This blog is open to any who wish to comment on Australian society, the state of the environment or political shenanigans at Federal, State and Local Government level.
BBC NewsElection 2015 - results will appear on the website from 10pm on Thursday 7 May, London time (7am on Friday 8 May 2015 Sydney time) BBC The World Service - radio election special.
U.K. Electoral Commission - electoral data can be found here. Twitter on the night -@ElectoralCommUK.
Huffington Post U.K. - expected general election seat declaration times here. The Guardian U.K. - live bloggershere. Election Forecast U.K. - updating forecasts on the website and on@Election4castUKas the results come in during the early hours of Friday morning London time.
Antony Green - in London and tweeting on@AntonyGreenABC on the night. ABC News 24Australia - updates on the night herefrom 7am AEST on Friday 8 May 2015. CNN International - U.K. Election 2015 cover on the night d'écume.
North Coast Voices received this email from the Leader of the Green Party of England & Wales on 14 March 2015.
__________________________
Greetings from London, where we Greens are in the final weeks of our biggest-ever national election campaign.
Did you know that all Australian adults currently in the UK are eligible to vote in British elections?
It’s true. So are most British citizens living in Australia. The UK elections on May 7 are the most important in a generation — and a Green vote has never been more powerful.
British politics is broken. 3.5 million children live in poverty but the old parties all support huge cuts to public services. The Conservative government here is slashing clean energy and expanding fracking across the country — just like Tony Abbott.
But people here are standing up. Nearly 50,000 people have joined the Green parties of the UK in the last year alone. There is a hunger for change and it’s showing in the polls. Predictions show that if we can turn out every Green supporter on May 7, we will help decide who forms the next government.
That’s why we need you. Our key seats will come down to a handful of votes — eligible overseas voters could decide this election for the Greens.
Just like in Australia, the Greens are the only party keeping multinational companies honest about the tax they (don’t) pay. We’re for keeping healthcare in public hands and providing good homes for everyone.
I was the only party leader to mention climate change in the election debates last month.
For the good of the planet, keeping a Green voice in the UK Parliament has never been more important. That’s why we need everyone next month.
Natalie Bennett Leader, Green Party of England and Wales
PS As an Australian myself, I really appreciate your support in this. Know any Australians in the UK at the moment — or British citizens living in Australia? Please forward this email to them to get the word out. We can change politics, but it’s going to take all of us.
In a UK parliamentary general
election, registered voters in every area of the country vote for an MP to
represent them in the House of Commons. There are 650 geographical areas -
these are called constituencies.
You can vote in a UK parliamentary
general election if you’re registered to vote and:
* aged 18 or over on polling day
* a UK citizen, Commonwealth
citizen or a citizen of the Irish Republic
* not legally excluded from
voting (eg because you’re in prison)
You can’t vote in a UK
parliamentary general election if you are:
* under 18
* a member of the House of Lords
* a European Union citizen (and
not also a UK, Irish or Commonwealth citizen)
Independent Deb Novak, Christian Democrat’s Carol Ordish, Independent Bryan Robins, Country Labor’s Trent Nathan, The Greens’ Janet Cavanaugh
A public forum was held on Sunday 15th March at the Dundurrabin Community Centre on the Dorrigo Plateau where Labor and Greens candidates from the Oxley electorate and Labor, Greens, Christian Democrats and independent candidates from the Clarence electorate debated the upcoming election issues.
The event was hosted by the Blicks River Guardians a local community group who formed in July 2013 to raise awareness of gold, copper and antimony exploration in local catchments. A spokesperson for the group, Meredith Stanton said,
“Ahead of the forum we sent questions to the candidates and asked, “Do you agree. Is mining an inappropriate land use for the Dorrigo Plateau?”, because our group has serious concerns about mining development in our area and the risk of water contamination.”
A majority Chinese-owned company, Anchor Resources holds three exploration leases covering private and public land on the Dorrigo Plateau. The Blicks Project (EL 6465 & EL 8100 - Scorpio Resources) is a gold and copper prospect located about 2km’s from Dundurrabin and the third - the Bielsdown Project (EL6388)- is an antimony prospect located in the Oxley electorate, above the Nymboida River catchment near Dorrigo.
