Last week the Nannas were entertained by Budget Estimates, and there’s more to go. They delivered letters to Japanese steel companies in skyscrapers, and attended a presentation on the Nannas.
Budget Estimates hearings in NSW Parliament
Nannas are finding the Budget Estimate Hearings in NSW Parliament entertaining. It’s a rare opportunity to see politicians up close facing questions needing detailed answers rather than short TV grabs. Senior public servants are also questioned in the public eye, something that rarely happens.
Last week’s session was with Paul Scully, Minister for Planning. Greens MLC Sue Higginson, the committee chair, questioned him about the recent approval of Boggabri Mod 8 coal mine. The approval was given by the Department of Planning without an independent assessment process. What does this mean for the many other coal mine extensions in the state’s planning system? The Minister was keen to pass questions to the public servants, but the Chair wasn’t having it.
Here is what we heard in the session:
- that the Strategic Statement on Coal in NSW, an instrument of the previous LNP government for guiding the expansion of coal, is the policy of the current government
- if the Strategic Statement on Coal in NSW is to be reviewed it will be an initiative of Courtney Houssos, the Resources Minister
- that Mr Scully isn’t committing to referring the coal projects in the planning system to the Independent Planning Commission.
We were allowed to wear our Sydney Knitting Nanna T-shirts (not the ones re coal and gas or re women making history) and to knit during the hearing.
See forthcoming events for the next hearings the Nannas will be attending.
Delivery of letters to Japanese steel companies
Nannas delivered letters signed by 13 environment groups to three of seven Japanese steel companies – Marubeni-Itochu, Nippon Steel and Sojitz with offices in the CBD. Whitehaven Coal are currently seeking joint venture partners to lessen the financial burden of their two newly acquired (majority metallurgical) mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin. If Whitehaven can’t get joint partners for these mines, then it will make it harder for them to continue their expansion of Vickery and Maules Creek coal mines in NSW.
The steel companies’ offices are situated in buildings that are very glossy and a lot less than friendly to visitors! We’d get halfway up a skyscraper only to find a security pass was required to go any further. Or the security guard would say no visitors without a prior arrangement with the company. But they did agree to deliver the letters for us.
Cultivating Conversations – Activism Climate and Art
Dr Laraine Larri’s presentation on the Knitting Nannas – craftivism as activism was delivered at a Dirt Witches Art Collective event at the Ethics Centre. Larri spoke about how the Nannas got started and overcame agist sexism to become active and effective anti- fossil fuel and climate action campaigners. The Dirt Witches were interested to hear about how we disorganise to give hope, our needling of all politicians equally, while at the same time educating and raising awareness to protect the land, air, water for future generations. Nannas liked the way Larri ties activism to education and the importance she places on people getting together to do craft, where informal discussions happen about issues.
See below Nannas are Listening to – a podcast with Larri.
Forthcoming Events
Tuesday 5 March – Weaving Our Stories
5.45pm Australian Maritime Museum Darling Harbour
Traditional Owners from the Beetaloo Basin and the Torres Strait tell their stories of resistance against the fossil fuel industry’s impact on First Nations communities. This event is sold out. More information
Wednesday 6 March – NSW Forest Vigil
12 noon to 1pm at NSW Parliament House. Orangised by the Bob Brown Foundation
Thursday 7 March – Budget Estimates
Parliament House. Nannas will go to the following for about 2 hours and move between sessions.
9.15am Climate Change and Energy – Minister Sharpe (coal, gas, environment)
9.15am Natural Resources – Minister Houssos (coal and gas)
Thursday 14 March, 8.30 to 9.30am
Lock the Gate event at parliament house – “Ghostbusters” protest about the NSW Strategic Statement on Coal which was put in place by John Barilaro. We thought he was gone, but NO his policy still features. So, there is this Barilaro ‘ghost’ and an opportunity for us to do ‘ghostly’ things. RSVP here
Craftivism Parade, Friday 15 March 11am – 12.30 pm
Link to NSW Seniors Festival and to our page on Seniors Festival, Facebook event and See map
Darling Square Library, 10 minute walk from Town Hall Station and 5 minutes from Chinatown Light Rail. See map
We’re showing off our best and quirkiest pieces, by parading past a seated audience and relaying the story behind each work.
Please click on Going on the Facebook event if you are coming to the event and encourage your friends to come too. Or ring Kathy 0408 650 851 to secure your seat. Stay for lunch in Chinatown.
Nannas are Watching
“Coal Creek” documents the tireless work of concerned citizens to shine a spotlight on the damage being done to the Royal National Park by a neighbouring mine. Filmed on Dharawal Country in 2022 the story shows repeated pollution events by neighbouring Metropolitan Coal Mine into Camp Gully Creek which carries the pollution into the Hacking River which is a major artery of The Royal National Park. To add to these concerns UNSW relocated a colony of Platypus into the river. Watch here.
Dr Andrew Forrest National Press Club Address – how a strategic ‘power shift’ from a fossil fuel-dependent economy to a renewable energy-led economy promises to deliver economic growth opportunities, particularly in regional Australia. Watch on YouTube
Nannas are Reading
Mythbusting Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them written by Gemma Pitcher.
Gemma cautions against ‘mythbusting’ – that is, repeating (and thus inadvertently reinforcing) false or misleading information in order to debunk it.
Nannas are Listening to
Dr Larri – for the love of crafting change – 43 minute podcast
Dr Larraine Larri is a lifelong activist, whose lived experience culminated in her PhD exploring what makes people identifying as activists and how to inspire that process of becoming someone who wants to create change. Larri researched the Knitting Nanna’s movement, and reveals the origin, journey and success of the Nanna’s and used this evidence to create her first action for Big Spotty creating ripples and new “loops”.
Anat Shenker-Osorio – The Art of communication – 57 minute podcast
A world-leading communicator shares lessons about how to communicate effectively for change.
Contact Us
Any questions or suggestions please contact us.
To unsubscribe send us an email with REMOVE in the subject.