What a week for Sydney Nannas! No time to put the banners down, with three rallies, including one at Origin’s AGM, two at Parliament House and a forum in Balmain!
Snap Action against NSW Planning Laws
Sydney Knitting Nannas joined Lock the Gate and many other groups at NSW Parliament House on 14 October to protest the Minns government’s radical plan to change our planning laws, and to do it with uncharacteristic speed.
On 16 October despite a lack of community consultation about what was agreed to be the biggest shake up of NSW Planning laws in more than 40 years, the NSW Legislative Assembly passed the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 , but with some important amendments. It will now be debated in the Legislative council.
The strong public campaign by community groups and behind-the-scenes meetings with Minister Scully secured a commitment for a government amendment to exclude designated developments (including coal mines, electricity generating stations and concrete works) from being designated Targeted Assessment Developments. See the Environmental Defenders Office update on the Amendments and more.
Tony Lonerganand Wendy Wales of the community group DAMSHEG (Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group) successfully challenged a major coal mine expansion approval for its failure to adequately consider environmental and climate impacts. Paul Scully’s new planning laws seek to remove development applications from consideration of their social and environmental or climate impact. Instead giving unitary powers to a non elected body with no accountability.
Speakers at the rally included Nic Clyde from Lock the Gate, Jeremy Buckingham MLC, Jacqui Scruby MP, Sue Higginson MLC, Sydney Deputy Mayor, Jess Miller, representatives from Parents for Climate and community groups from Mudgee, Rylstone and the Sutherland Shire. They were united in calling for community consultation and consideration of social and environmental factors in all developments.
Nannas want fair and responsible development for our state! We were pleased to join our friend Miguel Heatwole in singing about the planning laws, in part, “You call it streamlined planning, but it’s power to the few, without the people’s input in deciding what to do” – not on our watch.
NSW planning overhaul removes corruption and environment safeguards, legal experts say (ABC News)
Nannas will be watching what happens in the Legislative Council this week.
Origin Energy AGM Rally
What is it about Origin Energy that stirred people up enough to rally outside their AGM last Wednesday? A lot of things as it turns out! There’s the plan to extend Eraring power station beyond 2027, there’s the coal seam gas fracking project in central Queensland (4,435 wells) and the soaring cost of gas driving up household energy bills.
All these things brought us together with the Nature Conservation Council, Sweltering Cities, the Anti-Poverty Centre and Parents for Climate to greet shareholders. Nannas had a great leaflet about the coal seam gas fracking project, provided by Lock the Gate, Queensland, and we were surprised when nearly all the shareholders we offered them to took one. A few of them even stopped for a chat.
Knitting Nannas want Origin to admit that the 89,000 households in debt to Origin deserve better from a company making $1.4 billion profit last year alone (NCC media release).
Bowdens Lead Mine Protest
Also, on Wednesday Nannas supported the ‘Make Mudgee a lead-free exclusion zone’ protest outside NSW Parliament House. Members of Mudgee Region Action Group and the Mudgee Region Health Alliance rallied all morning, so we were able to catch up with them when we weren’t at the Origin protest. It’s a long journey for Mudgee residents to come to Sydney to have their voices heard.
After their three-hour rally, the group members hosted politicians for a wine-and-food tasting in the Jubilee Room in Parliament House. We hope their delicious offerings helped more politicians to commit to stopping Bowdens lead mining development at the Lue village, near Mudgee.
The health of people as well as the productive food, wine and tourism industries in the region will be lost if the mine is allowed to go ahead. Lead is far too toxic to people’s health and the environment to be allowed in the Mudgee region. Let’s face it – lead mining and communities simply can’t co-exist anywhere.
Balmain Rozelle climate change forum
A crowd of around 50 local people attended the Balmain Climate Change Forum on 11 October. Nanna Elizabeth chaired a session on ‘Greening’, which highlighted that people have good ideas for greening, but generally need to deal with problems in the process of implementing them. Other topics discussed were transport and energy.
Elizabeth brought with her some of her knitted puppets, which people liked, particularly Murray Cod. Elizabeth also talked about the new NSW planning laws.
The organisers put a lot of work into the event, and had postcards for people to sign, which they will send. Artist Jess Harward took live minutes using cartoons. Participants were lively and eager to talk, particularly on local issues.
No Need to Log Native Forests
Nannas attended a sustainable timber solutions event at Parliament House on Tuesday 14 October, joining Stuart Blanch, a conservation scientist from WWF-Australia and Susie Russell from North-East Forest Alliance NSW.
Nanna Donna, who has a hempcrete house said, ”It is fabulous to know that NSW MPs of all political persuasions were present in the room to hear Justin Field remind them of the importance of transitioning away from native forest logging for economic, ecological and social reasons… and that we already have viable, alternative solutions in hemp and bamboo.”
Politicians were invited to look at the materials. Susie Russell had brought leftover bamboo floorboards purchased at Bunnings. One of the many advantages is that if the floor is flooded, it doesn’t swell like other timbers. It is good to know that Australian native bamboo is being made into floorboards.
Protest Laws
This week the Palestine Action Group won their NSW Supreme Court challenge to the Minns government’s law banning protests near places of worship. Justice Anna Mitchelmore declared laws limiting protests near places of worship were invalid as it “impermissibly burdens the implied constitutional freedom” of political matters.
Concerns remain around the broader issues around the right to protest:
- currently, NSW protest organisers must provide the Police Commissioner with a Form 1 seven days prior to an event to secure authorisation and protection from certain offences,
- there is no allowance for spontaneous protests for which notification is not practicable or appropriate,
- recent instances of police brutality have been reported at otherwise peaceful protests.
Rising Tide Protestival
Thursday 27 November to Tuesday 2 December – Protest Camp
Saturday Sunday 29-30 November – Protestival – Flotilla Blockades and Festivities
Saturday 29 November – Climate Concert
Newcastle Council gave the final tick of approval for camping at Foreshore Park for the 2025 People’s Blockade! Last year Nannas intending to camp decided against it when they saw how crowded the camping area was. It’s time to book accommodation if you like your comforts.
Sign the petition to stop coal ships entering the harbour over the weekend of the event.
Register for The People’s Blockade here.
Nannas are watching
Nannas are listening
After half a century, Bob Brown is still motivated and defiant – optimism, defiance, kindness (ABC Listen)
Nannas are reading
Why Santos is behind your soaring electricity and mortgage costs (ABC News)
Woodside North West Shelf gas project extension challenged in Federal Court (ABC News)
Modelling shows gas project emissions will cause hundreds of heat-related deaths (ABC News)
Koala killed by a car on Appin Road after being hailed a conservation success story (ABC News)
Australian tropical rainforest trees switch in world first from carbon sink to emissions source (The Guardian)
Forthcoming Events