Greens MPs have used the Federal Parliament to demand justice for Julian Assange, as his extradition hearing begins in London.
In the House of Representatives today, Greens Leader Adam Bandt has called for Mr Assange to be brought back to Australia, while in the Senate, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson today questioned the government and yesterday moved a motion urging the Parliament not to be silent on the criminalisation of journalistic activity.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“The government needs to intervene to bring Julian Assange back to Australia.
“The criminalisation of journalism must end. If this government wants to show its commitment to protecting press freedoms and protecting democracy, it needs to bring Julian Assange home and protect him from extradition to the United States.
“It is a terrifying precedent that foreign nations could extradite and charge journalists who have exposed their wrongdoings. It’s time for the Foreign Minister to intervene.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, yesterday labelled the treatment of Julian Assange a ‘modern showtrial’ because they want to make an example of him.
“The case of Julian Assange extends far beyond the case of one person on trial – it gets to the heart of how we uphold the tenets of democracy, human rights and press freedom.
“We must not let this debate devolve into one about the character of Julian Assange – he is an Australian citizen, a journalist, and urgently requires Government intervention.”
Net-zero by 2050 not enough, Australia's leading climate scientists say
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP, has commended Australia’s leading climate scientists for their courage in warning that both Liberal and Labor’s climate policies are dangerously inadequate.
Three of Australia’s leading specialists on climate change – Professor Will Steffen, Professor Lesley Hughes, and Dr Pep Cannadell – have today warned that Australia needs to hit net-zero carbon emissions before 2050, including significant reductions in the next ten years, if we’re to keep global warming well below 2 degrees and honour the Paris Agreement.
Professor Will Steffen was the scientific expert advising Labor on the carbon price as part of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP said:
“The verdict is in. Australia’s top scientists have said that the Liberals’ climate targets won’t stop runaway global warming but nor will Labor’s ‘net zero by 2050’.
“The scientists back the Greens in demanding real action by 2030 and a plan for coal, because otherwise it will be too late.”
“We need critical action in the next decade if we’re to protect ourselves and the planet from the worst impacts of global warming.
“At current rates, we risk hitting 1.5 degrees of warming by 2030. That’s just ten years from now.
“Beyond that, we’ll start hitting tipping points that will make it harder, if not impossible, to keep climate change under control.
“By the end of this decade, scientists fear we could see the collapse of ice shelfs in Antarctica that would lead to 3-4 metres of sea level rise, all in my children’s lifetime.
“This disastrous summer of fires happened at just one degree of warming and things stand to get worse. This should be a wake-up call that we need action now, not in decades to come. We don’t have any time to waste.”
Coalition, Labor and One Nation let NSW get away with floodplain harvesting.
The Liberals, Nationals, Labor and One Nation have refused to support the Greens call for the NSW Government to reinstate the moratorium on floodplain harvesting and water pumping.
Greens Spokesperson for Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Federal Parliament could not wipe it’s hands of this issue.
“The New South Wales Government has selfishly lifted its moratorium on floodplain harvesting and water pumping, jeopardising the entire Murray-Darling River system,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“Southern basin users are rightly outraged. Preventing floodwater from flowing downstream to towns without drinking water, dry catchments and areas where fish species are facing collapse in favour of corporate irrigators is despicable.
“It is concerning that the moratorium was lifted after lobbying from large irrigators upstream. The reports surrounding the decision raise more questions over the integrity of the Murray-Darling Basin management.
“The Murray-Darling Basin is on the verge of collapse and family farms, river communities and the environment need national leadership.
“The Water Minister Keith Pitt needs to intervene. Critical human need and the future of the River must come before greedy corporate cotton irrigators.
“We need transparency and accountability, not just of floodplain harvesting and water pumping, but management of the whole system. States getting away with making decisions that only benefit them and their corporate mates will not guarantee water to those who really need it or the sustainability of our biggest river system into the future.”
