Federal Labor MP Justine Elliott leads in My Daily News online poll

Something the Murdoch media will find surprising as it doesn't quite meet their predictions....

Sitting Richmond MP Justine Elliot will romp home at the September federal election if the results of a My Daily News online poll are any indication. The Labor MP attracted 67% of the 1230 votes posted by My Daily News readers, putting her comfortably ahead of her three political rivals.....Ms Elliot's lead remained consistent throughout the week-long poll conducted from June 5-12.

My Daily News 15 June 2012 article here.

Catholic Josephite Justice Office in Canberra speaks out against CSG mining

Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
28 May 2013

Rural residences, homes and agricultural land remain at severe risk from the rapid expansion of coal seam gas (CSG) mining says Sr Jan Barnett of the Josephite Justice Office in Canberra.

A ministry of the Sisters of St Joseph, the Justice Office has been an outspoken critic of licenses being issued without consultation or sufficient scientific research into the possible adverse effects of CSG exploration and mining on the health of individuals, on livestock or on the fertile food growing land such as the Liverpool Plains.

Sr Jan says the Office is also extremely concerned there are no protections or shields in place for important water catchment and environmentally sensitive areas.

"None of these issues have been addressed in the NSW Government's amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy," she says adding that in the Justice Office's recent detailed submission on the proposed amendments, the Sisters have called for the politicians to put the right of individuals and communities to live in a safe environment ahead of all other considerations.

In Toowoomba today, the Bishop of Toowoomba, the Most Rev Robert McGuckin issued a similar call to the Queensland Government insisting that the health and wellbeing of residents must come first.

In making the announcement this morning, the Bishop's major concern was the health and welfare of residents of Tara where adults and in particular, children are suffering multiple medical conditions which a number of residents, including their doctors, believe is the result of chemical exposure from  the CSG mining activity.

At a recent meeting of the Toowoomba Diocesan Social Justice Commission, Bishop McGuckin heard accounts from local Tara residents of physical and mental health conditions that have emerged since CSG began operating in the area. Most distressing he said, were the reports of local children, including photographs, showing them suffering from skin rashes and nose bleeds.

"Queensland Health knows about this issue but more needs to be done to allay the understandable anxieties of the people being affected," he said, describing Tara as one of the most disadvantaged communities in the Western Downs region.

"We support the recent call by the Australian Medical Association for governments to strengthen the assessment and monitoring of health impacts of CSG developments in Australia," he said.

He also urged all levels of government and the resource companies to make sure the voices of those in Tara and other affected areas be heard and their concerns taken seriously…..

Clarence Valley Council flying high with new airport upgrade funding from the federal government

In July 2012 Clarence Valley Council announced that it would benefit from a NSW O'Farrell Government grant of a 4% interest subsidy on loans under the Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme, which will allow it to borrow the $1.06 million to begin work on the $2.1 million airport upgrade - construction of an additional aircraft parking bay, extra hardstand areas helicopters, strengthening and shape correction of the runway and apron pavements, extension of the passenger terminal building and replacement of the aerodrome back-up electrical power supply.

On 12 June 2013 the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Antony Albanese and Federal Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin announced that the Labor Government will contribute $1 million to the upgrade which includes an extension of the airport terminal, an additional parking bay for passenger aircraft and extra hardstand areas for helicopters. The project will also see the perimeter fence and runway lighting upgraded, as well as the airport's back-up power supply replaced.  

This new federal grant is coming from Round Four of the Regional Development Australia Fund. Full details here.

As the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) for the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) concluded that "regional communities with regular air services are doing better on a number of clear quantitative measures than those without"  [Clarence Valley Council December 2010] both councillors and valley residents can be pleased with this chance to complete the scheduled upgrade by 28 December 2014.

Of course none of this will really please Rex Regional Express airline, which continues its epic six year-long moan that was enthusiastically supported by much gloomy head shaking on the part of Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss, and Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce when they visited Grafton airport in May 2011.

Heather writes to Tony

Heather Wood  writes an open letter to Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on 9 June 2013…..

Dear Mr Abbott,

I was born quite a few decades ago into what was pretty much a conservative-voting family, one that was not particularly overt in its politics, but one that took an active role in many aspects of life in a rural community. Coming from this background, and having a healthy respect for authority and for the status quo, it would probably not come as a surprise that I have always been inclined to vote conservatively. This mindset extends also to being somewhat private about my political inclinations.

