June_2015_Newsletter

Newsletter #11
June 2015
It’s a real privilege to be back in parliament representing Greens members
and the people of New South Wales. The recent passing of legislation to
sell public ‘poles and wires’ is another indication of what we are up against
with this neo-liberal Coalition Government. As I meet communities across
NSW it is clear that they are standing up against this agenda to privatise
and sell-off NSW. It will be challenging, but also exciting, to continue to
work with you all and join with other progressive movements to build a
huge momentum for change.
IT’S TIME TO TRANSFORM PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIOS
Animal Welfare | Drug and Harm
Minimisation | Environment | Lower
Mid North Coast | Multiculturalism |
Status of Women and Prevention of
Domestic & Family Violence | Roads
and Freight | Transport | Voluntary
Euthanasia | Western Sydney |
Young People
MATERIALS
Marine Parks, Climate Change,
Attacks on our Environment,
Since their re-election the Coalition government’s transport agenda continues to
North West Rail Link, NorthConnex,
be dominated by building urban motorways and privatising our existing transport
assets. The devastating sale of electricity infrastructure has meant the government Newcastle Rail
is now attempting to lock NSW into road congestion and the private takeover of the LGBTI
rail network. Projects such as Sydney Rapid Transit (now known as ‘Sydney Metro’) Decriminalisation of Abortion,
will put large portions of our rail network into private operation with very little
Foetal Personhood Laws
expansion in overall capacity. My office is in the process of organising a new, allCCTV in Abattoirs, Animal Free
encompassing public transport campaign for NSW through which the Greens will
Circuses, Fin Free NSW
be able to put forward our progressive alternatives to the government’s agenda.
This campaign will advocate the Greens’ 2020 Transport Vision as released during
the election.
We have also been active in support of cyclists who are defending the College St
cycleway and advocating for a full network of cycleways throughout Sydney. The
tragic death of yet another cyclist has led to a resurgent community movement
around bike infrastructure and cyclist safety laws. A Greens freedom of information
request exposed the continuing collapse of the bus network in Newcastle,
demanding much stronger government investment as well as the immediate
reinstatement of the rail line. I met with Hunter residents just prior to this SDC to
strategise for the next stage of campaigning to retain the rail line.
BACK TO GRASSROOTS: TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITIES
WESTERN SYDNEY
LOWER MID NORTH COAST
Absolute pleasure to meet new
members in Blacktown last month and
speak at the Hawkesbury Greens AGM in
Windsor on transport issues, air quality
and preventing domestic violence.
Hawkesbury Greens AGM
Windsor - June 2015
On recent visits to Port Macquarie and
Coffs Harbour, I spoke with Greens
members, community and the local
media about domestic violence, youth
unemployment and climate change.
Three Rivers Greens - Port
Macquarie - June 2015
Mid North Coast Greens - Coffs
Harbour - June 2015
STAFF:
Matt Hilton
Mike De Waal
Tamara Rouse
THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS:
Ashley, Georgia, Jack, KO, Natalie &
Sarah
ENDING FACTORY FARMING
There is absolutely no place for
cruel intensive factory farming in
New South Wales. That is why I
have reintroduced bills to ban sow
stalls for pigs and battery cages
for hens as well as preparing a
similar bill to regulate the dairy
industry. I will also be holding an
‘Ag Gag’ roundtable with animal
welfare groups to strategise the
best way to defeat regressive laws
that would target activists who
expose animal cruelty. I prepared a
submission guide and submitted a
paper to the Parliamentary inquiry
into puppy farming, calling for a
legislated minimum standards, a
registered breeder scheme and a
ban on the sale of dogs and cats in
pet stores.