Emergency action needed from PM to stop more deaths from violence
The Prime Minister must address the national crisis of women’s death by violence with a $5 billion investment in domestic violence response and full implementation of recommendations from previous inquiries, say the Greens.
Greens Senate Leader and spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters, said, “The Prime Minister stood in parliament this week and said “the system” has failed Hannah Clarke, he must take responsibility for ending this crisis in deaths from violence.
“The Prime Minister has the purse strings to the system and can fix it.
“It’s time the Prime Minister puts words into action with additional funding for prevention and frontline services so no domestic violence survivor seeking help is ever turned away.
“Women’s services keep warning of the urgent need for more funding for the Family Court, prevention and early intervention programs, specialist legal and support services, crisis accommodation and housing support to improve the family law system.
“We must listen to what these front line services say will make a difference, calls for more inquiries are not what the sector is asking for.
“The truth is any new inquiry into domestic and family violence is probably going to conclude what all the others have already recommended: more funding and resources for prevention and more funding and resources for crisis and support services.
“The Greens won’t stand in the way of another inquiry but the Government has form ignoring domestic violence inquiry recommendations and this can’t be another excuse for delaying urgently needed funding.
“The existing family law inquiry will have its potential effectiveness undermined if witnesses don’t think they’ll get a fair hearing, so the committee must be depoliticised by removing Pauline Hanson as deputy chair after her remarks.
“I’ve written to committee members asking for Hanson’s removal as deputy chair, after the Government refused to answer whether they will remove her, and I’ll pursue this through the committee.
“This year nine women have lost their lives to violence.The government needs to stump up the funds and fix this crisis,” she said.
Background
Senator Waters’ motion in the Federal Senate today:
Senator Waters: To move—that the Senate— (a)notes that:
(i)in his statement to Parliament regarding the murders of Ms Hannah Clarke and her children on 24 February 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “We must reflect on how and where the system failed Hannah and her children, as it has failed so many others. It’s so frustrating. It’s so devastating”, and
(ii)women’s services have consistently identified the need for more funding for the Family Court, prevention and early intervention programs, specialist legal and support services, crisis accommodation and housing support to improve the family law system; and(b)calls on the Federal Government to adequately fund domestic, family and sexual violence and crisis housing services to ensure that all women and children seeking safety can access these services when and where they need them.
Council gives outdoor dining fees the chop
Newcastle’s restaurants and cafes will no longer pay fees for outdoor dining after Council scrapped the charges right across the city last night.
Aimed at encouraging more outdoor dining and activating commercial centres, the amendment to the City’s Outdoor Trading Policy will save inner-city businesses $115 a year for every square metre they host patrons outdoors, and $65/sqm for businesses elsewhere in Newcastle.
“Waiving outdoor trading fees will hopefully encourage cafes, restaurants and other eateries to expand trading onto footpaths,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“We hope this will give the local dining scene and surrounding businesses a boost.
“The City is doing more than its fair share to support businesses amid major changes to the city and the challenges posed by online and digital competitors to traditional businesses. Whether it be scrapping fees, offering rate relief or making better use of business rates through grants programs, we are doing all we can as a local government while remaining financially sustainable.
“At current outdoor trading levels, small businesses will save a total of around $130,000 a year, money they will no doubt invest back into their businesses to making their offerings even more appealing to customers.”
The City issued 129 approvals for people or organisations to trade outdoors in 2018/2019, drawing $129,421 in revenue.
Happy customers: Ground Floor cafe owners Jordan Mizrahi and Alicen Lewis
The abolition of fees amounts to a substantial saving for restaurateurs and couple Jordan Mizrahi and Alicen Lewis, who own Ground Floor Café on Hunter Street and the Basement bar on Market Street in Newcastle.
“This is very rewarding for businesses and very welcome as we will save around $4,000 across the two businesses,” Mizrahi, 33, said.
“We will spend it on improving the outdoor area by buying new tables and chairs to make it more appealing to customers.”
The fees will be scrapped from 1 July after Council voted to scrap them at last night’s ordinary meeting.