Ms Stanton added, “The forum was a great success and I’m pleased to report that all seven candidates who attended voiced opposition to any mine development here on the Dorrigo Plateau. We are still waiting to hear from the Nationals who could not attend, but we hope they will reply in writing when they have time.”
The Dorrigo Plateau has one of the highest annual rainfalls in NSW and receives an average of 2000mm of rainfall p.a. with daily falls of over 400mm recorded during the 2009 floods.
* Member for Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis did not attend. According to his electorate office he sent his apologies. BACKGROUND Candidates standing in the Clarence Electorate on 28 March 2015:
The latest Fairfax/Ipsos NSW poll revealed close to one in 10 voters who supported the Coalition at the 2011 state election intend to change their vote on March 28 due to the performance of the Abbott government.
Licence cancellation another cynical vote grabbing exercise by NSW Government
Gasfield Free Northern Rivers have responded with ambivalence to the announcement today that a petroleum licence in the south of the region has been cancelled. Resources Minister Anthony Roberts travelled to Grafton to announce that gas company Clarence Moreton Resources had agreed to hand in PEL 478.
“This is the cancellation of a small inactive licence. The fact remains that the current Liberal-National Government is actively supporting the roll out of the CSG industry across large parts of our region,” said Gasfield Free spokesperson Elly Bird.
“This government has already renewed Metgasco’s most active CSG licence areas (PELs 13 and 16), as well as the largest licence area in the region (Igas’s PEL 445), which covers Lismore, Nimbin and Kyogle and parts of the water supply area of major towns across the region, including Ballina and Byron Bay.”
“This is a cynical and tokenistic attempt by the Liberal-National government to look like they are doing something on this issue when they could have acted decisively long ago by refusing to renew the Metgasco and Igas licences that were quietly renewed despite repeated calls from the community for their cancellation.”
“The communities of this region are not stupid and will not be deceived by this latest gimmick from the government. They are angry that our local Nationals MP’s have the audacity to repeatedly ignore the community’s wishes over many years only to mock them with token actions at election time,” she said.
MEDIA RELEASE
Janet Cavanaugh
Greens Candidate for Clarence
m. 0429 479 968; e. clarence@nsw.greens.org.au
www.nsw.greens.org.au/clarence
9 March 2015
PEL CANCELLATION TOO LITTLE TOO LATE
The Greens have criticised the Government’s announcement that two Petroleum Exploration Licences (PELs) held by Clarence Moreton Resources Pty Ltd will be cancelled.
Greens candidate for Clarence, Janet Cavanaugh said:
“Today’s announcement is too little, too late. It is merely tinkering around the edges.
“The timing is just cynical electioneering. Both PELs expired in 2012 and could have been cancelled at any time.
“I am concerned that the Government is wasting taxpayers money on this electioneering stunt. Under the Petroleum Onshore Act*, no compensation is payable for the cancellation or suspension of exploration licences.
“Why is the Government paying off their mates in the mining industry?
“There can be no basis for compensation, particularly if there has been insufficient investment in exploration works in the licence area or any other breaches of licence conditions. The Clarence Alliance Against CSG is not aware of any onground works in PEL478.
“In PEL479, there have been substantial complaints about the drilling of the Annvale Borehole in 2011,” she said.
Greens spokesperson on mining, Jeremy Buckingham MP said:
“The Greens are not impressed by the cancellation of these PELs. “We would have been more impressed if Metgasco's PEL426 had been cancelled. It expired more than 12 months ago and should also be cancelled.
“PEL426 is the PEL with the Glenugie drill site. Metgasco’s attempts to drill here were met by concerted community action and a lengthy blockade. Drilling only proceeded after the
riot squad was brought in, at great expense to taxpayers.
“The Greens are the only party to have a position of being totally opposed to all unconventional gas mining and exploration in NSW - that's coal seam gas, tight sands
gas and shale gas. It just isn't worth the risk to our land and water,” he said.
* Section 22(5) of the NSW Petroleum Onshore Act 1991 states:
“No compensation is payable by the Crown for or in respect of the cancellation of, or a suspension of operations under, a petroleum title.”
