Media Release
20 April 2016

Build relationships, be specific, and don’t leave your application to the last minute – those were some of the key messages from a free grants workshop hosted by Ballina MP Tamara Smith last night (Tuesday 19 April).

After a busy and rewarding first year as Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP congratulated the community on the many achievements that have delivered tangible results across the electorate.

“The 2015 election was a referendum on the destructive impacts of CSG and it is a tribute to our tight knit community that we have achieved the extraordinary – establishing a coal-seam gas free Northern Rivers,” said Ms Smith.

Greens Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP, welcomes the decision by NSW Minister for Health to conduct a full analysis of available weather data from the Bureau of Meteorology [BOM] on the impact of flood events and weather conditions at the new Lismore Helicopter Base, as well as an analysis of Lismore Council data on the frequency, extent and effect on operations of local flooding. 

Tamara Smith MP, Greens Member for Ballina, today called on Nationals MPs, Thomas George and Ben Franklin, to "cross the floor" and oppose draconian new penalties for anti-coal seam gas and coal protesters.

Greens NSW MPs Mehreen Faruqi, Environment spokesperson, and Tamara Smith, Marine Environment spokesperson and Ballina MP, will today introduce bills into both houses of NSW Parliament that would ban the retail supply of single-use plastic shopping bags so as to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment.

Greens Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP, is throwing her support behind concerned local pilots and paramedics who say the site deemed for the new Northern NSW Rescue chopper base is unsuitable and could put lives at risk.

NSW Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith is thanking all who contributed to the campaign for a coal seam gas free Northern Rivers and has heralded today’s news as recognition of the region’s ‘people power’.

“The deal has been sealed and our community is finally being delivered the protection against invasive gas fields it has so loudly called for,” Ms Smith said.

NSW Greens Spokesperson for Marine Environment and Fisheries and Member for Ballina Tamara Smith will be holding Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair to their word, that the trial of smart drumlines in Ballina will be transparent and guided by science.

"My thoughts are with Sam Morgan and his family and I am sure the whole community wishes him a speedy recovery. 

The North Coast community has shown overwhelming support for the implementation of non-lethal shark barriers and deterrents. The Government has responded to our calls and I would like to see those technologies implemented as soon as possible in the Ballina region.

NSW Greens Spokesperson on Marine Environment and Fisheries and Member for Ballina Tamara Smith has welcomed the Government's announcement of $16 million for shark research, surveillance, public awareness and trials of non-lethal deterrent technologies. 

 “The Government has recognised that killing sharks with more nets is not the answer. The focus on surveillance, education, research and trials of non-lethal deterrents is the right one and I'm glad to see the North Coast will be the focus of some of the technology trials,” Ms Smith said.