This follows a recommendation in the 2019 NSW Outdoor Dining Policy by the State’s Small Business Commissioner to waive Council or State Government fees for businesses seeking a permit to trade outside.
A notice of motion supported by council at its August 2019 meeting – to receive a report on the NSW Outdoor Dining Policy – resulted in last night’s amendment to the City’s 2018 Outdoor Trading Policy.
Fees for the installation of permanent footpath markers indicating outdoor trading areas will remain in place.
This is a one-off cost of $170 for new applicants hoping to open areas not previously approved for dining.
Council update Tuesday 25 February 2020
Lord Mayoral Minutes
StudyNSW website update
A Lord Mayoral Minute to write, in partnership with the University of Newcastle, to the NSW Government Minister responsible for the StudyNSW website requesting promotion of regional cities like Newcastle as study destinations, was supported.
National Communciations Charter: A unified approach to mental health and suicide prevention
A Lord Mayoral Minute to sign Everymind’s National Communications Charter and take a leadership role on removing the stigma of mental illness and suicide, both for our staff and across the broader community, was supported.
Stockton Beach erosion natural disaster update
A Lord Mayoral Minute commending the Stockton community and committing to a range of actions to help it endure strains posed by ongoing erosion issues was supported.
Audit and Risk Committee 2018/19 Annual Report
Council voted to receive its Audit and Risk Committee’s Annual Report for the 2018/2019 financial year.
Adoption of outdoor trading policy
Council resolved to abolish outdoor trading fees across the city to encourage more outdoor dining. Aimed at encouraging more outdoor dining and activating commercial centres, the amendment to the City’s Outdoor Trading Policy will save inner-city businesses $115 a year for every square metre they host patrons in outdoors, and $65/sqm for businesses elsewhere in Newcastle.
Newcastle and Merewether ocean baths expressions of interest update
Council resolved to prepare concept-design plans for the upgrade of Newcastle and Merewether ocean baths and investigate funding sources following an unsuccessful expression of interest process to find an investment partner.
Janet Street, Jesmond – proposed upgrade to existing pedestrian crossing
The City will raise a pedestrian crossing on Janet Street, Jesmond, east of Algie Street, and extend the kerb to increase public safety.
Dissolution of community facilities s355 committees
Council resolved to formally dissolve the Carrington Community Centre and Henderson Park Hall committees and formally acknowledge the contributions made by their volunteer members after both groups voluntarily stood down recently.
Live music strategy update
Council received an update on the implementation of the Live Music Strategy 2019-2023. Following extensive research and engagement with both music industry stakeholders and wider community, the City has captured data and feedback that can be summarised under five key themes for which actions can be taken to improve the live music sector: venue management and safety, promotion, development and diversification of the music sector, conflict mitigation between live music venues and surrounding communities and definition, awareness of and expectation management of music precincts.
Six-Monthly Performance Report on the 2018-2022 Delivery Program (our budget 2019/20)
Council received the Six-Monthly Performance Report on the 2018-2022 Delivery Program.
Adoption of the western corridor section 7.11 local contributions plan
Council adopted the Western Corridor Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2013
Tabling of pecuniary interest returns – 1 November 2019 to 31 January 2020
Council noted the tabling of pecuniary interest returns by the CEO.
Council Chambers – City Hall
City Hall’s Council Chambers will be opened to the public for commercial hire under a tiered pricing system that encourages both the private sector and community groups to utilise the historic facility.
Quarterly budget review – December
Council received the December Quarterly Budget Review Statement in which our works program for the 2019/20 financial year has been increased to $99.6 million from around $85 million, with our forecasted budget surplus reduced by $3.8 million to $4.1 million.
Executive monthly performance
Council received the Executive Monthly Performance Report for January 2020
Notices of Motion
Ocean baths redevelopment update
A Notice of Motion noting that a Community Reference Group will now be established to inform the upgrade of Newcastle Ocean Baths was supported.
Electric waste management vehicles
Another Notice of Motion, to receive a report on conversion of the City’s waste management vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, was supported.