COMMUNITY & STAKEHOLDER ACTIVITY
20/04/15 Bulga Residents’ Action – Sydney
06/05/15 Remembrance Event for Domestic
Violence – PH Sydney
08/05/15 Save Our Women-Only Services (SWOS)
Meeting – PH Sydney, Nepal Candlelight Vigil, UTS
11/05/15 Nepal Fundraiser – Sydney
15/05/15 – 17/05/15 Australian Greens National
Conference – Melbourne
18/05/15 Mangrove Mountain Citizen’s Meeting –
Central Coast
21/05/15 UNSW Alumni Dinner – UNSW Sydney
22/05/15 Sydney Writers Festival Panel – Speaker Sydney, Engineers Australia (EA) Fellows Luncheon
– Host - PH Sydney, Rohingya Protest – Sydney
Town Hall
23/05/15 Blacktown New Member’s Picnic –
Blacktown, Rhymes with Silence Plays – Sydney
26/05/15 Stop Killing Women - Speaker – UTS
27/05/15 Secondary School Parliamentary
Education Program – Speaker – PH Sydney
28/05/15 UNSW Nura Gili Event – UNSW Sydney
29/05/15 - 30/05/15 Meetings with Community
and Greens members – Port Macquarie
01/06/15 Coffs Coast Advocate DV Petition
Handover – Coffs Harbour, Mid North Coast Greens
Meeting – Coffs Harbour
03/06/15 Nature Conservation Council Meeting –
PH Sydney
04/06/15 Bike Rally – Speaker - Sydney,
Hawkesbury Greens AGM
06/06/15 Pakistan Acid Burn Victims’ Fundraiser
–Speaker – Granville
09/06/15 Philippines Greens’ Meeting – PH
Sydney, Beverly Hills Precinct WestConnex Meeting
– Beverly Hills
10/06/15 Australia for Dolphins, Sea Shepherd
Shark Team meeting – PH Sydney, Meeting with
Senator Larissa Waters – PH Sydney
15/06/15 Green Business Council Meeting – PH
Sydney
16/06/15 EA Women in Engineering Roundtable
– Sydney, No WestConnex Community Forum –
Speaker – Leichhardt
17/06/15 Bicycle NSW Meeting - PH Sydney,
People Just Like Us Refugees’ Talks Launch Parramatta
18/06/15 Newcastle Rail Activists Meeting Newcastle
STATUS OF WOMEN & PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
I have been working with the Greens NSW
Women’s Working Group on the campaign to
decriminalise abortion since introducing the
Abortion Law Reform (Miscellaneous Acts
Amendment) Bill 2015 last month. Polling
to guage community attitudes will soon get
underway.
I have also had the pleasure, along with
Senator Larissa Waters of meeting Subeta
Vimalarajah’s and supporting her campaign
‘Stop Taxing My Period’. Removing sexism from
our tax system is long overdue.
On my recent visit to Coffs Harbour, I received
the Coffs Coast Advocate’s community petition
calling on the Government to take action on
preventing domestic violence. In Sydney, I
attended ‘Rhymes with Silence’ a series of
plays on domestic violence and heard Rosie
Batty speak. I also spoke at a vigil organised
by Save Our Women-Only Services (SWOS) at
UTS remembering the women who have been
killed in acts of violence this year and at an
event raising awareness of domestic violence
perpetrated on women in Pakistan.
Coffs Coast Advocate Petition
Coffs Harbour - June 2015
With Subeta Vimalarajah and
Senator Waters - Sydney - June 2015
Pakistani Acid Burn Victim
Fundraiser - Granville - June 2015
CALLONTHEMINISTERTOSTANDUPFORTHEENVIRONMENT
Following on from my editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald (6 May) calling
on the NSW Minister for the Environment to show leadership, I have launched
a campaign focussed on conserving our biodiversity, calling on ‘Minister
Speakman to Speak Up for the Environment’. With the NSW Government
agreeing just two days before the election to repeal the Native Vegetation Act
2003 and expand the disastrous biodiversity offsetting program.
Download a letter on my website at www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/speakup.
I am also very happy to print off copies for local groups to use in their
campaigning.
SYDNEY WRITERS FESTIVAL
I had the pleasure of joining
academic Sahar Amer and poet
Sara Mansour at the Sydney Writers
Festival in May in conversation with
Linda Mottram about veiling, culture,
and identity, broadcast live on ABC
702.
CONTACT ME:
Democracy only works when we’re working together, so please stay in touch!
@mehreenfaruqi
mehreen.faruqi@parliament.nsw.gov.au
facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi
www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Authorised by Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC | NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000 | July 2015