MEDIA RELEASE
Meet the Candidates at Dundurrabin
The Blicks River Guardians invite you to attend an afternoon tea with NSW election candidates at Dundurrabin Community Centre, 4pm on Sunday 15th March. This event, on the beautiful Dorrigo Plateau, provides a great opportunity for you to come and meet the candidates from both the Oxley and Clarence electorates. There will be time for Q & A about the issues that are important to you and following at 6pm will be a community dinner (bring a plate to share) and a fundraiser for the Blicks River Guardians with local musician and songwriter Noam Blat.
Mineral exploration on the Dorrigo Plateau and across the New England fold belt has increased in recent years. The Clarence catchment has a number of active exploration leases for gold, antimony and other minerals, with Anchor Resources prospecting near the Blicks River at Dundurrabin and at Wild Cattle Creek near Dorrigo. Also on the Clarence, Australia United Mining (Altius) is exploring for gold in the Orara Valley near Coffs Harbour. The Hillgrove mine in the Macleay catchment has plans to reopen with a proposal for a second mine awaiting approval. Other large gold and mineral exploration leases are active at Uralla and Armidale.
The increase in mineral exploration above coastal water catchments across our region concerns local residents.
“Some of this exploration is being supported with taxpayers money by the state government, despite the list of contamination events that have polluted regional waterways in recent decades,” said Blicks River Guardians’ spokesperson Meredith Stanton, “Major rainfall events have led to heavy metal contamination polluting the Clarence River at Timbarra in 2001, the Macleay River at Bellbrook in 2009 and at North Parkes a gold and copper mine spill killed birds in 1995. There are many more documented examples across NSW and more than 500 derelict mine sites that companies have walked away from leaving a legacy for NSW taxpayers.”
The Blicks River Guardians consider mining to be an inappropriate land use on the Dorrigo Plateau and aim to protect our high rainfall area from future mining development. Local communities rely heavily on tourism and the local agricultural industry. The risks that an open cut mine would bring to our catchments are not worth the few jobs that might be available to local people if mining development were to be approved.
BRG will be asking the NSW election candidates where they stand on mining in our water catchments. To learn more about BRG visit www.blicksriverguardians.org.
To ask the candidates about important local issues come along to the public event at:
Dundurrabin Community Centre, Armidale-Grafton Road, Dundurrabin.
Date: Sunday 15th March 2015
4 - 6pm - Meet the Candidates. Afternoon tea provided
With rigid, far right ideology dominating the shrivelled souls within the Liberal and National political parties at federal and state levels in Australia today, it is a hard time to be a woman or girl-child.
Hannah* is one of the 17 women who died by violence in the first nine weeks of this year…….
Alex had always been dangerously jealous. If another man so much as greeted his wife, Hannah, Alex was prone to physically attacking them – and her. Once, on a holiday to the Gold Coast, Alex punched Hannah in the head, because of the way a friend’s husband had looked at her.
In the final months of their marriage, Alex developed a sinister fetish. The routine was the same every time: Alex would pin Hannah to the ground and choke her until she was almost unconscious, then cover her face with a blanket and jump on her body.
Convinced that Alex was preparing for her murder, Hannah summoned the courage to leave him. She knew she’d need protection from him, so she tried to get into a women’s refuge. But like many women fleeing domestic violence, Hannah was told there were no beds available, so she was given vouchers for a hotel in Kings Cross.
But Hannah was too afraid to be on her own. After a few nights in the hotel, she went to her friend’s place and tried calling the refuges again. Hannah called refuges across Sydney and nearby regional cities more than 10 times. But there was nowhere that could help her.
In the final months of last year, as Hannah was trying to find somewhere to stay, the women’s refuge system in New South Wales was in disarray. The state government had just completed a radical reform of its homelessness sector, putting all its services out to tender for the first time in 25 years. Women’s refuges were told they couldn’t just reapply for their own service – if they wanted to retain their refuges, they would have to show they could provide multiple services to all homeless people in their area. Services would no longer be exclusively for victims of domestic violence – they’d now have to cater to all types of homelessness….
