Parliamentary Report 07: May-July 2000

Lee Rhiannon, Greens MLC
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2OOO
Ph: 9230 3551 Fax: 9230 3550
Email: lee.rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this report with me prior to the SDC please contact me - phone and email details above.

ANTI-NUCLEAR CAMPAIGN HOTS UP

Australia’s anti-nuclear campaign went onto red alert on July 13, the date when the Coalition government signed the contract for Sydney’s second nuclear reactor. INVAP the Argentinian company, will construct the reactor at, Lucas Height. By fast-tracking this deal the Coalition is acknowledging that they know they have problems with this project and the only way to avoid embarrassing scrutiny is to rush it through.

Abuse of power and process is expected from the Coalition, but the NSW government is also failing the people of Sydney and all Australia on this vital issue. At the ALP conference held in June delegates adopted a policy opposing construction of a second nuclear reactor or the siting of a nuclear storage facility in this state. But since the contract was rushed through not a word of protest or even concern about NSW becoming the nuclear state from the Carr government

The Greens NSW parliamentary office has been vigorously pursing this issue, paying particular attention to the disposal of nuclear waste. A precondition for approval of the reactor is the development of a nuclear waste facility.

The Carr government, when questioned about the need to stop the siting of nuclear facilities in NSW, hides behind a legislative barrier that simply does not exist. The Special Minister for State, John Della Bosca, in reply to a Greens question gave misleading answers to the NSW Upper House on the possible construction of a nuclear waste dump at Olary in western New South Wales.

Following the decision of the SA Liberal government to ban a nuclear storage facility in that state we had thought that the NSW Labor Party would lift its game. We were able to organise a briefing of two of the Premier’s senior staff people. Representatives of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Total Environment Centre, the local community and The Greens attended and provided clear advice on where the legislation needs to be tightened to prevent the construction of nuclear facilities in this state.

But even with the Coalition’s unseemly speed up on the nuclear reactor the Carr government has not taken a stand with the people of Sydney and castigated the federal government for signing the contract. Surely a Labor government should speak out against this project as it has not been approved by the federal government’s official safety authority and there are no plans in place for the disposal of the waste.

So The Greens parliamentary office has introduced a private members bill to amend existing legislation to prevent the construction of a new nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights, as well as an associated nuclear dump in NSW.

The fight on this one is hotting up - on the streets and in parliament.

PARLIAMENTARY MEDIA REPORT The Greens have received print and/or electronic media coverage on a variety of issues, including:

Blowout of SOCOG budget — Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), ABC radio; Construction of nuclear reactor — SMH, commercial radio; Olympic stadium at Bondi — Telegraph, Egan and Olympics — SMH, Drug law reform — letter to Telegraph, DNA testing — ABC radio news, Australian Greens in NZ — Christchurch Press, Bill impact on gold mine — Daily Examiner Grafton, ABC radio; Nuclear dump in western NSW - ABC radio; Victory against live exports — Release (Animal Liberation newsletter).

Articles by Lee have been in Vegan Forum, Assembly Lines — Legislative Assembly newsletter (on World Environment Day) and Workers on Line (website of the NSW Labor Council).

Lee Rhiannon spoke at the following:

• Green Olympics, Hunter
• Students and Sustainability Conference, Brisbane
• Rally for National Aborigines Week, Hyde Park
• Accounting for Development — Australian involvement in the Asian Development Bank, Conference, Sydney University
• Forum on Genetically Engineered Food, Blue Mountains
• National Conference of the New Zealand Greens, Turangi NZ

• briefing with community at The Block, Redfern
• meeting of the Council of the University of NSW
• briefing and site visit with community at Kurnell/Cronulla
• briefing with Aboriginal elders, Port Stephens
• NSW Teachers Federation Women’s Conference

Select Committee on the Increase in Prisoner Population. The first report of this committee into the proposed new women’s prison is due out the week starting July 17. This committee will continue its work and will shortly be calling for further submissions into male prisons. For more information contact — ph 02 9230 2456 or email: scipp@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Inquiry into SOCOG finances. In parliament the NSW Treasurer has been feeling the heat over the $140 million post-budget blowout for the Olympics. Within a month of stating that the Olympic Games are now "paid for" Treasurer Egan admitted that additional millions were needed, but he couldn’t be exactly sure how much. A NSW Upper House inquiry is presently looking into this fiasco. You can find the transcript from this inquiry at

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/WEB_FEED/PHWeb.nsf/Committee?OpenFrameSet The report is due by August 29.

Inquiry into Policing at Cabramatta. This inquiry has just been called. For a copy of the terms of reference contact ph - 02 9230 3544, email - gpscno3@parliament.nsw.gov.au. Closing date for submissions is August 11.

Social And Community Service Award; Local Government Elections; Olympic Beach Volleyball Stadium; Stockton Bight Mineral Sand Mining; FreightCorp; Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor; Child Care Assistance; Olary Nuclear Waste Dump; Government Support For Local Industries.

Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill; Workplace Injury Management And Workers Compensation; Olympic Games Funding; Adjournment; Interpretation Act 1987: Disallowance Of Forestry Amendment; Dairy Industry Bill; United Nations Peace Plan For Western Sahara; Adjournment; Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Bill; Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal; SOCOG Finances Investigation; Sydney Organising Committee For The Olympic Games Homeless; Industrial Relations Amendment Bill; Herbicide Regulation; Adjournment; Casino Control Amendment Bill; ; Fair Trading Amendment (Enforcement And Compliance Power; Stockton Bight; Adjournment; Children's Court Amendment Bill; International Tunnel Ventilation Workshop; Adjournment; Constitution Amendment Bill; Occupational Health And Safety Bill; State Emergency And Rescue Management Amendment Bill; Se; Occupational Health And Safety Bill; Eastern Distributor; Adjournment; Intoxicated Persons Amendment Bill; Standing Committee On Social Issues; Report: Domestic Re; Bankstown Bushland Society; Adjournment; Transport Administration Amendment (Parramatta Rail Link); Tranby Aboriginal Co-Operative College; Adjournment; Crimes Amendment (Child Protection-Excessive Punishment); Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative College, Adjournment; Transport Administration Amendment (Parramatta Rail Link) Bill; First Home Owner Grant Bill; Albury-Wodonga Development Repeal Bill; Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Carers' Responsibilities); Warringah Council, Adjournment;

Andrew Burke - policy adviser ph - 9230 3552
Stafford Sanders - media officer ph - 9230 3549
Kate Walsh - administration coordinator ph - 9230 2138
Jamie Parker - community liaison coordinator ph - 9230 2138

And many thanks to John Kaye and Elisia Yeo, who recently have taken up other appointments. All their hard work particularly in helping us set up our team in those early days is very much appreciated.

The Greens parliamentary office sends out regular briefs — send in your email and we’ll put you in our e-group. Email lee.rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au