NSW bushfire emergency response
A third Notice of Motion, to help neighbouring councils affected by recent bush fires with plant equipment and staff hours, was supported.
Community feedback flows for Newcastle Ocean Baths revitalisation
Thousands of Novocastrians have been involved in community engagement on revitalisation of Newcastle Ocean Baths, with consultation forming an integral part of the City of Newcastle’s concept-design phase.
The City has committed to funding the restoration of the Newcastle Oceans Baths and is determined to see the facility become an asset the community can be proud of, while also ensuring they remain a public asset with free entry to swim all year round.
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“Not only have we reached out to the wider community through our online ideas wall which has received more than 5,000 page visits and 890 ideas entries, we have also conducted more than 200 face-to-face interviews and 900 telephone polls to better understand our community’s vision for how this site will look and be used,” City of Newcastle Community Engagement Coordinator Jamie Ferguson said.
“Opening up the conversation to all people in the community has been extremely beneficial and has resulted in a breadth of ideas and concepts to support future improvements. This diversity of views brings better outcomes for current and future users.”
Some of the ideas received to date include shade structures, a community space available for hire, health and wellbeing facilities such as a gym, seating and change room upgrades and a kiosk or restaurant.
Any suggestion that plans for the future use of the site are predetermined is false.
Meanwhile, community consultation will be maintained through a Community Reference Group (CRG) before information sessions and a public exhibition period to present concept plans to the broader community. Councillors will then review and approve any restoration.
“We want to ensure this upgrade does justice to the heritage of this site and that our maintenance and upgrade program protects the site for another 50 years,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The City of Newcastle seeks to form a Community Reference Group which has 50 percent stakeholder and user-group representation and 50 per cent of members selected from the broader community via an expressions of interest process.
“We have received more than 80 applications from members of the public wanting to be a part of Community Reference Group so far, which is great to see. Our aim is to have people from all around Newcastle and from different walks of life forming this group.”
Expressions of interest for the Newcastle Ocean Baths CRG close on Thursday 27 February.
City provides plan for reopening of Lexie’s café
The City of Newcastle and Lexie’s Cafe are working on a plan to reopen the much-loved Stockton cafe. The process to reopen the café will first require securing insurance for the building leased to Lexie’s Cafe. Prior to this necessary step, Lexie’s Café has committed to the development of a Management Plan.
The City of Newcastle and Lexie’s have also discussed establishing a temporary café in Stockton, beside the Stockton Ferry Terminal, while the necessary work is done to get Lexie’s reopened at its traditional Mitchell Street home.
The Lexie’s Café building was closed following the results of an independent risk assessment, which determined it was at imminent risk of a one-in-two-year storm event.
Following the recent Natural Disaster weather event, a Coastal Risk Assessment Review determined that only a bare 70 cubic metres of sand was left as a buffer in front of the building leased to the café.
Lexie’s Cafe, which was already operating on a month-to-month lease, was indefinitely closed a week ago after a review found that, based on the current erosion scarp location, the building was now within the zone of wave impact, and therefore at risk, in a one-in-two year storm event.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a meeting today between the leasee and City of Newcastle was positive with both parties agreeing to work together on a solution for re-opening Lexie’s Café.
“While we would have loved for the Lexie’s Café to continue trading at Stockton Beach as it has for many years, once City of Newcastle officers were presented with the Coastal Risk Assessment Review, the responsible action was to act immediately,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle is exploring all available options to secure insurance for the building. While that process is underway, I’ve asked for the construction of a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal, away from the erosion threat, as an interim measure.
“There are many hoops we need to get through, but we have made it clear to Lexie’s management that we want to work together towards a solution for Lexie’s that will protect local jobs and safeguard the local economy.
“We know that Lexie’s attracts many visitors and tourists to Stockton, just as the nearby Stockton Holiday Park does.”
Lexie’s Café owner Nick Sovechles said today’s meeting had been a positive step forward in re-establishing the much-loved café.