Back in the city, Hannah’s efforts to find protection in a refuge were all in vain. She took an apprehended violence order out against Alex, in the hope that would keep him away from her. Earlier this year, Hannah was found dead. Alex is now awaiting trial….
ALZHEIMER'S Australia is calling for major political parties to commit to better funding for research into the disease as part of their NSW Election platforms.
Updated dementia prevalence figures have supported the call for a comprehensive state-wide dementia strategy to be implemented in NSW, across health, transport, policing, housing and other government services.
In the state electorates of Coffs Harbour, Oxley and Clarence, it's estimated that a combined total of 4,400 people are already living with dementia.
These numbers are expected to increase to 5,030 by 2020 and 9,450 by 2050.
Alzheimer's Australia NSW chief executive, The Hon John Watkins, said the number of people with dementia in NSW is now estimated to be almost 112,000.
"These figures show dementia is an issue that is only going to get bigger and we really need a whole-of-government approach to appropriately tackle the challenge," Mr Watkins said.
"This means doing things like taking a serious look at how to provide much better care for people with dementia when they need to go to hospital.
"There is a need to increase specialist palliative care for people with dementia and adequately fund health-related transport to support people living with dementia to access health and medical-related appointments.
"With the tragically high level of dementia in Aboriginal communities, we also need to look specifically at dementia care and risk reduction measures for that community…..
A number of candidates standing in the seat of Clarence at the forthcoming state election have mentioned mental health services and cancer treatment as issues important to the electorate, but I have yet to hear any express an opinion on the subject of dementia.
According to Alzheimer's Australia; Dementia is the 3rd leading cause of
death in Australia (source: ABS, March 2014).
Dementia prevalence projections by NSW electorate on the Far North Coast expects the number of people suffering from this devastating disease to rise by 2020 to:
Ballina 1,623
Clarence1,697
Lismore 1,565
Tweed 2,018
TOTAL: 6,903
The prevalence projection for the number of people with dementia within North Coast Area Health Service boundaries in twenty-five years time is 27,661.
It's time all candidates in NSW North Coast electorates considered the social and economic implications of these figure.
Over 18,000 people in New South Wales received federally funded high or low care community age care packages enabling them to continue living at home in 2011-12, their median age was 84.2 years.
Most were women living in their own homes and many lived alone.
The most common reasons for people ceasing to use their age care packages was death or admission to residential age care.
The majority of agencies providing this care are not-for-profit organisations. [Australian Government Institute of Health and Welfare, Aged care packages in the community 2010–11: A statistical overview]
Before accessing this range of packages, a number of these older people would have received short-term or crisis assistance through federal government funded Home and Community Care programs administered by the state via its own Home Care Service of NSW.
This includes services such as personal care, respite care, veterans’ home care, light housework, shopping and in remote areas meals and transport [www.adhc.nsw.gov.au, 2015]. Again, many of these services are run at local levels by not-for-profit organisations.
These are the vulnerable people (along with individuals under 65 years with a disability) within the est. 50,000 Home Care Service client base that the NSW Baird Government appears to be targeting in its announcement that it intends to fully privatise this service in or before July 2016 by sale to one successful bidder.
Seventy-eight per cent of Home Care Service clients are 65 years of age or older and from culturally diverse backgrounds, most receive less than ten hours assistance per week but 2 per cent receive sixty hours or more per week [NSW Family & Community Services, 2014].
Two foreign multinational corporations have expressed an interest in this privatisation.
The first is BUPA which is predominately a private medical insurer with some hospital and age care facilities and the second is SERCO which operates public and private transport and traffic control, aviation, military weapons, detention centres, prisons, non-clinical hospital management & support services and schools on behalf of its current customers.
As the result of two separate investigations SERCO had to repay over £70 million to the U.K. Government in 2013 due to overcharging for justice/prison services and is alleged to have millions more in overcharging for national health services on the books in 2014.
It has also been the subject of a number of human rights abuse allegations and was once described as having a culture of “institutional meanness” by the U.K. Chief Inspector of Prisons [Centre for Policy Development, March 2012].
