very keen to talk to the member about future rail trails and cycle tourism in my electorate. The big issue is that the rail trail stays in public hands. I am delighted that the Minister has said in his second reading speech and to me personally that that is the intent of the legislation. The Greens are confident that by stating that explicitly in the legislation the bill will pass and this rail trail will be a guiding light for cycle tourism in Australia.

9 May 2017

NORTH COAST FLOODS RELIEF ASSISTANCE

Ms TAMARA SMITH: My question is directed to the Minister for Police, and Minister for Emergency Services. Will the Minister urge his Federal counterpart to declare flood‑affected areas of my electorate, such as Billinudgel, Ocean Shores, New Brighton and Mullumbimby, eligible for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance and the Australian Government Category C Disaster Relief and Recovery for affected business?

9 May 2017
Private Member's Statement

EDUCATION FUNDING

Every time a politician comes up with a new buzzword or theory in education, a fairy dies and we can hear millions of students and teachers across the nation groaning. It is like teenagers watching me text on a mobile phone with one finger or my daughter watching me with only one screen open on a personal computer and groaning involuntarily at the clunkiness and lack of comfort with changing technology and skills. 

Media Release
3 May 2017

NSW Greens Education spokesperson Tamara Smith MP has condemned the Turnbull government’s latest act of bastardisation in suggesting that he is delivering the original Gonski reforms.

“It must have been a very weird day indeed for David Gonski to be standing beside the PM who has totally bastardised the recommendations of Gonski 1.0.” Ms Smith said.

Media Release
3 May 2017

Tamara Smith, Member for Ballina, will attend the Renew Fest in Mullumbimby this weekend to celebrate and discuss community action on topics such as renewable energy, sustainability, ethical economics, food production and biodiversity.

“I am very proud to support such a great festival with so many wonderful and interesting presenters over the two days,” said Ms Smith.

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith will speak this Sunday at the official launch of new equipment for Waterlily Park at Ocean Shores.

Media Release
27 April 2017

Member for Ballina and Greens Spokesperson for Education, Tamara Smith has congratulated the Coorabell P&C Association and students, teachers and parents for their incredible organisation and proactiveness on the issues facing Coorabell Public School over the past 18 months.

“Last year the school was told to shrink its roll by up to 65% and that no 2017 out-of-zone enrolments could be accepted, including siblings of students already at the school,” said Ms Smith.