“While reopening Lexie’s remains our preferred option, we understand that the issue of securing insurance for the building must first be resolved. In the meantime, we will work with City of Newcastle on options including a temporary café beside the Stockton Ferry Wharf,” he said.
“What is clear is that the Stockton community cannot take many more financial hits. It needs commercial ventures that attract people to Stockton, and a café near the very popular Children’s Active Play Hub is one way of doing that.
“What is equally clear is that we need the State Government to support City of Newcastle in its development of a Coastal Management Program so that come 30 June, our community has a long-term solution to the erosion of Stockton Beach.”
Background:
An independent engineering report stated that the building is at significant risk from a one-in-two-year storm event. To give some context, a typical risk assessment is based on a one-in-100-year storm event.
The City of Newcastle is unable to secure insurance on the Mitchell Street building, which leaves both the City and ratepayers liable should the building fail without warning.
The City has agreed to commence a nation-wide search for an insurer willing to provide coverage for the building.
This combined, with a Management Plan supported by Lexie’s management, would likely allow the café to reopen in its existing location while a permanent solution to the coastal erosion is determined and delivered.
In the meantime, City of Newcastle will construct a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal. The location is ideal given more than 50,000 passengers a month use the ferry.
Thousands more people use the sporting facilities at Griffith Park each Saturday morning including the Stockton Parkrun. The incredibly popular Stockton Active Play Hub also attracts a ready-made market of café users seven days a week. The location of the nearby carpark and toilets will also help the commercial success of the cafe.
Typically, City of Newcastle would conduct an expression of interest for the operation of the café.
However, in light of the unfortunate decision to close Lexie’s, the City will waive this requirement.
If City of Newcastle is able to re-open Lexie’s in its existing location, the café at the Ferry Terminal will be re-evaluated as part of a review of the Park Plan of Management.
The City of Newcastle and Lexie’s have also discussed establishing a temporary café in Stockton, beside the Stockton Ferry Terminal, while the necessary work is done to get Lexie’s reopened at its traditional Mitchell Street home.
The Lexie’s Café building was closed following the results of an independent risk assessment, which determined it was at imminent risk of a one-in-two-year storm event.
Following the recent Natural Disaster weather event, a Coastal Risk Assessment Review determined that only a bare 70 cubic metres of sand was left as a buffer in front of the building leased to the café.
Lexie’s Cafe, which was already operating on a month-to-month lease, was indefinitely closed a week ago after a review found that, based on the current erosion scarp location, the building was now within the zone of wave impact, and therefore at risk, in a one-in-two year storm event.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a meeting today between the leasee and City of Newcastle was positive with both parties agreeing to work together on a solution for re-opening Lexie’s Café.
“While we would have loved for the Lexie’s Café to continue trading at Stockton Beach as it has for many years, once City of Newcastle officers were presented with the Coastal Risk Assessment Review, the responsible action was to act immediately,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle is exploring all available options to secure insurance for the building. While that process is underway, I’ve asked for the construction of a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal, away from the erosion threat, as an interim measure.
“There are many hoops we need to get through, but we have made it clear to Lexie’s management that we want to work together towards a solution for Lexie’s that will protect local jobs and safeguard the local economy.
“We know that Lexie’s attracts many visitors and tourists to Stockton, just as the nearby Stockton Holiday Park does.”
Lexie’s Café owner Nick Sovechles said today’s meeting had been a positive step forward in re-establishing the much-loved café.
“While reopening Lexie’s remains our preferred option, we understand that the issue of securing insurance for the building must first be resolved. In the meantime, we will work with City of Newcastle on options including a temporary café beside the Stockton Ferry Wharf,” he said.
“What is clear is that the Stockton community cannot take many more financial hits. It needs commercial ventures that attract people to Stockton, and a café near the very popular Children’s Active Play Hub is one way of doing that.
“What is equally clear is that we need the State Government to support City of Newcastle in its development of a Coastal Management Program so that come 30 June, our community has a long-term solution to the erosion of Stockton Beach.”