BUPA has been implicated in “inadequate treatment”/”sub-optimal nursing care” during respite care at one of its facilities on the NSW North Coast [State Coroner’s Court, Inquest 140588, 26-28 March 2014].
In 2011 its Bexley Aged Care Facility was the scene of “unsatisfactory professional conduct…professional misconduct” including a staff member on more than one occasion making an elderly man beg for a cigarette on his hands and knees [Nursing and Midwifery Tribunal of New South Wales, Matter No: 028/2013].
In 2011-12 the U.K. Care Quality Commission found a Southampton care home run by BUPA & others in oversight partnership was “at risk” of failure two years after opening [Hon John Denham MP, February 2012] and a 2007 U.K. inquest reportedly found BUPA’s level of care provided to the 91-year-old “seriously disturbing” [Watford Observer, “Coroner condemns Bupa nursing home for death”, 23 April 2009].
Media reports state that NSW Disability Services Minister John Ajaka refused to rule out a sale of the Home Care Service to either BUPA or SERCO.
I fear this privatisation move by the Baird Government will not end well for people living in the Clarence electorate and elsewhere in the Northern Rivers region.
As the NSW election approaches, the Baird government's vulnerability to defeat is being hidden by the reporting of opinion polls.
Opinion polls showing Coalition 2-party preferred result of 53% or 54% are being reported as the Baird government on track for re-election when in all likelihood they indicate a much closer contest with the government at risk of losing its majority.
There are three reasons for this.
The first is a likely change in preference behaviour by minor party and independent voters. Like Queensland, NSW uses optional preferential voting, and the recent Queensland election saw a 20% decline in exhausted preferences and a similar size increase in preference flows to Labor. This factor alone was enough to add another 3% to Labor's state wide 2-party preferred vote compared to polls. If the Queensland experience is repeated in NSW, then the published polls are over-stating the Coalition's 2-party preferred vote.
Second, under optional preferential voting, two-party preferred percentages are exaggerated in favour of the party with the higher first preference vote. In over than half of the state's electorates at the 2011 election, the Coalition outpolled Labor on first preferences by more than two-to-one. Because of the way 2-party preferred percentages are calculated under optional preferential voting, the Coalition margins in these seats are exaggerated. Any reversion to a more normal level of Labor first preference vote in these seats will see larger than expected two-party preferred swings.
The north coast National Party seats of Ballina, Lismore and Tweed all sit on margins of more than 21%. All would be Labor held based on the results of the 2013 federal election and will be seats to watch despite being well beyond the uniform swing. The National Party will also face challenges from Independents and anti-CSG campaigners in a string of seats.
In Sydney, traditional marginal seats like Drummoyne and Ryde have wildly inflated Liberal margins compared to past voting patterns. The same comment applies to Penrith where former Liberal MP Jackie Kelly running as an Independent may also complicate the contest.
The third factor is political geography. The tendency in NSW since the introduction of one-vote one-value electoral boundaries is for the Coalition to win fewer seats than Labor for any given level of two-party preferred vote.
In 1984 Labor polled 52.6% of the 2-party preferred vote and won 58 of the 99 seats. In 2007 Labor polled 52.3% and won 52 of 93 seats. In contrast, the Coalition polled 52.7% of the vote in 1991 and won only 49 of 99 seats.
The State Election is fast approaching. On March 28 we go to the polls again to cast our vote to decide who will run the State of NSW for the next four years.
In the Northern Rivers, the biggest political issue over the past four years has been the threat of industrialisation and destructive and polluting activities which inevitably accompany invasive gasfields.
We have fought to save our region - at Glenugie and Doubtful Creek and then at Bentley. The famous Bentley Blockade resulted in the suspension of Metgasco's exploration licence which was to allow drilling to a depth of 2.1km through the soils, rocks and aquifers of this beautiful and productive valley, so typical of the Northern Rivers.
It was the pressure exerted by the community on the NSW Liberal National Government which caused them to suspend activity. It was not an act of benevolence on the part of the NSW Government- without people-power the drilling rig would have moved in.
