Climate Change Strategy for SA – invitation to contribute

October 7, 2015

The SA government is inviting input into its Climate Change Strategy.  The Adelaide city workshop is on Thursday 8 October.

Details here

There are a number of ways you can have your say and help shape South Australia’s Climate Change Strategy.

1. WORKSHOPS – Come along to one of the workshops being held across South Australia. More information here.

2.  ONLINE DISCUSSION – Join the discussion:

3. SUBMISSIONS – Provide a submission directly to the project team:

  • Post: Climate Change Team, GPO Box 1047 Adelaide SA 5001
  • Online submission: upload your written or typed submission here. These submissions will be published on YourSAy – please mark your submission as CONFIDENTIAL if you do not want your submission shared.
  • For general enquiries, email: climatechange@sa.gov.au

FoE

China “Free Trade” Agreement Debate 6 October

October 5, 2015

FoE are particluarly concerned about the so-called Investor-State Dispute Resolution (ISDS) sections of free trade agreements, where corporations can sue our governments if they make legislation that impairs profitmaking. This is a direct challenge to sovereignty and environmental, health and safety laws.  Come along to the debate between Matt Williams of the LNP and Andrew Dettmer National President of the Australian Manufacturing Worker’s Union.

A debate on the China Free Trade Agreement – Adelaide

Will the China FTA be good for local jobs? 

Matt Williams MP, Liberal Member for Hindmarsh is invited to debate Andrew Dettmer, National President, AMWU 

The Turnbull Liberal Government is intent on forcing the China FTA through the Senate before Christmas.

Australian Unions believe the China FTA will:

  • be BAD for local jobs
  • be BAD for workplace safety
  • be BAD for local communities
  • undercut local rates of pay
  • exploit overseas workers

Come hear both sides and decide for yourself!

WHEN
October 06, 2015 at 6pm – 7pm
WHERE
West Adelaide Football Club City Mazda Stadium

57 Milner Rd

Richmond, South Australia 5000

Australia

Google map and directions

CONTACT
Kate Coleman · kcoleman@actu.org.au

FoE

Environmentalist = terrorist according to government leaflet

September 27, 2015

You might have seen some of the reports about a new government leaflet talking about radicalisation; here’s what the Guardian said about it::

The Australian government has used an environmental activist who became involved in the “alternative music scene” as an example of violent extremism, in a booklet aimed at helping teachers identify students who are becoming radicalised and linked to terrorism.

The Radicalisation Awareness Kit was launched this week by Michael Keenan, the justice minister and minister assisting the prime minister on counter-terrorism, to help teachers look out for signs of radicalisation in their students.

The booklet warns that people can become motivated to be violent by particular ideologies such as “environmental or economic concerns, or ethnic or separatist causes”.

I particularly like the mention of the “alternative music scene”…

One would have hoped that the removal of Abbott would curb such nonsense…

 

Old_Notes

FoE appears before House of Reps

September 27, 2015

Cam Walker, from FoE Australia, reports:

We had our ‘day in court’ yesterday [Sept 21], appearing at the House of Reps hearing into green groups.

We had a solid and well prepared team at the table: Sam Castro, Julien Vincent, Nicola Paris and myself.

We had a fantastic support team, who helped us prepare (thanks to Ben Courtice for the research, Andrew Laird for channeling his inner George Christensen and grilling us with lots of hard questions, Leigh for media strategy, Phil for great images, and many people like Lou Sales and John Glue, who commented on drafts of our presentation).

And lots of people turned up at the hearing to support us.

Then we had the ‘defend the defenders’ rally outside the hearings, which had an awesome turnout. We had a great presence at that – nice visuals from yes 2 renewables, and Phil even handing out membership forms!

Pics here: https://www.facebook.com/events/430687940462368/

I think we presented really well, we mostly controlled the frame of the debate and questions, and they got no ammo to use against us. Strangely, the arch nasty, George Christensen delivered a very lacklustre performance. The many months spent on responding to ATO and Dept investigations paid off, as we were able to remind the committee we have been investigated 3 times, and been found to be compliant each time.

There’s a bit of commentary here: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/21/green-groups-call-on-malcolm-turnbull-to-keep-tax-deductible-status

Its certainly not over, but we are past a watershed moment in the government’s campaign against the movement. Thanks everyone, we pulled together and done good.

onwards

Cam Walker,

Campaigns Coordinator

Old_Notes