Nannas meet Oscar and Lucy, two of the organisers of the Students for Climate Rally. Nannas and “God” promote the event and welcome back pollies with singing and speeches.
Nannas, wearing their best yellow outfits, will gather at Sydney Town Hall square for the Climate Action Rally at 1pm on Saturday 24 October where they will hear speakers then march through the city.
The rally will have three demands: no new coal and gas, binding emissions targets and a fair transition. The theme is No Cop-outs at COP31.
Nannas have been out and about promoting the rally. At Addison Road in Marrickville we met some of the cast of the sketch comedy show “Oh My God”. They were promoting their show, so we teamed up and “God” explained to onlookers that it was their duty to care for the earth and to go to the climate rally.
Follow and promote the rally on Facebook and Instagram.
Welcome Back Pollies – Can Do Better
A fabulous day for Sydney Knitting Nannas when our usual Welcome Back action joined with Lock the Gate and other groups for an event outside NSW Parliament House on 13 October. It was the first day of the last sitting session of the parliament before the election on 13 March 2027.
Over 150 people gathered for singing and speeches — and there was a lot to talk about. Nannas from the Illawarra, Hunter and Blue Mountains, along with other environmental groups, joined us for singing and speeches on a very wet day.
Our focus was on ending coal expansions after the recent Hunter Valley Operation Continuation Project was approved for 19 years, and the High Court decision that all emissions from coal mines must be considered.
The Minns Labor government has ignored the advice of its own statutory authority by approving 14 coal mine expansions up until 6 October 2026. Enough is enough!
Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann spoke about the petition she tabled that day asking the NSW Government to protect the Greater Sydney drinking water catchment. If approved, Peabody’s Metropolitan Colliery modification proposal underneath Woronora Reservoir will destroy the endangered Coastal Upland Swamps.
Jeremy Buckingham MLC spoke about how gas extraction must not be approved in far west NSW because once started it spreads like a virus, destroying country and water resources and it won’t stop there.
Sue Higginson MLC was upbeat about the recent High Court decision and encouraged us to keep up the fight against fossil fuels.
Community Independent Jacqui Scruby, MP for Pittwater, spoke about the travesty of the approval of Hunter Valley Operations and called for a phase out of fossil fuels.
Sign Lock the Gate’s System Failure statement and share it on Facebook and Instagram and/or print out and give to your MP, or to the public. It can also be displayed on notice boards etc.
Future Jobs and Investment Bill passed
Activists from coal communities, climate activists and politicians celebrated the passing of the NSW Future Jobs and Investment Bill in the upper house last week. This is a breakthrough in their long campaign for a properly funded and orderly transition away from coal. The bill provides a government framework for workers, contractors, businesses and communities to be supported through the transition. Now the bill goes back to the lower house to approve the upper house’s changes.
The bill requires a fund and a public authority to be established to promote economic diversification in coal-dependent communities and mine owners will be required to provide transition support for workers when mines close. We call on the government to fund it properly at $150 million a year. (Lock the Gate media release)
Great Koala National Park (GKNP)
National Park Estate (Great Koala National Park Reservations) Bill 2026 was introduced by Trish Doyle MP in the Legislative Assembly on 13 October.
The bill was expected but it came with a shock. Thirteen per cent of the promised GKNP will have Regional Park status, with some protection as part of the national park estate. Regional Parks will be created near towns to accommodate established recreational use, community access and established visitor infrastructure.
The bill allows the Minister to approve motor racing events on existing roads in Regional Parks. Conservationists say the NSW Government is putting recreational activities ahead of protecting endangered koalas. (The Point)
Pine Creek
The battle was lost to prevent logging in Pine Creek but there is still scope for the government to re-designate it from plantation to native forest and include it into the GKNP.
Clear felling at Pine Creek has left a long narrow Koala Hub isolated except for a small corridor of forest at the the northern end.
Tuckers Nob
Logging machines are ready to launch into Tuckers Nob but an urgent stop work order has been lodged.
Gumbaynggirr Traditional Lore Woman Aunty Alison Buchanan is waiting at Tuckers Nob with forest protectors to hear the outcome of her application to protect cultural heritage under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984.
Forest protectors are fighting to raise awareness about
- Women’s dreaming / song lines
- The ancient knowledge of the Yildaan which provided security, safety, food, water, shelter, and space for women to practice culture on their land.
- The abusive dismissal of Aunty Alison. She has not been consulted in the process of determining the cultural values of Tuckers Nob or any other women’s land.
- The failure of government to understand the cultural significance of these forests for the ongoing spiritual health of Gumbaynggirr people. Aunty Alison sees the trees as ancestors and fears what will happen to her spirit if she too is logged when she is dead.
- Where do indigenous women go to honour their ancestors if they have been logged out of existence?