Over 95% of people in the Northern Rivers do not want to live in a gasfield. Tourism and primary industries in our region will suffer irreparable damage and our properties will become devalued and unsalable - who would buy a house in or near a gasfield?
Now is our chance once again to have our voices heard loud and clear - in NSW we have a system of Optional Preferential voting.
Under this system, numbering one box is permitted. However, there is a very good reason why this is not a good choice. If you do number only one box and your choice of candidate does not receive 50% + one of the total votes in the first count, your vote is "exhausted'" and you have, in effect, wasted your vote.
To ensure that your vote counts, you must number every box.
You do not have to follow the how to vote card of any political party or independent candidate.
You are the one who is allocating preferences. Your preferences are the ones that matter.
Who you vote for on election day is, of course, your personal choice. However, to vote for a gasfield-free Northern Rivers, you will need to give your LAST preference to the party who is least supportive of the community's clearly expressed wishes to remain gasfield free.
Excerpts from Greens candidate in the Clarence electorate, Janet Cavanaugh,13 February 2015 media release: *Janet Cavanaugh has lived in the Clarence for 25 years and her connections to the Clarence go back five generations. Living in Whiporie in the Richmond Valley and working in Grafton means she has a wide appreciation of both local government areas in the electorate. Janet holds degrees in engineering, natural resources and environmental management. Working in the NSW public sector for 23 years has given her extensive experience in the operation of Government. She currently works as a planner, specialising in park management. Janet joined The Greens in 1995 as a founding member of the Clarence Greens. She was the Greens candidate in 2011 in the state election and also the by-election that was held in that year. * Ms Cavanaugh has announced that her campaign will focus on the need for clean politics and also clean energy. “It is time to clean up this state,” she said. “This election is an opportunity for the community to cast a vote of ‘no confidence’ against the corruption of the major parties. “The Greens have a history of maintaining ethical stands across a range of issues,” Ms Cavanaugh stated. “By acting with integrity, the Greens offer a better way of doing politics — a way that is resulting in better outcomes for our community. “The Greens have consistently opposed plans to privatise and undermine public services,” she said. “If elected, I'll work hard to defend our schools, TAFEs, hospitals, gaols, and our water and electrical networks from privatisation. “Cleaning up our energy supply is linked to cleaning up our politics,” she said. “The major parties receive large donations from mining and gas companies — the same companies that are seeking licences or leases from the NSW Government to exploit the state’s resources. “The Greens are advocating a statewide ban on unconventional gas as the risks are too great,” she said. “Our area’s economy relies on its natural resources for agriculture, fishing and tourism. It’s vital we keep them healthy into the future. “Instead of risking our future with unconventional gas, we should be expanding our clean energy infrastructure and the jobs that come with it. “I am standing as the candidate for Clarence because I believe we can change the future by protecting and building our region in a way our grandchildren will thank us for,” she said.
The candidates may be acting coy five weeks out from the NSW state election but voters may be beginning to force the pace, if this open letter published in the Clarence Valley Review is any indication:
This open letter to Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, was sent on behalf of all community Groups Against Gas within the Clarence electorate.
Mr Gulaptis,
Do you honestly think a few slick Gas Plan ads will woo us outraged voters back? Nationals’ entire track record indicates your real plan is to ignore our concerns and roll gas mining out across the North Coast.
Even your most loyal voters were shocked when Dart’s massive North Coast licence was renewed just before Christmas. Our shock turned to outrage when we realised that the 25% of Dart’s original leasehold that it had to forfeit, included Ballina. What a sly attempt, at the expense of our long-term future, to lure back voters left hanging by Don Page’s retirement!
That shameful action came hot on the heels of the retirement of your Minister for Resources and Energy, after allegations of corruption by ICAC. Then, just one year after Nationals passed a bill making ‘Public Interest’ legal grounds to refuse or limit gas licences, your party back-flipped and cancelled it!
And now, just weeks before the elections, you refuse to answer four simple questions about your own commitment to protect us voters from the dangers of gas mining.
