Sydney Knitting Nannas spent a lot of time at NSW Parliament House last week to welcome back the pollies and to hear from forestry experts. They also learnt a lot at webinars, did some knitting, and plotted about events coming up this week.
Nannas Welcome Back Pollies
NSW Politicians returned to work at parliament after their winter break on Tuesday 6 August and Nannas were there to greet them. We strung up many signs and sang our “greatest hits” with Patrick on the guitar. We handed out leaflets about a faster transition away from coal mining and had lots of conversations with people passing by.
Upper House MPs Jeremy Buckingham – Legalise Cannabis Party, and Sue Higginson and Cate Faehrmann – The Greens, spoke to us and answered our questions about what’s coming up in parliament on coal, forestry and koalas. Nic from Lock the Gate updated us on their Coal Watch campaign.
Wednesday 14 August – Liverpool Plains Prohibition Bill debate
Jeremy Buckingham’s bill re coal seam gas in Liverpool Plains will be debated in the NSW Parliament at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome to sit in the Legislative Council public gallery in support of the bill.
The objects of the Bill are:
(a) to amend the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 to prevent the granting of petroleum [gas] titles in the Liverpool Plains, Gunnedah, Narrabri and Warrumbungle Shire local government areas (the Liverpool Plains gas exclusion zone), and
(b) to amend the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to prohibit development for the purpose of facilitating petroleum [gas] extraction in the Liverpool Plains gas exclusion zone.
Thursday 15 August – Reconnect our Rivers – Voices from the Basin
Nannas are looking forward to the Nature Conservation Council event at NSW Parliament House from 1pm to 2.30pm. There will be great speakers including graziers, Traditional Owners and community advocates. They are all united in their vision for a healthy and sustainable Darling/Baaka River system. RSVP here and Facebook Event here
Move Beyond Coal campaign for National Climate Trigger
Participate in the campaign for a climate trigger in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act. The legislation is expected to go to the Senate at the end of August.
Join the Tanya Plibersek Call-A-Thon! from now to 23 August. Calls are
rostered every hour every day to the Environment Minister’s office. Sign up at a time that suits you and you’ll be sent a reminder and easy talking points to make and log your call. Not much time left – please get in to do this!
Wednesday 28 August – Lock the Gate Coal Watch Conga line
Nannas are joining a Conga line from 52 Martin Place (State Ministers offices entrance in Phillip Street) to NSW parliament on Wednesday 28 August, 8-9am. Wear red for emergency or just add red to our black and yellow. RSVP here
Sunday 1 September in Canberra – Koala Army’s march for creatures great and small
Several Nannas will attend this colourful event with appropriate costumes and signs. Two buses are going on this daytrip from Sydney to Canberra. Bus #1 leaves at 6.30am from Central and Bus #2 leaves from Mona Vale at 6.00am and picks up at Warringah at 6.30 am. They both leave to come back to Sydney at 2.30 pm. Register here
Forestry Team Report
Nannas attended an event on 6 August to hear from Forest Experts at Parliament House. It was heartbreaking but hopeful. Urgent action is needed.
Dr Kita Ashman an ecologist with WWF Australia is young and energetic and has had success with glider nesting boxes, but she is very worried about population decline in gliders and koalas. Dr Philip Zylstra, a fire and fauna modelling expert, spoke about how forestry practices are making our forests more susceptible to fire.
Steve Phillips, a leading koala expert and wildlife ecologist spoke about the challenges of battling governments to do the right thing. World-leading expert in forest ecology, David Lindenmeyer, spoke about his book ‘The Forest Wars’ which responds to the persistent disinformation about forests served up by the proponents of logging.
Some of the Nannas found the evening depressing until Sue Higginson (The Greens) shared her strong conviction that we are close to winning the fight to end native forest logging in NSW. The Minns government is feeling the pain from public opinion, and now is the right time to ring and write to Tara Moriarty, the Minister responsible for NSW Forestry.
We encourage everyone to write to the Premier saying that native forest logging must be stopped in NSW now. It’s easy to write using this email form.
Rebranding of VicForests
The scandal-plagued VicForests shut its doors on June 30. The former CEO, and other logging bosses have set up The Healthy Forests Foundation. The group says it aims to promote holistic forest management.