So here I am, pushing myself waaay out of my comfort zone, wearing my heart on my sleeve and publicly articulating my politics.

I am not highly politicized, I don’t claim to be a particularly deep thinker, to follow current affairs all that closely or have any great understanding of the implications of government policy but it seems to me that both major parties have degenerated into a downward spiral of appalling public discourse.

With its shallow thinking and knee-jerk positions on issues such as asylum seekers, climate change and same sex marriage, in my opinion, your party, Mr Abbott – and you in particular- have been the key driver of this.

It can’t be easy governing or positioning oneself as an alternative government. I concede that balancing different opinions, running the economy and dealing with foreign relations is a nightmare, but seriously!

Yes, the Labor Party isn’t all that crack hot at some of this stuff either, but I think the Liberal Party, aided and abetted  by the media, currently sets the benchmark very low in appealing to the prejudiced, shallow, black and white thinkers in the Australian public.

Where is the Liberal Party’s sense of decency and humanity? Demonising individuals and families who are desperate enough to take to the high seas, whilst quietly ignoring those who enter by other means, getting hung up and confusing religious beliefs on homosexuality with the right to have relationships legally recognised, and taking a lukewarm stance on our children’s future in relation to climate change are just a few issues I find difficult to stomach.

Yes, PM Gillard has made some ‘unfortunate’ choices but at the end of the day (well 90 or so, by my counting), as far as I am concerned, at the moment the scales will be tipping in her favour.

It seems to me that our political leanings are often historical in their basis, somewhat like following a particular footy team. In supporting any party we can get too bound up in being a supporter, lose sight of what is really at stake and the implications of our decision. For this reason, I am mighty uncomfortable in contemplating voting for a Labor candidate, but am biting the bullet, taking a step back and looking at what is really at stake here.

It is unlikely that any politician will have core beliefs and values that align exactly with our own and I would have to say that at the moment, my values and those you articulate are poles apart.

Speaking  with the authority of life experience, I think it’s about time that both parties smartened up their game, stopped having school ground ‘he said, she said’ spats and acted like adults intent on making Australia a greater and safer place than it is already.

It may not be too late Mr Abbott, I may return to the fold eventually, but you will need to go a long way towards proving to me that you have some humanity and the interests of the country foremost in your mind.

Regards,

Heather.

P.S. Please don’t be too offended by my letter, I am not beyond offering Ms Gillard free, unsolicited advice as well. 

National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day, 4 August 2013. Is your organisation marking this day in some way?

 

From the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care:

 

What is National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day?

NAICD is held on 4 August each year to celebrate the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within family and community.

First held in 1988, the day has also been used over the years to increase awareness on important issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

In 2013, NAICD is all about stepping up for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s rights.

This year’s theme is Right Here, Right Now. Our Rights Matter.

It seeks to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children by increasing public awareness about:

• major human rights concerns that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across the country; and
• the unique rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as First Peoples of this country.

The theme also aims to support local events to celebrate children, assist better  understanding about what their rights mean and how communities can work better to ensure that all children have the opportunity to live these rights every day.

SNAICC wants to work with communities and organisations — Indigenous and non-Indigenous — to make sure this year’s children’s day is the biggest and most successful yet.

We hope the day will provide the opportunity for Australians to come together to discuss issues critical issues impacting our children and work together to improve mutual understanding and to see change happen.

As in previous years, SNAICC will hold a national launch (in 2013 it will be in Melbourne) and assist organisations across Australia to hold local events celebrating the day.

SNAICC has once again developed a range of resources for children and adults to help with celebrations. These include:

• a glossy National Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day poster

• a series of seven beautifully-illustrated posters on child rights and a children’s activity book to accompany the poster

• an educator’s guide on facilitating child rights workshops with children, and

• children’s day goodies bag (including stickers, arm bands, pencils and more).

These resources will be available from June for purchase at low cost, with one set also provided free to SNAICC members.

SNAICC would really appreciate any support, assistance and expertise you can provide to help promote this important event.

Obtain an order from HERE
 

For more information on NAICD, please go to the SNAICC website: www.snaicc.org.au

You can also contact us (0419) 508 125 or Nick Butera, SNAICC Resource Officer, on (03) 9489 8099

Abbott's Army marches on.....