Every other Clarence candidate answered with honesty and integrity, but you arrogantly responded with your own four questions! Well Mr Gulaptis, let’s see if the answers speak for themselves:
You ask:
1. Which State Government issued the petroleum exploration licences in NSW? Try as you may to shift the blame back to when CSG was thought safe, but it was Nationals who renewed licences in NSW, even after you knew the real risks. Other parties will implement Gas Bans, not just plans.
2. Which State Government suspended Metgasco’s license in the Northern Rivers? Not yours! Even after widespread protests from rural communities, plus Police warning the Premier that breaking Bentley blockade could result in local deaths, he only suspended drilling at that site, not the Licence covering the much greater lease! And now, because ‘Public Interest’ no longer counts, the Supreme Court may award Metgasco millions from our taxes!
3. Which Federal Government approved the CSG mine at Gloucester? Your party has disbanded its own exclusion zoning to trash Gloucester AND your Gas Plan is to push through Narrabri and Camden as well! 4.Which State Government has reduced the CSG footprint across the Northern Rivers and NSW? Not yours! In fact, last month you actually renewed the largest licence in the Northern Rivers!
Many once-loyal Nationals voters have had enough lies! They know gas mining will destroy their precious bores, their family’s health and their kids’ future unless they act now. Gas will be the decider when they lodge their vote. Gas will come way ahead of loyalty to people they no longer trust. Almost 90% percent have said they want gas bans. They don’t want toxic plans…and they will be heard!
When they see four candidates on the lower house voting form, they will know to vote Gasfield Free they simply need to number every box and put ‘Gulaptis’ last!
Lynette Eggins (Clarence Alliance Against Gas), Leonie Blain (Knitting Nannas Against Gas Grafton Loop), David Irving (Yamba Group Against Gas), Deb Whitley (Pillar Valley Group Against Gas), Tony Belton, Annie Dorian (Iluka Group Against Gas), Jeniffer Lewis (Mid-Clarence Group Against Gas), Dr Eric van Beurden (Richmond Valley Group Against Gas)
A surprise candidate has thrown her hat in the ring for Clarence at the state election next month.
Yamba woman Debrah Novak is running as an independent.
Ms Novak has lived in the electorate for more than 30 years and raised her three adult children here.
"I have worked and played in most corners of the Clarence electorate for over 30 years and believe this unique region is worth holding onto for future generations," Ms Novak said yesterday.
"I am not a career politician and until recently had no desire to go into politics.
"However, I will not stand by and watch the Clarence be stripped of jobs and have its farmland devastated by people who have no interest in us.
"One of my reasons for running is to put our local community front and centre.
"It is a daunting task to take on the might and money of a political party as an independent. However, I am determined to get better representation for the Clarence.
"What gave me the fire in the belly was the march against CSG I attended in Sydney organised by the NSW Farmers Association a couple of years ago.
"In it, the NSW Country Women's Association marched for the first time in its 90-year history.
"I stood among 5000 country folk who went to Sydney to take part in the march.
"I figured if these amazing folk had it in them to step up for the first time, I needed to do what I could to support the Clarence.
"If our political parties and politicians are not protecting their people and land, ordinary people must step up and do it.
"Join me in the new dawn of Australian politics, where people and communities matter," Ms Novak said.
Ms Novak will host a number of forums across the electorate where you can contribute your views and opinions on a range of issues. Other candidates are welcome to attend so we can all hear what voters want.
If you would like to get involved or would like to find out more about Debrah Novak's campaign and how she plans to support the Clarence visit her website www.votedebrahnovak.com.au , phone or text M:0499796297, or email votedebrahnovak@gmail.com
North Coast Voices no longer allows the Facebook Button sited at the end of each blog post to activate when it is clicked on by a reader.
This button has been deactivated because it has become clear that Facebook Inc. is not now and has never been a corporation genuinely committed to principles of digital privacy and security of Internet users' personal information and other associated data.
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
[Adopted and proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948]
Hi! My name is Boy. I'm a male bi-coloured tabby cat. Ever since I discovered that Malcolm Turnbull's dogs were allowed to blog, I have been pestering Clarencegirl to allow me a small space on North Coast Voices.