Professor David Lindenmayer says The Healthy Forests Foundation is “just a way of keeping the [logging] industry going”.
ABC Reports: After the closure of VicForests, senior staff joined a new forest venture (ABC News); Forest Foundation accused of ‘greenwashing on steroids’ (ABC AM with Michael Slezak)
Koala Team Report
Sue Higginson’s message about being close to winning the fight, and the sense of desperation from the experts, translated into extra energy at last Wednesday’s Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) Forest Vigil. Passers-by were happy to take lots of BBF flyers. Nannas managed to strike up conversations with people who knew nothing of the forest situation, or who were apathetic. They ended up saying that they would ring the Minister.
Craftivism Team Report
The first of four sessions of crochet and knitting with Bridge Housing tenants at Brookvale Community Centre was held on 8 August 2024.
A small group allowed us to take stock of what is a comfortable space to look at patterns, plan projects and learn new skills together. A project started by a beginner crocheter is now well on the way to becoming a new potholder.
We were thrilled when Anita, one of the participants, presented us with a beanie she whipped up for us in mosaic crochet after researching the colours we regularly use. Fortunately, Anita has told us where to find the pattern.
Our thanks to Coralie from Bridge Housing who organised the session and afternoon tea.
An Evening with Tanya Plibersek
Several Nannas were among over 1000 people from around Australia who attended this Zoom, hosted by the State and Territory Conservation Councils of Australia last Wednesday. We heard from the Minister, then saw a video of people around Australia trying to protect their environments.
The moderators of the Zoom were fairly tough on the Minister but very respectful. She was frank, and simplified a lot of language around environment protection laws which are broken down into three stages. However, she disappointed many by avoiding the climate change question, and the climate trigger wasn’t mentioned. The chat was running red hot.
The Big Carbon Rethink at UTS
Craig Reucassel hosted the online event on Thursday about repurposing carbon into the stuff we want! Nanna Keelah, our waste expert was impressed with the speaker, Gunter Beitinger from Siemens in Germany. Other impressive speakers were Australians making plastic out of algae – it is really solid and ideal for benchtops, walls and floors; and Piping Hot is trying to increase the ratio of mixing synthetics with algae materials for their surfwear. Another presentation will be held soon on Funghi.
NSW MP Visits & Ongoing Contact
Throughout this year Nannas have been visiting their MPs and are continuing to follow what they do through Hansard. Kobi Shetty MP for Balmain was recorded in Hansard as saying the following on June 6. This is a great result from the Nannas visit to her office.
Ms KOBI SHETTY (Balmain) (15:58): Today I acknowledge the wonderful Knitting Nannas, who are part of an international band of warriors for our planet. These nannas come together to ensure our land, air and water are preserved for our children and grandchildren. They have taken up the cause against greedy, short-sighted corporations that are intent on destroying our land and dividing our communities in the name of profit. Yesterday a number of other crossbench members and I were fortunate to receive a knitted scarf as a thank you for supporting the nannas. But it is us who should be thanking the nannas for the important work they do to speak up for our planet, our children and future generations. I thank them for their principled stance in support of protest and their staunch opposition to the excesses of unsustainable resource exploitation. I particularly acknowledge Sydney nannas Janet Thompson, Elizabeth Morley and Heather Goodall for coming to visit me recently to discuss working together on climate advocacy locally and at a State level.
The Long Reach of the Nannas
Knitting Nanna Anne and her hitchhiking Nannas found themselves parked in Longreach outside the offices of the National Party Leader, David Littleproud, the MP who has so very little to be proud of. In his recent address to the LNP convention, climate change was not mentioned and yet it impacts are felt far more in the regions than in the cities.
Nannas are Watching
Challenging the Consensus on Profits and Inflation (The Australian Institute)
Journey For Justice: Taking climate change to the world’s highest court (Greenpeace Documentary)
Dutton asks “Can anyone name anything the Teals have achieved in parliament?” (Here’s the answer from Climate 200)
Is this Google’s take on Elon Musk or is it Breaking at the Paris Olympics?
Nannas are Reading
Knitting helps Tom Daley switch off. Its mental health benefits are not just for Olympians (The Conversation)
Peter Dutton’s nuclear lies (Ian Lowe The Saturday Paper)
Forthcoming Events
Lots of good webinars coming up so you can stay home, keep warm and learn.