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Greens ask O'Farrell to introduce Save Graythwaite Estate Bill
Saturday 31 October 2009
Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has written to the Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell asking him to consider her offer for the Liberals to introduce the Greens 'Save Graythwaite Estate Bill', drafted with North Sydney Council, in a bid to retain the estate in public hands and prevent its sale for $35.2m to private school Shore.
Ms Rhiannon postponed the bill's introduction this week in parliament
because she was not confident the Opposition would support the bill.
"Barry O'Farrell should show leadership and stick with the Liberal
Party's original commitment to save Graythwaite, now it appears that
the local North Shore MP Jillian Skinner is backtracking on her
support for the bill," Ms Rhiannon said.
"Ms Skinner says she has concerns with the bill because it applies
retrospectively to nullify any existing legal agreement between the
government and Shore, but she is using this as cover for her deserting
the fight to save the site.
"It is pure poppycock for Jillian Skinner to use the retrospectivity
issue as an excuse for not supporting the bill. Greens research shows
that this year alone the NSW Opposition has voted for at least ten
bills in the NSW Upper House that have retrospective application.
"Jillian Skinner had closed the door on the Save Graythwaite campaign
even before she saw the Greens bill, introducing a motion in
parliament calling on Shore to keep the grounds open to the community
out of hours.
"I am surprised that the Shadow Minister for Health is passing up the
opportunity to increase from the proposed 60 to 112 rehabilitation
beds this bill would enable by allowing the federal government to
manage the site.
"Local Federal Member Joe Hockey has been a strong backer of this
community campaign. His colleague Barry O'Farrell has a chance to act
to protect this iconic heritage building and grounds, now subject to a
green ban.
"Mr O'Farrell has told me the bill will be considered at the next
Shadow Cabinet meeting. I hope he pushes for his party to support our
bill, or take up my offer and introduce the bill in the Opposition's
name.
"It would be disappointing if the NSW Liberals failed to do everything
they could to keep this wonderful estate, which occupies an important
place in the modern history of Australia and in Sydney’s urban
landscape, in the public arena," Ms Rhiannon said.
For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
See here for the bill and Lee's campaign page
