issues

The Program for Appliances for Disabled People

PADP is a program aimed to supply much needed equipment to people with disabilities across New South Wales. Unfortunately, PADP today is drastically underfunded and mismanaged.

Pushing for a NSW Container Deposit Scheme

Container deposits are a simple program of placing a deposit on a bottle, can or other container that is refunded when the container is returned, thereby giving consumers incentives to do the right thing. In a carbon constrained, sustainability conscious world, Container Deposit Legislation translates to avoided greenhouse gas emissions, avoided landfill space, avoided litter and avoided energy use.

Moving forward on e-waste and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Waste Legislation in NSW is too weak and allows vast amounts of resources that could be recycled end up in land-fill. Our society is buying ever-increasing quantities of consumer goods, which are replaced every few years, with the redundant models ending up at the tip. We should be looking to overseas examples of mandatory extended producer responsibility.

Private Native Forestry

Since the inception of the Private Native Forestry Codes in August 2007, the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change have approved more than 100,000 hectares of native forest for logging on private land. With growing relevations about biodiversity challenges and carbon storage capacity it appears counter intuitive for the Department to be authorising the equivalent of 517 football fields to be logged.

Commercial Cultivation of Genetically Modified Crops in NSW

The NSW and Victorian Governments have now ended moratoriums on the cultivation of genetically modified crops. With GM Canola already in the ground and an expectation of the product landing on the family dinner plate before year's end it is becoming apparent the GM proponents mantra of 'choice' does not secure farmer or consumer choice to remain GM-free.

Marine Parks - Securing a Rich Tapestry of Biodiversity

Eighty percent of the New South Wales population reside within 3 km of the coastline with approximately one third of NSW coastal waters declared as marine parks . Marine and coastal environments are important components of local culture and the State economy . State marine parks are an important tool for managing marine ecosystems and resources.

Planning for Peak Oil in NSW

Peak oil is the tipping-point of oil production when the maximum rate extraction worldwide is reached. It is at this point 50% of global petroleum has been extracted. Once peak oil has been reached, there will only be a consistent, downward rate of extraction causing oil prices to increase as supply is decreasing.

Saving the Endangered Grey Nurse Shark

There are fewer than 500 Grey Nurse Sharks left off the east coast of Australia. This harmless fish is one of the most critically endangered in NSW and it could face extinction within a generation.

Sydney's farms under threat

Sydney’s 8000 farmers, worth $1 billion a year to the NSW economy and who supply us with most of our fresh greens and vegetables are in danger of being run out of town. Already we’ve lost hundreds of hectares of valuable, fertile and irreplaceable farmland in Parklea, Kellyville and Blacktown.