During a week of big announcements, Sydney Nannas unwittingly found themselves in the middle of a media storm at the PM’s old electoral office. Nannas also attended fun and powerful actions.
PM in hiding after letting off carbon bomb
For weeks Nannas had been planning to deliver a letter and have a knit-in outside PM Anthony Albaneses office in Marrickville on Monday 15 September. The aim was to urge him to take real action on climate change, and to fix the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Then the Friday before the knit-in the government approved the North West Shelf gas expansion in Western Australia. That gave us even more reason to be there.
On Sunday we heard a media report that Albo’s office had been closed and was to be relocated due to the rise in protests blocking the footpath for next door’s churchgoers. A Nanna drove by the office and signs on the window confirmed this.
At least nine Nannas reside in the electorate, and they decided to take their letter to the office and see if there was a way to deliver it to the staff of their MP. Afterall they’d just received a letter from him that didn’t mention the closure. They were a bit cross.
As it turned out Nannas got very little knitting done. News and current affairs reporters from Channels 7, 9 and the ABC arrived, along with a reporter from the Daily Telegraph.
The story they were there for was the PM’s office being closed to his constituents, rather than anything about the North West Shelf project and climate change. But Nannas were happy to oblige with interviews.
We were disappointed that the media did not cover the most important reason we wanted to make contact with PM Albanese – we feel betrayed by his failure to stand up to the fossil fuel industries and we want him to use his government’s big majority for real and fast climate action.
Anthony Albanese blames move from electorate office on Sydney pro-Palestinian protesters (ABC News)
Climate Risks and Emissions Target
Climate Risk Assessment
The National Climate Risk Assessment was finally released later that day! It predicts more deaths from extreme heat, millions facing drought, flood and fires damage with no insurance.
The media have focused on how households can make changes to reduce emissions and climate risks. We reject this framing of the problem – Australia needs to get serious about reducing the mining and use of fossil fuels and every decision governments make now really matters.
Climate risk report is old news. Australia needs transition … to reality (Michael West Media)
2035 Emissions Reduction Target
The Climate Change Authority’s long awaited 2035 Emissions Reduction Target Report recommends an emissions reduction target of 62–70% from 2005 levels. The Authority’s independent, expert advice is that this is achievable, and is in Australia’s national and economic interest.
- Albanese’s government has accepted this advice,
- The Greens advocate for 75% emissions cut by 2030 and net-zero by 2035, with a goal of 100% renewables by 2050,
- Community Independents want a science aligned target of 75% by 2035,
- The Coalition “don’t support targets in opposition. We do of course recognise the importance of targets in government when we have the full information in front of us which we don’t have now”. The Noalition is expected to oppose any attempt to legislate Labor’s 2035 target.
New analysis: Australia can power past 70% and should aim to reach net zero sooner (Climate Council)
Eco Living Festival
Nannas Claudia and Louise attended Randwick Council’s Eco Living Festival on 14 September at Maroubra Beach. They had fun taking photos of lots of people in the Nanna frame.
There were interesting workshops and talks about home electrification, waste and sustainable fashion. Australians are the biggest dumpers of clothing in the world, ahead of the US, and most of it is plastic or composites.
There were also EVs on display and stalls by the ACF, Doctors for the Environment, Rising Tide, Australian Microplastics Assessment Project (ausmap.org) and more. Nanna Bernie did a fabulous job MCing.
Speaker Damon Gameau made the 2040 documentary film in 2019 to reassure children re climate change. His conclusion was the best way to do that was to educate women! In his latest documentary Future Council he takes eight children on the ultimate school excursion: a road trip across Europe to meet with powerful leaders and find solutions to our greatest environmental challenges. He is an amazing storyteller, filmmaker and interviewer.
Sovereignty never ceded: National Day of Action
First Nations group Blak Caucus led a gathering of at least a thousand people in Belmore Park on 13 September for a National Day of Action against the rise of racism, fascism, white supremacy and the attack by Neo-Nazis on Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne.
Aunty Rhonda, Gadigal traditional owner, called for people of all backgrounds to unite against hate and division. It was a privilege to witness the pride in First Nations cultures and feel their leadership against racism and fascism. The music and dancing by Aboriginal groups and African drummers drew everyone into the spirit of the day.
In the Blue Mountains, Katoomba also saw a solid turnout of supporters of local first Nations people. It was a moving and sometimes grief filled time of story-telling. The local Greens member spoke about advanced work being done in education for truthful stories of now and the past.
REGIONAL NEWS
Forestry
Nanna Chris from Coffs Harbour was welcomed to our Friday Zoom meeting last week. She was able to join us because after two and a half years of weekly vigils at NSW Forestry the Coffs Harbour Nannas are taking a break. They are celebrating the moratorium on native forest logging and moves to create the Great Koala National Park.