"Women should shut up in public" [Socceroos coach Holger Osieck]

After a week in which sexism and misogyny were again displayed towards the Australian Prime Minister, Liberal Party members began to feel enough political pain to cause at least one their senior organisational office bearers to begin to react appropriately:

NSW Liberal Party state director Mark Neeham suspended Jason Hickson from the party yesterday, after learning of his remark on Twitter about the Prime Minister.

Unfortunately, Mark Needham’s response is likely to be an isolated case.

Monsanto shows its desperation

Caught out in yet another instance of crop contamination and an attempt to limit the power of U.S. courts – this time an unapproved and commercially unreleased genetically modified wheat variety and a piece of legislation quietly slipped into an appropriations bill - Monsanto & Co decides to blame the bogeymen.

Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 containing the section known as the  “Monsanto Protection Act” or “Farmers Assurance Provision” 26 March 2013:

SEC. 735. In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act H. R. 933—35 is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions

shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretary’s evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into commerce and carry out other authorized activities in a timely manner: Provided, That all such conditions shall be applicable only for the interim period necessary for the Secretary to complete any required analyses or consultations related to the petition for non-regulated status: Provided further, That

nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority under section 411, 412 and 414 of the Plant Protection Act.

Snopes 29 May 2013:

..the agribusiness industry…… maintains the Farmers Assurance Provision prevents activists from manipulating the court system.

Salon News 6 June 2013:

In bad news for Monsanto, but good news for food safety advocates, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., has vowed to oppose a provision that protects genetically modified seeds from litigation in the face of health risks. The provision, dubbed “the Monsanto Protection Act” by activists for the benefit it would provide biotech giants like Monsanto, was sneaked into a broad spending bill and passed through Congress without appropriate review by the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees…..

Stabenow made her pledge in a conversation with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who has been pushing the Senate to vote on an amendment to the farm bill that would repeal the provision. That vote was blocked by [Republican Sen. Cochran] and on Thursday morning the Senate voted to end debate and move to final passage.

When two senators have a pre-arranged public conversation on the Senate floor, it’s known as a colloquy and is typically the bow that ties up a deal struck beforehand. While Merkley was unable to get a repeal vote, the colloquy is a significant win for him, with Stabenow promising she will oppose any attempt to extend the Monsanto Protection Act in backroom negotiations.

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune 6 June 2013:

This week, more than 2 million people protested around the world against the corporate conglomerate Monsanto...

Drovers Cattle Network 6 June 2013:

Monsanto executives described the discovery of genetically-modified wheat growing in an Oregon farmer’s field this spring an “isolated occurrence.”

During a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Monsanto officials said the company has tested 31,200 seed samples in Oregon and Washington since the May 29 announcement of the GM wheat sprouts. They found no evidence of contamination in the tests, and said the GM wheat found last month was likely the result of an accident or deliberate mixing of seeds. They are not ruling out sabotage….

The Christian Science Monitor 7 June 2013:

American wheat farmers and a food safety advocacy group filed a lawsuit Thursday against biotech seed developer Monsanto Co, accusing the company of failing to protect the U.S. wheat market from contamination by its unauthorized wheat.

The petition, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, seeks class-action status to represent other farmers it says were harmed by lower wheat prices as some foreign buyers have shied away from U.S. wheat.

It names Clarmar Farms Inc., farmer Tom Stahl, and the Center for Food Safety as plaintiffs…….

The suit follows a similar action filed Monday by a Kansas wheat farmer, alleging that he and other growers have been hurt financially by the discovery of an unapproved biotech wheat that Monsanto said it stopped testing and shelved nine years ago….

Background

Centre For Food Safety 20 May 2011:

Earthjustice attorney Paul Achitoff: “Dismissal of the appeal confirms that the district court rightly concluded that in this case, as in every other case that has challenged USDA’s oversight of genetically engineered crops, the agency has flouted the law, favoring the interests of Monsanto over those of American people.  With every court decision the need for fundamental reform in this area becomes ever more obvious.”

Remarkably, the EIS is only the second USDA has undertaken for any GE crop in over 15 years of approving such crops for human consumption.  Both analyses were court-ordered.  USDA said it expects to finish the GE sugar beets EIS and have a new decision on commercialization in 2012.

Despite the absence of lawful review or a new agency decision, in summer 2010, USDA and the biotech industry demanded the court allow planting to continue unabated.  The district court refused to do so and instead set aside USDA’s approval of the crop based on the agency’s failure to comply with environmental laws.  That precedential ruling was also preserved by today’s order.