September 2009
21 posts
Mining on agricultural land gets a Senate hearing
Groups opposing coal mining on agricultural land in southern Queensland met with members of the Senate Committee into the impacts of mining in the Murray Darling Basin, including Greens Senator, Scott Ludlam.
The committee met at Oakey, near Toowoomba and were taken on a tour of potentially affected areas. The groups represent farmers from the Felton, Acland and Haystack areas.
These beautiful,...
Don't forget to vote!
Hi everyone,
You should have received your ballot papers today so don’t forget:
Vote 1 Libby Connors and then number every other square according to your preference.
Enclose the marked green ballot paper in the small envelope in the “Enclosing Envelope”, putting your name, signature and date on the front.
Enclose that envelope in the main envelope which has the return address...
Another shonky coastal development by the Bligh...
The Bligh Government is planning to allow a massive tourism development on the spectacular Shute Harbour and, once again, their ‘mates’ are set to profit while the Queensland environment suffers.
The location of the proposed project within the waters of Shute Harbour is a World Heritage area, a National Heritage area, A Great Barrier Reef Coastal Marine Park, a Habitat Protection Zone...
Watch
Greens win reprieve for Cathedral Drive
Following a meeting between representatives of the Greens, Drew Hutton and Michael Kane, and the Minister for Main Roads, the Minister today announced there would be an independent review of the Department’s decision to chainsaw 1400 beautiful, old growth trees along the main rod between Toowoomba and Crows Nest.
This follows a strong campaign by my branch, the Toowoomba Greens, and the...
Final E-mail from Libby Connors
The preselection campaign has been busy but lots of fun. During the past 2 months I have visited 10 regional branches, spoken publicly on 3 major environmental issues, written to more than 700 members and phoned and emailed many Queensland Greens personally. All of this was achieved while working full-time. In the event that I am preselected I intend to take long service leave so that this sort...
Libby's speech to the candidates' forum
How we can win We can win a Senate seat in Queensland if we have a lead Senate candidate who can conduct a strong campaign. We need to raise our vote to 10% in a state where we are up against the combined entrenchment of the 2 major parties, and the wealth and self interest of the mining and developer industries. Queensland Greens need a candidate who can put in 100% effort. I am that...
Industrial development set to devastate north...
A much-expanded port of Abbot Point is the focus of a huge industrial plan for the areas north of Bowen. This will be part of the proposed Northern Economic Triangle (Townsville-Bowen-Mount Isa) which will link inland mining development with huge new coastal ports, industrial infrastructure and power and transport networks.
The environmental effects will be dramatic and devastating as pointed...
The last week of the pre-selection campaign for...
Week 2 of the Senate pre-selection campaign saw the candidates’ forum. Members can receive a copy of the DVD of this by emailing qfecc@qld.greens.org.au.
Last week you should have received a personal letter in the post from me.
We are now in the last week of the pre-selection campaign and most members of the Queensland Greens should have received their copy of the candidates’...
Nationals vote against motion to protect farmland...
I note with interest the failure of Queensland Nationals to stand up for rural Queensland farming and conservation interests against the takeover of land by coal mining companies. Queensland Nationals Senator, Ron Boswell, today voted against a Senate motion calling for the protection of prime agricultural land and rural nature refuges from coal mining. The full motion, tabled by Greens Senate...
Non-Green parties vote against renewables...again
The following media release was issued by Australian Greens deputy-leader, Senator Christine Milne, today. It reveals the shallowness of all the other parties when it comes to support for renewable energy.
The Government and Opposition closed ranks again today against the interests of Australia’s solar power industry.
Labor, the Liberals, the Nationals and Steve Fielding all voted against...
A joyous scene...what green politics should be...
This video was made in the Antwerp , Belgium Central (Train) Station on March 23, 2009, with no warning to the passengers passing through the station. At 8:00 am a recording of Julie Andrews singing ‘Do, Re, Mi’ begins to play on the public address system. As the bemused passengers watch in amazement, some 200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd and station entrances. They...
August 2009
19 posts
Why would this mine not require an Environmental...
A major phosphate mine, north-east of Mount Isa, will have to submit a low level Environmental Management Plan rather than a much more comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment despite the fact that it meets all four major criteria for such an EIA. The mine, owned by entrepreneur Joe Gutnick, has been promised a fast-track environmental approval after meeting with Premier Anna Bligh and local...
Stop sand mining on North Stradbroke Island
The Greens have joined a rapidly growing alliance of indigenous people, local and regional community groups and organizations are calling on the State Government to end sand mining on the island. This devastation could be stopped tomorrow by the State Government as mining is occurring on expired mining leases, most of them granted originally by the anti-environment Bjelke-Petersen government. I...
Govt draws on Greens submission for North Bank...
A story in today’s Sunday Mail reports on the state government’s revised plans for North Bank [Riverside Facelift, 23.08.09]. It is gratifying to note that the improvements include many of the issues raised in the Greens’ submission opposing the original disastrous plans for high rise buildings on platforms over the river and southeast freeway. That submission is still available on the Greens...
Cairns demands sustainable transport
Over the weekend members of the Cairns Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST), CAFNEC and the Greens organised a section of the Cairns Festival calling for sustainable transport for one of Queensland’s fastest growing cities. Well done to those campaigners!
For too long transport planners have forced regional city commuters to depend on outmoded and competely inadequate (usually...
We were right to support wild rivers
Today’s article in the Courier-Mail (see above) demonstrates the wisdom in the Greens’ support for the Wild Rivers legislation in the recent state election. In fact, we wanted the concept extended to include such east coast waterways as the upper Noosa River and Baffle Creek.
Now, it is obvious where the opposition to Wild Rivers is coming from - Rio Tinto and its supporters who want...
Opposition misses the point on political...
Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek missed the point when he accused Labor Premier, Anna Bligh, of being unethical by accepting donations from coal magnate Ken Talbot who is accused of bribing former Labor minister Gordon Nuttall. The point is ALL big donations, especially those from major companies doing business in this state, bring with them excessive political influence. The two worst areas...
Widening Cathedral Highway will disrupt wildlife...
The Department of Main Roads should put aside its plans to widen the beautiful “Cathedral Highway” that runs between Geham and Hampton, just north of Toowoomba, on the grounds that it is likely to kill hundreds of native animals. These beautiful trees are habitat to bandicoots, echidnas and wallabies. Clearing 1400 trees along this highway will also destroy the homes of a great variety of...
Greens urge bushfire preparation
Climate change is forcing many of us to alter our behaviour. Nowhere is this more urgent than in the area of bushfire control as Queensland forests, which have till now been largely free from the raging wildfires we have seen in Victoria, become drier. The Greens are the only party with a clear policy on fire management of forests. Our policy emphasises the need to underpin policy with science,...
If Anna Bligh can stop Inskip why not Traveston?
Premier Anna Bligh’s statement that it is “nonsense” to equate the Inskip Point development (that her government has stopped) with the Traveston Dam shows she is not fully informed about the dam project.This Traveston Dam proposal puts at risk over hundreds of hectares of riverine forest along the streams of the Mary river, over 50 state and federally listed threatened species...
July 2009
6 posts
