Join us outside Santos’ Sydney office on Thursday for their AGM; protest law win, but there’s a long way to go; update on south-west Sydney’s koalas; action planning; and what Nannas are reading, watching and listening to.
Thursday 11 April – Santos AGM Sydney Protest
Santos AGM will be held in Adelaide on Thursday morning. Gomeroi Traditional Owners and shareholder activists will be taking Santos on at the meeting. Meanwhile in Sydney the Nannas and our friends will be outside the Santos Sydney office at 1 Bligh Street from 10.30am to 12 noon.
Our messages to Santos will be:
- We stand with the Gomeroi and Tiwi Islander peoples opposing the Pilliga and Barossa projects
- We support farmers defending the Liverpool Plains food bowl from gas wells and pipelines
- The Great Artesian Basin is a precious resource threatened by Santos
- We support shareholder activists calling out the Board’s failures
- Carbon Capture and Storage continues to fail
- We will never give up. Never ever.
Join us for songs, talks and knitting. Share our event on Facebook
Protest Laws Win
The NSW Government has confirmed that there will be a public statutory review of the draconian anti-protest laws, providing the opportunity for open and transparent public scrutiny.
In April 2022, the NSW Parliament passed legislation to prevent ‘illegal protesting’ on major roads, bridges, tunnels, public transport and infrastructure facilities. The new legislation amends section 144G the Roads Act 1993 which criminalises causing serious disruption by entering, remaining on or trespassing on prescribed major bridges and tunnels, to now include all “main roads”. Offences carry a maximum penalty of $22,000 or two years in gaol, or both.
The review of the repressive laws is required because of the partial success of a constitutional challenge by two Knitting Nannas, Helen and Dom, with the support of the Environmental Defenders Office.
The public review is an opportunity for us to defend democracy by advocating for the right to protest. Nannas will continue to participate in the campaign by the NSW Council for Civil Liberties and other civil society organisations.
South Western Sydney Koalas
Nanna Margaret attended a three-hour roundtable meeting with Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and people from South Western Sydney on 4 April. Seventy people were invited including National Parks and Wildlife representatives, MPs Judy Hannon and Greg Warren, and local councilors and two mayors from Liverpool, Campbelltown and Wollondilly,
The government was seeking ideas and feedback re wildlife protection in these areas.
Large maps of the proposed Upper Georges River National Park were on display. When Margaret asked National Parks if she would be alive when this happens, the response was yes! Attendees indicated that the boundaries shown were not big enough, but the government responded that it was going to be added to.
Minister Sharpe announced that more signs alerting drivers to slow down and look out for koalas will be installed along Appin Road in hotspots in the Wollondilly and Liverpool areas. Wollondilly Shire Council will use a $125,000 grant to purchase and operate four vehicle-activated warning signs at locations where koalas are most at risk of being hit by vehicles.
Liverpool City Council will use a $95,000 grant to purchase and operate a variable message sign trailer and 2 vehicle-activated warning signs at koala vehicle strike hotspots.
The signs can also show how many koalas have been hit and killed in the area this year.
Some key questions not addressed by the meeting were:
- Why is the Department of Planning ignoring the Chief Scientist report?
- East-west connectivity is not being allowed under current planning. We need wildlife overpasses. Corridors need to be protected.
- Will a wildlife release and rehabilitation centre be incorporated in the new National Park?
- Local Councillors asked for guidelines to be provided to help them to plan.
Margaret felt the discussion was very positive, and that the State Government cares for koalas and doesn’t want them to become extinct.
$220,000 to save koalas in South Western Sydney – NSW Environment and Heritage Media Release
Rise Up – 12 days of action against coal – 29 April to 10 May
Notes from the Coal Team from a webinar on 3 April :
- Keep writing and signing petitions on the environment law to replace the EPBC Act. It’s important to advocate for climate change impacts to be considered. The news from the government’s lockdown consultations about the draft legislation is that the government keeps rolling over to the fossil fuel industry and ground is being lost. The new legislation is due to come before the parliament in June.
- The period before the federal budget is an opportunity to call out subsidies to coal and gas.
- Actions will be directed at all federal ALP MPs and as many others in the federal parliament as possible. Register to add your own action – they’d like to know by 10 April.
- Interest in events at
- Hunter – Dan Repacholi’s office in Cessnock – Labor backbench MP and a strong advocate for coal.
- Barton – Linda Burney’s seat where some Nannas live.
- McMahon – Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy – office in Fairfield
- Big action at Kirribilli House on Wednesday 8 May.
The First Wave
Several Knitting Nannas went to the Sydney launch of this film about Rising Tides’ blockade of the Newcastle coal port last November.
It was a well organised, positive night and the film was brief, engaging and motivating. Speakers talked on their experience from different perspectives – a man who was arrested; a woman who experiences anxiety shared her challenges in taking part, and how welcomed she felt by Rising Tide; and a Persian woman is building support amongst migrant communities in the Castle Hill Area.
Rising Tide launched their handbook at this event. An action against fossil fuels is being planned for Thursday May 16 at NSW Parliament House.
Nannas are Reading
Australia’s largest carbon offset project type is failing, with experts suggesting the scheme should be referred to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The Saturday Paper
Nannas are Watching
The Hon Greg Combet AM, Chair of the Net Zero Economy Authority, addresses the National Press Club on ‘Australia’s path to net zero emissions and the role of the Net Zero Economy Authority’. Press Club YouTube
Christiaan Van Vuuren speaks to current politicians, former politicians, journalists, community members and a lobbyist in a quest to understand how rules around political donations, political advertising and lobbying impact our democracy. Big Deal updated in October 2023
Nannas are Listening to
Peter Frankopan made some interesting connections in his talk at UNSW on “The Earth Transformed” now available for listening.
“Twelve years ago, there were 44 liberal democracies on Earth. Today that number has gone down to 32. We’re living in a world where rights are being taken away… That should scare us all in terms of how we use our voices to encourage and inspire change.” Peter Frankopan
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