Background:
An independent engineering report stated that the building is at significant risk from a one-in-two-year storm event. To give some context, a typical risk assessment is based on a one-in-100-year storm event.
The City of Newcastle is unable to secure insurance on the Mitchell Street building, which leaves both the City and ratepayers liable should the building fail without warning.
The City has agreed to commence a nation-wide search for an insurer willing to provide coverage for the building.
This combined, with a Management Plan supported by Lexie’s management, would likely allow the café to reopen in its existing location while a permanent solution to the coastal erosion is determined and delivered.
In the meantime, City of Newcastle will construct a temporary café to the east of the Stockton Ferry Terminal. The location is ideal given more than 50,000 passengers a month use the ferry.
Thousands more people use the sporting facilities at Griffith Park each Saturday morning including the Stockton Parkrun. The incredibly popular Stockton Active Play Hub also attracts a ready-made market of café users seven days a week. The location of the nearby carpark and toilets will also help the commercial success of the cafe.
Typically, City of Newcastle would conduct an expression of interest for the operation of the café.
However, in light of the unfortunate decision to close Lexie’s, the City will waive this requirement.
If City of Newcastle is able to re-open Lexie’s in its existing location, the café at the Ferry Terminal will be re-evaluated as part of a review of the Park Plan of Management.
Greens Bill bans all coal mines in Galilee Basin
Greens Senate Leader Senator Larissa Waters has today introduced a bill in the Senate to ban thermal coal mines in the Galilee Basin, effectively outlawing the Adani mine and Clive Palmer’s proposed coal mine.
She said opening up the Galilee Basin for thermal coal mining was a carbon bomb that would push global warming to unsafe levels and kill off the Great Barrier Reef.
“The Galilee Basin is a carbon bomb and in reality the science demands we don’t open up a single new coal mine,” Senator Waters said.
“We need to keep that Galilee coal in the ground and today I have a bill that will do just that.
“If the Galilee Basin were to be mined and it was a country, it would be the seventh largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.
“Australia’s emissions continue to rise and millions of hectares of the country were burnt over Summer due to climate-fuelled bushfires. We desperately need a climate plan and that climate plan means getting out of thermal coal.
“We cannot afford to open up a new coal basin right when the rest of the world is embracing renewable energy and is transitioning towards an economy that can support workers and keep the planet liveable.
“It’s time we had a real jobs plan for Queenslanders, not fake promises of coal mines that we hope will never eventuate otherwise our climate is cooked.
“We need a genuine transition plan that supports coal-affected communities, re-trains them where that’s necessary and oft times it won’t be as those skills are transferable to other industries, especially clean energy or mine rehabilitation.
“Big coal is very generous in their donations to both the old parties, holding back action on climate change and renewable energy in this country for years.
“We must transition out of dirty polluting fossil fuels and towards the clean, jobs-generating export market future of renewable energy,” she said.
'Climate Trigger' laws off to Senate Inquiry
Debate commenced in the Senate today on the Greens ‘Climate Trigger’ Bill which would require climate impacts and carbon emissions to be assessed before large-scale projects are given environmental approval.
The Bill will now go to the Senate Environment and Communications Committee for consideration through public hearings and written submissions.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who introduced the Bill, said:
“The Climate Trigger Bill will ensure big projects like new coal mines, oil and gas drilling and large-scale land clearing are assess for the pollution they make before being given approval.
“Our climate is on the brink of collapse, as we continue to burn and mine coal, oil and gas, our ecosystem is crumbling
“To reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050 we need to act now. We need to put in place new environment laws that ensure major coal, oil & gas projects are assessed for their impact on climate change.
“There’s no point committing to reducing pollution, while giving the green light to new polluting projects.
“These new laws are a common sense, reasonable step towards getting this country on the right track for dealing with climate change.
“The bill will now go to inquiry and it will be open to the community, organisations, experts and business to feed back their advice and make submissions on the proposed laws.”
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2020, Explanatory Memorandum and Second Reading speech can be found here.