This week’s news: Nanna fined in court for protecting a forest, a snap action at the PM’s office, Campbelltown Council votes to protect koalas, reports from nuclear hearings in Lithgow and Sydney, and more.
This will be our last newsletter for 2024 unless something urgent comes up.
Monday 16 December – Bulga Forest Defenders in Court
The court hearing for four Bulga Forest Defenders, Jane Watson, Margo Kingston, Jesse Witney and Sydney Nanna Bronwyn Vost was held in Taree Courthouse on Monday morning.
Jane had her charges dropped, Jessie and Margot got a six month good behaviour bond, and Nanna Bron got a $370 fine and a nine month good behaviour bond. They all had a chance to express their deep concern for future generations and their frustration at the lack of action. The reason for Bron’s higher penalties was her record of previous civil disobedience offences.
Forestry Corporation of NSW Report
The Forestry Corporation of NSW quietly released its Annual Report 2023-24 on Friday. The Hardwood Forest Division lost $29 million. NSW Taxpayers paid almost $500,000 for fines and legal services related to breaches of regulations and laws over the last 5 years. The Corporation has spent millions in consultants’ fees as part of its plan to add wind turbines to its softwood plantations.
Monday 9 December – Snap Coal Action at the PM’s office
Nannas joined a lively crowd outside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Sydney office calling for him to show some common sense and NOT approve the expansion of three giant coal mines. The three mines are Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont Meadowbrook, and they could be approved soon.
A bunch of about 30 people from different environment groups gathered to hear speakers and sing coal-related parodies of Christmas carols.
There is a huge threat that the mines will be approved, so please call the PM’s office to say why it should not happen. See Move Beyond Coal for a guide.
Tuesday 10 December – Campbelltown Council Meeting
Nanna Jeanette joined local residents and Maria Bradley of Save Sydney’s Koalas at the Campbelltown Council meeting to support a motion urging Transport for NSW to urgently protect koalas on roads near local koala zones.
Councillors agreed unanimously to write a letter calling for 50km speed limit from dusk to dawn, and other measures to stop the high numbers of koalas being killed and injured. On one road alone ten koalas were hit in the month of October.
Thanks to new councillors Cameron McEwan and Jayden Rivera for getting this through Council. We hope this means Council will follow through with more action to protect koalas.
Wednesday 11 December – Lithgow Nuclear Public Hearing
Knitting Nannas from the Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Bathurst attended the federal government’s Inquiry into Nuclear Power Generation in Australia at Lithgow. On arrival, the Nannas rendezvoused with other local activists who held prominent yellow signs and banners.
Nannas were disappointed in the way the meeting was conducted, with Shadow Climate Minister Ted O’Brien allowed to effectively take over the meeting from the Chair, Labor MP Dan Repacholi. Speakers were allowed to ramble on, sometimes about issues not in the Terms of Reference. This unbalanced process advantaged the LNP proposals on nuclear energy and further spread disinformation about renewables. Ted O’Brien and other Coalition panellists dismissed the CSIRO Report on Nuclear.
Nannas sat in the front row, many knitting throughout the proceedings. It was an unmissable statement that the Nannas are paying attention. Nanna Anne was knitting our Federal Labor Knitted Report. She showed it to Dan Rapacholi later and they had a congenial but forceful dialogue about Labor’s policies that are allowing the expansion of coal and gas mining.
A representative from the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), who has been travelling with the enquiry, made a point of thanking Nannas for being present. Lithgow activists were grateful for the presence of the Nannas too. The networking with Bathurst and Lithgow Nannas was extremely beneficial.
Thursday 12 December – Sydney Nuclear Public Hearing
Four Sydney Nannas attended the federal government’s Inquiry into Nuclear Power Generation in Australia held in Sydney.
After hearing reports from Lithgow, the Nannas were relieved that Ted O’Brian, the Deputy Chair, wasn’t there. The hearing was a more civil experience than Lithgow and covered more ground.
Mr Dan Sherrell, Energy Policy Unions, ACTU: Unions are very concerned about the health and safety issues involved in handling and transporting uranium and nuclear waste. Workers already handle medical nuclear waste from 150 sites but waste from a whole new nuclear industry needs funding for training to ensure handling is as safe as possible.
Safety data is not accessible on long term cancer risks. A study of 175 Nuclear plants and 5,000 workers round the world, should be released soon.
The Maritime Union is very concerned about the Coalitions negativity towards offshore wind farms, as these will provide lots of jobs and will be safer than nuclear.
The CEO of the Climate Council, Amanda McKenzie, talked a lot of sense. ‘We don’t have 20 years to muck around,’ she said. Coal fired power stations will all close by 2038 and nuclear can’t replace them as it is too expensive and takes too long to build. We have 40% power from renewables now.
Greg Bourn, an energy adviser in the UK has had lots of experience in Europe. He calmly and boldly stated the time and cost problems with nuclear. The UK has had a privatised nuclear industry for 35 years. But nuclear is closing down in the UK due to delays and cost blowouts. Nuclear produces 5-7% of world energy.
Defence was also on the table due to the current world situation. Nuclear plants must have a huge amount of security around them.
Dr Barry Trail, Director of Solutions for Climate Progress said there will be 2-3 billion tonnes more waste from nuclear.
Dr Trail is a Queensland Rural Fire fighter and was on the NSW south coast during the climate change-fueled fires in 2020. A large burning tree came down on his truck. Thousands of Australians have been traumatised by climate disasters.
The crisis is NOW, and waiting for nuclear won’t reduce risks. Money is pouring into renewables but some people are trying to slow it down by spreading misinformation. We need rapid action, urgent, according to global science, to slash emissions by 75% by 2035. We need transition plans NOW. Nuclear is so slow it has no role to play. We will face trade restrictions if we fail to reduce emissions.
Exposing Pro-Nuclear Disinformation in Australia
GetUp’s new report, Pro-Nuclear Disinformation in Australia details who is behind the divisive nuclear agenda. You can download the report here.
Thursday 12 December – Season Greetings working bee
Sydney Nannas gathered in Glebe to organise cards and gifts for our environmental champions who have helped us and/or achieved something good for the environment over the past year.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 – Climate Integrity Summit 25, Canberra
The Australia Institute is hosting the Climate Integrity Summit at Parliament House from 9am – 5pm. Eury, Kathy and Marie went to the 2024 event and recommend this one. Last year’s event was booked out early so book now.
28-30 March 2025 – Women’s Climate Congress Conference in Victoria
A new Nanna loop could be kicking off in Castlemaine, Victoria in 2025 after interest was shown at Rising Tide.
Now we’ve found a good reason to visit – Women’s Climate Congress Conference and a billet for two Nannas has been offered. This is one for the diary.
Lismore Council to remove signs
Lismore councillors Big Rob and Andrew Bing have led the charge to remove all CSG (coal seam gas) and nuclear free area signs from the Lismore local government area. (Echo)
According to Lismore Nannas, Mr Rob was turfed unceremoniously out of the Bentley Blockade before he got his thongs inside. (On his feet…minds out the gutter possums…)
Lismore Nannas are not happy. The “87% voted NO to CSG” signs on Lismore roads was achieved by an enormous community effort.
Nannas are Watching
The Forest – The story of a brilliant ecologist with a plan to save the world by restoring the planet’s forests. His original work was hijacked by corporations and politicians with disastrous effect. Now he’s using science to fight back. 59m (ABC iview)
Nannas are reading
Australia leads the world in arresting climate and environment protesters (ABC News)
Protesters paddle out against proposed Storm Bay fish farming operations (PulseTasmania)
Forthcoming Events