Chris told us that many people had been involved in the campaign to stop logging in the Great Koala National Park and that there is still a lot to do.
Logging compartments in Pine Creek and Bollanolla are not included in the park. They are part of a critical lower altitude corridor to link with mid altitude forest and on to the Dorrigo Plateau to support New England National Park. High conservation value plantations and flora reserves should all be included.
Horse riders and car rally enthusiast oppose the park boundaries and have already had, or are planning, meetings with the Premier. The GKNP legislation has to pass both houses of parliament.
De Marco from Forestry Ecology Alliance (FEA) has written a report about forestry logging on private land on FEA’s Facebook page.
“Prior to Barilaro’s changes to native forest protection laws, landholders and developers were restricted from logging habitat and very old trees on their properties. Now they have virtual free reign. They can sign permits for land clearing for up to 15 years and are expected to self-regulate environmental protection such as no logging of old growth or wildlife habitat trees, avoiding riparian zone damage.” This report could be the basis of a campaign to tackle the Barilaro legislation that trashed protection of forests on private land.
Richmond River Koala Park
About 20 people gathered at NSW Parliament on Wednesday 17th September, to hear a renewed push for the proposal for a protected area, the Richmond River Koala Park (RRKP). This included an introduction from Tamara Smith (Greens MP for Ballina), Sue Higginson and Cate Faehrmann (Greens MLCs).
Both Dailan Pugh (North East Forest Alliance) and Stephen Phillips, who presented, made emotional and evidence-based pleas for the protection of these areas.
This fight has been ongoing since 2012. The koalas found in the proposed RRKP area are a genetically distinct population from those in the new Great Koala National Park. The RRKP will also protect other species – particularly with the focus on ceasing logging in this area. Koalas need their mature feed trees, and cutting down large and mature trees also creates a “housing crisis for hollow-dependent animals”. There are so many reasons to protect this area – not least of which is its recovery from the 2019/2020 bushfires, which decimated wildlife populations and canopy.
To find out more and keep up to date with the campaign, head to the RRKP website.
A final word from Stephen Phillips – “Recovery of koala numbers can only happen when you stop the processes that are driving population decline in the first instance.”
Sunday 28 September – World Rivers Day
Australian River Restoration Centre (ARRC) is encouraging people to send in a photo of their creek or river to celebrate the waterways we love in the lead-up to World Rivers Day. Creeks and rivers all contribute to the bigger picture.
The photo does not have to be new, and you do not need to be in it. You can comment on the creek or river you choose and if it is an inland river you can refer to the NSW Connectivity Report.
Share your river whichever way works best for you:
– Comment on ARRC Facebook page
– Post to your social media using #ShoutOutOurRivers and tag us
– Email it to: enquiries@arrc.com.au
– Or submit through the form here
Please include the river’s name and if you like, tell ARRC why this creek/river is special to you.
Rising Tide
Registrations are open for the People’s Blockade for the Protest Camp from Thursday 27 November to Tuesday 2 December or the Protestival from Saturday/Sunday 29-30 November.
4RT25 fundraiser art prize and exhibition
Expressions of interest are open. Entries close Friday 2 January 2026. On Exhibition at Articulate Project Space, 497 Parramatta Road Leichhardt 17-25 January 2026.
Nannas are watching
New Nanna videos on our YouTube channel
The federal press gallery is ceding power to the Albanese government. If journalists want an embargoed story, sometimes they are not allowed third party comment, including analysis from independent experts. More on (ABC Media Watch) and (ABC News)
Nannas are reading
The inside story of an ABC report that helped scuttle Australia’s biggest foreign takeover. The Middle East oil giant looking at a $36 billion takeover of Santos reportedly found out about the leaking Darwin LNG plant via an ABC News report. Santos shares fell to $6.77. Divest! (ABC News)
Revealed: the astonishing greenhouse gas emissions that will result from the North West Shelf project – it’s hard to get your head around numbers this big so check out the chart. (The Guardian)
Environment Minister Murray Watt rejects criticisms that he’s bowing to Western Australian interests on key reform, and wants to seize a window of opportunity to work with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley for a deal by the end of the year. (The Saturday Paper)
Children are being ‘poisoned’ by high lead levels as state government agency is accused of report cover-up (ABC News)
The communities campaigning against NSW’s biggest coalmine by Manjot Kaur (The Saturday Paper)
The forest for the trees – Carbon credits have been dismissed as a scam to permit business-as-usual, but does that ignore the essential role of forest conservation in climate action? (The Monthly)
Forthcoming Events