Sydney Forestry Rally
Nannas Cathy, Bron and Marie attended a rally organised by the Bob Brown Foundation on 8 October at the Forestry Corp headquarters at Cherrybrook. The event coincided with other rallies around the nation and a Forestry conference in Canberra where delegates were being coached to spruik Forestry’s social licence.
Doro from Bob Brown Foundation and Sue Higginson MLC both spoke powerfully on the theme of no social licence for native forest logging by Forestry NSW. Nannas Cathy and Bron spoke about the need to stop logging the forest corridor that connects the coast and the mountains by including Pine Creek and Tuckers Knob in the Great Koala National Park.
Nannas visit Glenbog Forest
Our stalwart Nannas, Cathy and Bron, have been learning citizen science in Glenbog Forest in southern NSW, experiencing first-hand the amazing world of Greater Gliders in old growth trees.
Learning how to protect the Greater Gliders is just some of the work the Nannas and other forest defenders do. Over the years, dens have been identified, saving many glider homes and families.
WWF explains why citizen science is needed.
Origin Energy AGM
Nannas Keelah, Cathy and Janet joined Sweltering Cities outside the Origin Energy AGM at Darling Harbour on 14 October to call for energy companies to wipe the slate clean and stop the debt cycle. Over 90,000 households are in energy dept to Origin and this number continues to climb. Meanwhile Origin made a $1.5 billion profit in 2026.
While it was too damp to pull out the needles, it’s always the right time to remind investors and managers of the unfair burden that rising temperatures have on vulnerable communities. With fracking ventures and policies greenwashed, Origin is not a good corporate citizen.
ANZ Campaign
Nannas Cathy, Anne, Marie and Linda joined Rising Tide on 9 October to tell ANZ Penrith they need to “wise up” and dump funding the North to East Australia Pipeline (NEAP) from Beetaloo to Gladstone. After presenting letters to the manager half the group let their dulcet tones ring out through the bank. It was a peaceful and lively occasion. Lots of people were very interested in the message and wanted to know more.
This National Campaign is disrupting ANZ banks around the country because they have not ruled out funding for this project unlike Westpac, Commbank and NAB.
Climate Biz Matters – How our banks are funding the climate crisis. Market Forces Podcast
Federal Court rules S10 invalid
An Aboriginal protection order (S10), issued by Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek in 2024, halted the approved Regis Resources’ McPhillamys Gold Project near Blayney in NSW. On 14 October a Federal Court judge found the S10 “invalid” because the right process had not been followed.
The order applied to 400 hectares at the headwaters of the Belubula River where the company wanted to build a tailings dam to hold mining waste.
The matter will now be re-determined by the current Environment Minister, Murray Watt.
Federal Court declares Commonwealth’s blocking of NSW goldmine ‘invalid’ (ABC News)
Gas
The NSW government announced a major new gas firming tender that excludes standalone batteries and pumped hydro, to solve wind and solar droughts!! (Renew Economy)
The last gas firming plant was built at Kurri Kurri and funded by the federal government.
The Minns government’s only meeting before reopening gas exploration in NSW was with the fossil fuel lobby (The Guardian)
Fire ants found in Sydney
At least two nests of fire ants have been discovered on Commonwealth Government land in Enfield. This new outbreak is more than 800 kilometres from the only place fire ants are established in Australia — southeast Queensland.
The current national funding arrangements end in June 2027. Australia’s fire ant eradication program is working but it needs long-term commitments from the Treasurer and every state and territory leader. Tell them to finish the job.
Recruiting
2027 is going to be a big year for the environment movement. Time is running out to make changes to keep us and the planet healthy.
As the NSW Government elections are in March, we need to push the government to stop approving fossil fuel projects and to fulfil their promises made before the last election. From now until the end of November there are lots of actions for you to join.
If you are interested in joining the Nannas or another environmental group, please
- read Join the Knitting Nannas,
- fill out our form at Contact Us,
- come to our singing practice and meeting at Customs House 2nd floor meeting room at 10am on Friday 23 October and or
- go to Students Climate Rally, Town Hall at 1pm on Saturday 24 October
Nannas are watching
The Sunday Shot is back!
Let’s Talk Data Centres – Big tech, Artificial Intelligence and big windowless factories that hum – you’ve probably heard about them in the news, now it’s time to learn about what we can do about it. Watch the Greens NSW webinar.
Nannas are listening
Climate Biz Matters – How our banks are funding the climate crisis. Market Forces Podcast
Nannas are reading
News Corp, Santos, Kogan paid $0 in tax. But sure, let’s blame ‘government spending’ – Greg Jericho (Deepcut)
Australia and Turkey criticised for hosting UN climate conference while embracing coal (The Guardian)
What Pacific women want global climate advocates to hear before COP31 (Pearls and Irritations)
They’ll inherit the climate crisis. Shouldn’t 16- and 17-year-olds have a vote? (Pearls and Irritations)
Forthcoming Events