Media Release

15 February 2018

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith says she supports legislation which would make country of origin information on seafood products compulsory.

"This legislation is in line with the foodie ethos in the Northern Rivers area where we have a strong interest in buying local food," said Tamara Smith.

16 February 2018

Media Release

Greens Member for Ballina Tamara Smith is congratulating Woolworths Mullumbimby for choosing to end providing single use plastic bags to shoppers from 4 April this year.

“The Mullumbimby branch will be among the first Woolworths stores in New South Wales to be single-use plastic bag free from 4 April, ahead of other stores which will be ending single use plastic bags by 30 June.”

Private Member's Statement

13 February 2018

NEONICOTINOID PESTICIDES

One of the most important icons in my electorate is the Big Prawn on River Street at the western entrance to Ballina. The prawn represents the once thriving prawn industry of the Richmond River. Like the oyster industry in Ballina, the prawn industry no longer exists to the extent it once did. The primary reason is the poor state of the health of the Richmond River. In 2014 the Richmond Ecohealth Project revealed that the Richmond River has an overall health grade of D. The grades range from grade F in the Wilsons River and upper Richmond River estuary to grade C in the headwater streams of the catchment.

Tamara Smith
Member for Ballina

8 Feb 2018
Published in Byron Shire News

Opinion: NSW has the highest rate of community losses on pokies in Australia

Last weekend I got to meet the wonderful Reverend Tim Costello (pictured left below) who was in Byron to see the first hotel in NSW remove gaming machines from its premises. In case you missed it - the new owners of the Byron Beach hotel have taken poker machines out of the pub because they do not support the harm that pokies are doing to communities like ours.

Grants available for local environmental projects

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith is encouraging community groups and councils to apply for the NSW Government's 2018 Restoration and Rehabilitation Grants Program.

"The aim of these grants is to protect and restore ecosystems and care for the habitats of rare and endangered plants and animals.

“The grants deliver funding to local grassroots environmental projects to protect and restore a wide range of environments.

"Community groups, not-for-profit and government entities such as Councils are all encouraged to apply,” said Ms Smith.

Media Release

05 February 2018

Greens NSW MP and Transport Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, and MP for Ballina, Tamara Smith, are calling for a Special Commission of Inquiry to look into Roads and Transport Projects.

Dr Faruqi has written to the Governor seeking a Special Commission of Inquiry to look into systemic issues plaguing Transport and Roads projects across NSW, including bungled projects, inflated benefits, cost blowouts worth tens of billions, the targeting of public servants and the billions of dollars being poured into projects against the advice of this Government’s own experts, with deliberate attempts to hide information from the public.

Media Release
31 January 2018

Four koala deaths in four weeks at Meerschaum Vale

Photo: A sick koala and its offspring take refuge on fallen trees at Meerschaum vale - credit: Suzanne Whiteman

Greens Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith, has seen evidence that four koalas have died in the past four weeks at Meerschaum Vale, near the construction of the Pacific Highway upgrade.

“I am saddened and appalled at the loss of Ballina’s koalas, not through disease but as a result of traffic and the disruption caused by highway construction,” said Ms Smith.

Australia Day

We need to reflect on the history of January 26^th because we cannot start to heal as a nation until we can genuinely acknowledge the past. I want to celebrate our national day at a time that unites all Australians rather than a day that causes so much hurt to many Aboriginal people.

On January 26 in the morning I will be attending the Ballina Shire Council Australia Day ceremony at Lennox Head and meeting new Australian citizens afterwards.

Simultaneously the Invasion Day Rally at Lismore Court House Zadoc St will be happening from 9am. For more information about the Invasion Day Rally please click here.

"I would like to see the current six month trial extended to 12 months so that we can get a complete picture of usage and passenger movement across a whole year." - Tamara Smith MP

12 January 2018

Lake Ainsworth is one of the jewels of the Northern Rivers area, it is a beautiful freshwater lake stained brown from tree tanins and it is close enough to the beach that you can go for a swim in the sea and then a dip in the lake.

Ballina Shire Council has done a lot of planning work to try to ensure the lake and the area around it is protected for the future and part of that protection involves closing the road on the eastern side and developing it as a parkland and recreational space. 

I want the lake and its surrounds to be protected and preserved in the interests of the wildlife living in and around it and so that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty. The lake is also a tourism destination that we need to ensure is kept clean and safe for visitors who contribute to our local economy.