Greens announce plans to contest Penrith by-election

Greens MP and electoral matters spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said "The Greens will run an active campaign in the Penrith by-election so the voters will have the option to vote for a party that stands for local jobs growth, public transport expansion and clean government.

"The track record of the local MP, Karen Paluzanno, and the NSW government demonstrates why Labor deserves to lose the seat of Penrith, but that does not mean the Coalition deserves to win.

"Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell and his colleagues 'discover' western Sydney when they think they have a chance of winning seats.

"Penrith and surrounding suburbs have been short changed for too long because Labor has taken this area for granted and the Coalition has been busy looking after the big end of town.

"Public transport will be a major plank of our campaign as 80 per cent of Penrith locals are forced to drive to work each day.

Nepean Greens spokesperson Suzie Wright said, "Our local group will open up preselection shortly. This by-election is a great opportunity for local Greens to push for improved public services and greater environmental protection of the ADI site.

"Ms Paluzanno not only did the wrong thing by the NSW parliament but she failed to support the local campaign to save the Cumberland Plains Woodland.

"We will closely examine the track record of all political parties on the key local issue of protecting the unique environment at the ADI site.

"Four months ago the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett upgraded the Cumberland Plains Woodland to a critically endangered ecological community.

"The ADI site has significant stands of this Woodland.

"We want to hear from all the other candidates running in this by-election on how they plan to protect this unique environment," Ms Wright said.

For more information

Lee Rhiannon – 0427 861 568
Suzie Wright - 0409 300 349