Greens introduce new bill to end exemptions allowing LGBTIQ discrimination
The Greens NSW have announced that they will introduce a Private Members Bill to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act next week. The Bill will remove the exemptions that allow private educational authorities and religious organisations to discriminate against members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
Greens call on Education Minister to hold the line on funding
Greens call on Education Minister to hold the line for NSW
Greens Education Spokesperson and Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP today joined the NSW Primary Principals’ Association, NSW Secondary Principals’ Council, the NSW Teachers Federation and the NSW P&C Federation in calling on the NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes to hold the line on needs-based funding for schools. (see letter below)
Regional roads suffer while Sydney gets gold plated roads
Gold plated roads in the city means regions miss out
The NSW Nationals have abandoned rural voters, with announcements this week that just $50 million will be spent on fixing blackspots on rural roads this year, while a mind boggling $16.8 billion will be spent on Westconnex in Sydney, according to Greens MPs.
Funding to save Coastal Cypress Pines at Bruns
Media Release
Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina, has welcomed $166,000 in funding to be used to save an endangered ecological community of Coastal Cypress Pines at Brunswick Heads in Northern New South Wales and three species of large forest owls that live in the area.
Ms Smith today asked Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton at Question Time to preserve the Coastal Cypress Pines in the Terrace Reserve at Brunswick Heads and prevent damage to them from large vehicles and intensive year-round camping.
“In response to the concerns I raised today and in May this year, funding has now been awarded under the state-wide Save Our Species program to secure threatened plants and animals in the wild in NSW,” said Ms Smith.
Community opposed to West Byron
Community voices its opposition to West Byron
Almost one thousand Byron residents have voiced their opposition to the West Byron mega-development in a survey by Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.
“Local residents have demonstrated time and again their opposition to the West Byron Mega Development, and after consulting with the local community we have received almost 1,000 responses rejecting the development,” said Ms Smith.
Kudos to Plastic Free Boy Arlian
Congratulations to the Northern Rivers companies and people who have made it to the Green Globe Award finalist list - including Suffolk Park youngster Arlian Eckert, aka Plastic Free Boy, seen here with his mother, Karin.
"I am very proud to see our region so well represented in many of the Award categories. Clearly, our area punches well above its weight when it comes to environmental innovation,” said Ballina MP Tamara Smith.
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.