Nannas visit MPs offices, follow the Senate disinformation hearings, and learn about the changing maps of the Great Koala National Park. We support a community against a coal mine appeal, learn how to write better submissions and hear about the Murray Darling Basin Review.
Join the Nannas
Our next in-person meeting is on Friday 27 February at Customs House. The main meeting will start later than the usual 10am because most of the Nannas will gather at parliament house at 9am for the Budget Estimates hearing on police matters.
Nannas who travel long distances to the meeting will go straight to Level 2 of the Library in Customs House at 10am though. If you are not yet a Nanna and might like to be one, this would be a good opportunity for a relaxed chat about joining the Nannas. The main meeting will start in the Library with singing at about 10.45am.
Nannas’ MP visits
Nannas from the eastern suburbs have been joining with Lock the Gate for a Friday morning awareness raising in Marjorie O’Neill’s electorate of Coogee during February. It’s hard to believe that the Minns government has already approved eight coal expansions, and because of their pro-coal policy there are massive mines progressing through the planning system. Stopping new coal is the bottom line for addressing climate change and extreme weather events.
The rallies draw attention to the high costs of extreme weather events, including our cost of living. The doubling of insurance premiums is an example that hits home. We need export industries that don’t pour fuel on the climate fire.
Last week Nanna Jackie dropped in to see Jenny Leong, her Greens state member for Newtown. They spoke briefly about local environmental and housing issues, and then Jackie gave her one of our 2026 Nanna calendars.
Meeting with your local MP and building a relationship with them can pay off. Nannas Eurydice and Louise teamed up with local activist Truc Nguyen, then from Voices for Power, to meet with Steve Kamper, the NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Sport, Tourism and Crown Lands in August 2025. One of the subjects they raised was coal mining in the Mudgee area and the plans of the three giant coal corporations to keep expanding. Mr Kamper was aware of the concerns of Mudgee wine growers about Bowdens lead and silver mine and had a plan to meet with them. This week we were pleased to find out that he has set up a meeting with Mudgee District Environment Group to discuss coal mining in the region.
Senate disinformation public hearings
Two days of public hearings of the Senate Select Committee on Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy were held last week. If you’ve not heard of the Atlas Network, watch Dr Jeremy Walker, from the University of Technology, Sydney talking about it – start at 1:37:00.
The Committee report is due on Tuesday 24 March.
Senate committee features climate disinformation, the Atlas Network, and Dr Karl’s clash with One Nation (ABC News)
Great Koala National Park Update
Even though the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) was confirmed by the government in September 2024 as being the full 176,000 hectares, all is not well with the proposal. Ashley Love, the ‘father’ (principal author) of the GKNP, along with other dedicated ecologists and citizen scientists, has identified seven key forest areas and three isolated small blocks which need to be located within the Park, including:
- areas that have been clearly set out for many years as essential wildlife corridors, such as the ‘Forest Bridge’ in the Pine Creek State Forest
- large swathes of native forest falsely alleged to be plantation within Conglomerate and Wedding Bells State Forests
- areas of actual plantation within Conglomerate and Wedding Bells State Forests which have become valuable koala habitat and food sources
- failed eucalyptus plantations, totally surrounded by the Park, which have considerable value as water catchment if left undisturbed by logging and poisoning
- small pockets of exceptionally valuable old growth forest.
Ashley Love’s January 2026 document Delivering a Truly World Class Great Koala National Park has maps, photos and more information.
High Court to hear challenge to landmark NSW climate decision
In 2025 Tony Lonergan and Wendy Wales – two retired science teachers from the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group – won a landmark legal victory in the NSW Court of Appeal. The Court ruled that the IPC’s approval of the mine extension was invalid because the impact of its emissions on the local area was not properly considered. The case clarified that emissions from burning exported coal (scope 3) must be considered. Now, MACH Energy has been granted the right to appeal this decision in the High Court. Help pay court costs here.
Submissions and inquiries
Nanna Alex attended the Policy School – How to make a parliamentary submission and appear at an inquiry run by Bill Browne and Alice Grundy at the Australia Institute.
Alex found out that most committee reports and recommendations can only rely on evidence provided in submissions.
Key takeaways were:
- If you have expertise or interest in a particular topic, look for relevant committees in the field that you can contribute to.
- You can express your views as well as knowledge, the only caveat being you have to know that what you are saying is true.
- Politicians can use the key points or evidence you provide when bills are up for consideration.
Good tips were also provided on how to prepare for appearing at a hearing.
Australia Institute – more information and webinar slides
Fixing the Murray Darling Basin Plan
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW held a webinar last week about the Murray Darling Basin Management Plan, which is currently undergoing a 10-year review. The Murray River, Australia’s largest river system, has been formally listed as critically endangered, and is in dire straits again.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Minister Watt and the Albanese Government have an opportunity to fix broken rules that allow too much water to be taken from our rivers.
Public submissions on a discussion paper are being accepted until 1 May 2026, as authorities determine their next steps in managing Australia’s biggest river ecosystem. (SBSNews Podcast)
Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance – Basin Plan Review Submission
Hints on how to write a submission
Nannas are watching
Herzog’s VIP tour of Australia triggered shocking police violence as they shoved ‘menacing‘ 69-year-olds and assaulted people at prayer – Antoun and Crystal discuss the fallout of the NSW police’s disturbing overreach.
Nannas are reading
Legal intervention to Woodside over reef climate harm – Browse gas project (Environmental Justice Australia)
‘Landmark’ greenwashing case against Australian gas giant Santos dismissed by federal court (The Guardian)
Whitehaven Coal posts surprise first-half loss on weaker prices, shares fall (Mining Weekly)
Forthcoming Events