A false flag musing: I have noticed one particular voice on Facebook which is Pollyanna-positive on the subject of the Port of Yamba becoming a designated cruise ship destination. What this gentleman doesn’t disclose is that, as a principal of Middle Star Pty Ltd, he could be thought to have a potential pecuniary interest due to the fact that this corporation (which has had an office in Grafton since 2012) provides consultancy services and tourismbusiness development services.
A religion & local government musing: On 11 October 2017 Clarence Valley Council has the Church of Jesus Christ Development Fund Inc in Sutherland Local Court No. 6 for a small claims hearing. It would appear that there may be a little issue in rendering unto Caesar. On 19 September 2017 an ordained minister of a religion (which was named by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in relation to 40 instances of historical child sexual abuse on the NSW North Coast) read the Opening Prayer at Council’s ordinary monthly meeting. Earlier in the year an ordained minister (from a church network alleged to have supported an overseas orphanage closed because of child abuse claims in 2013) read the Opening Prayer and an ordained minister (belonging to yet another church network accused of ignoring child sexual abuse in the US and racism in South Africa) read the Opening Prayer at yet another ordinary monthly meeting. Nice one councillors - you are covering yourselves with glory!
An investigative musing: Newcastle Herald, 12 August 2017: The state’s corruption watchdog has been asked to investigate the finances of the Awabakal Aboriginal Local Land Council, less than 12 months after the troubled organisation was placed into administration by the state government. The Newcastle Herald understands accounting firm PKF Lawler made the decision to refer the land council to the Independent Commission Against Corruption after discovering a number of irregularities during an audit of its financial statements.The results of the audit were recently presented to a meeting of Awabakal members. Administrator Terry Lawler did not respond when contacted by the Herald and a PKF Lawler spokesperson said it was unable to comment on the matter. Given the intricate web of company relationships that existed with at least one former board member it is not outside the realms of possibility that, if ICAC accepts this referral, then United Land Councils Limited (registered New Zealand) and United First Peoples Syndications Pty Ltd(registered Australia) might be interviewed. North Coast Voices readers will remember that on 15 August 2015 representatives of these two companied gave evidence before NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 INQUIRY INTO CROWN LAND. This evidence included advocating for a Yamba mega port.
A Nationals musing: Word around the traps is that NSW Nats MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has been talking up the notion of cruise ships visiting the Clarence River estuary. Fair dinkum! That man can be guaranteed to run with any bad idea put to him. I'm sure one or more cruise ships moored in the main navigation channel on a regular basis for one, two or three days is something other regular river users will really welcome. *pause for appreciation of irony* The draft of the smallest of the smaller cruise vessels is 3 metres and it would only stay safely afloat in that channel. Even the Yamba-Iluka ferry has been known to get momentarily stuck in silt/sand from time to time in Yamba Bay and even a very small cruise ship wouldn't be able to safely enter and exit Iluka Bay. You can bet your bottom dollar operators of cruise lines would soon be calling for dredging at the approach to the river mouth - and you know how well that goes down with the local residents.
A local councils musing: Which Northern Rivers council is on a low-key NSW Office of Local Government watch list courtesy of feet dragging by a past general manager?
A serial pest musing: I'm sure the Clarence Valley was thrilled to find that a well-known fantasist is active once again in the wee small hours of the morning treading a well-worn path of accusations involving police, local business owners and others.
An investigative musing: Which NSW North Coast council is batting to have the longest running code of conduct complaint investigation on record?
A which bank? musing: Despite a net profit last year of $9,227 million the Commonwealth Bank still insists on paying below Centrelink deeming rates interest on money held in Pensioner Security Accounts. One local wag says he’s waiting for the first bill from the bank charging him for the privilege of keeping his pension dollars at that bank.
A Daily Examiner musing: Just when you thought this newspaper could sink no lower under News Corp management, it continues to give column space to Andrew Bolt.
A thought to ponder musing: In case of bushfire or flood - do you have an emergency evacuation plan for the family pet?
An adoption musing: Every week on the NSW North Coast a number of cats and dogs find themselves without a home. If you want to do your bit and give one bundle of joy a new family, contact Happy Paws on 0419 404 766 or your local council pound.
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