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  • Did you see today’s paper? Professor Hon Dame Marie Bashir
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    Did you see today’s paper?

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    Holly, Land Water Future <campaign@landwaterfuture.org.au>
    6:17 PM (23 minutes ago)
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    “The sale of our farm land, and the destruction of our farm land, must stop,” Professor the Hon. Dame Marie Bashir, former Governor of NSW.

    Neville —

    We are less than three weeks from the state election and the destructive impact of coal mining is firmly on the agenda.

    Today the widely respected and much-loved former Governor of NSW, Professor the Hon. Dame Marie Bashir is on the cover of the Sydney Morning Herald making an impassioned plea that our farmland be protected from coal mining.

    We know Premier Mike Baird and his colleagues in the NSW Government listen when Dame Marie speaks, so the significance of this bold call cannot be overstated. Take a look:

    Marie Bashir

    Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter | Or forward this email to share

    You might like to watch Dame Marie’s full speech (it’s inspirational!), you can check it out here.

    This comes just a fortnight after leaked reports1 revealed that mining companies have prepared plans for as many as 16 new or expanded coal mines in the NSW Upper Hunter Valley. These are plans that our government knew about but kept secret from our communities.

    Mining companies often talk about rehabilitating land once mining is done but now the devastating truth has been revealed2: mining in the Hunter Valley could leave a legacy of more than 10,000 hectares of land consumed as ‘final voids’ (giant holes) and could cost $15 billion to clean up!

    Further north, the NSW government gave the green light to Chinese state-owned mining company Shenhua to put a massive new open-cut coal mine on the Liverpool Plains. But local farmers are fighting back.

    Never before have we seen open-cut coal mining on such a scale. The mines are getting bigger than ever before and closer to our homes, farm land, forests, and water catchments. But right around the state communities are standing up to say enough is enough.

    Let’s make sure as many people as possible hear our call to protect land and water. Share today’s news far and wide — on Facebook,  on Twitter or forward this email to your friends! 

    Now is the time for change,

    Holly and the Land Water Future team.

    PS: Does your MP know how you feel about coal and gas? Click here to send them an email today.

    —
    1. Revealed: Major new coal mines planned for the Upper Hunter
    2. Hunter’s mining moonscape: 10,000 hectares of holes
    3. Hunter facing $15b legacy of coal mine voids: Lock the Gate
    4. NSW state election 2015: Marie Bashir lashes out at loss of farmland for mining    _

  • BREAKING: Wetland dumping plan withdrawn! WWF AUSTRALIA

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    BREAKING: Wetland dumping plan withdrawn!

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    Louise Matthiesson, WWF-Australia noreply@act.wwf.org.au via server8839.e-activist.com 
    5:26 PM (8 minutes ago)
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    Under water coral, Great Barrier Reef © Troy Mayne

    Dear NEVILLE,

    You’re going to love this email: you know the Caley Valley wetlands? That beautiful stretch of land that acts as the filter to our Great Barrier Reef?

    They look like this:

    They’re the wetlands you, and thousands of others campaigned to protect last year, when we all asked government not to let dredge spoil be dumped on them. In fact – 79,000 of us got together and said: “not on our watch”:

    You know the ones – home to the endangered painted snipe – and thousands of other plants and animals.  A spectacular but delicate habitat right alongside our Reef.

    Caleyvalleybirds.jpg

    Well guess what; we’ve just heard that today, thanks to the incredible efforts of you, NEVILLE and thousands of others, working together to demand action: the proposal to dump dredge spoil on the Caley Valley wetlands has been withdrawn!

    Click here to share this great news on facebook:

    This is a great first step in implementing the Queensland Government’s ‘Saving the Reef’ election policy.  Now, we can look forward to further action on other promises such as a ban on dumping of dredge spoil in the whole World Heritage Area.

    You can read the details of the Government’s announcement – including the new plan to dump the dredge spoil on land by clicking here.

    There’s still a long way to go.  The dredging operation itself will have serious impacts, like destroying seagrass beds, regardless of where the spoil is dumped.  That new plan will have to go through a thorough Environmental Impact process, and given the downturn in the coal industry, I think it’s time to genuinely review whether the port expansion is really necessary at all.

    But make no mistake: today is a day to celebrate. Thanks so much for being with us on this, it’s made a huge difference.

    Louise Matthiesson
    Great Barrier Reef Campaigner
    WWF-Australia

    P.S. If you want to read more about the decision you can see WWF’s press release here

  • Who’s got the goods for NSW solar? SOLAR CITIZENS

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    Who’s got the goods for NSW solar?

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    Claire, Solar Citizens
    12:13 PM (2 minutes ago)
    to me

    Dear NEVILLE —

    The New South Wales state election is fast approaching and both sides of politics are touting rooftop solar as the energy source of the future.

    Late last year NSW Environment Minister Rob Stokes said “When it comes to clean energy, [NSW] can be Australia’s answer to California,”* and just this week Opposition Leader Luke Foley said the electricity network of the future would feature consumers generating and storing their own power.**

    We couldn’t agree more. But before the people of NSW cast their votes on March 28 we need to see their policies in full, so we can lock in a strong solar future for our State. Can you use our easy tool to send a message to the two Party leaders, Mike Baird and Luke Foley, asking them for firm policy commitments on NSW solar?

    Last week we wrote to the leaders of each major party asking them where they stand on 6 key solar issues for NSW, the issues you’ve told us are important (read our questions in full here):

    1. No discriminatory solar fees
    2. A fair price for solar fed into the grid
    3. Reverse auctions to boost community and large-scale solar
    4. Trial solar storage
    5. A smarter NSW power grid
    6. Stand up for solar jobs and protect the Renewable Energy Target

    We’ve heard back from some parties but we need your help to get policy commitments from the two biggest players – the Government and the Opposition. Can you take 5 minutes to send a message to the party leaders asking them where they stand on these 6 key solar issues?

    Once we have policy commitments in writing we’ll send you our Election Scorecard, laying out the parties’ responses so you can make an informed choice on March 28th.

    In the recent Queensland election we put pressure on the major parties to respond to our policy asks and pushed the incoming Labor government to make positive solar announcements which we can now hold them to.

    But it only works if we all take action to remind the candidates just how important solar is to us and to the future of NSW – can you send a message to the major party leaders using our easy tool?

    NSW has great solar potential but we need the incoming government to nail down plans for a sun-powered future. Together we can make that happen.

    Yours for a strong solar future,

    Claire O’Rourke, National Director

    Claire O'Rourke, National Director

    P.S. Elections are the time when politicians are most responsive to what the electorate wants. Can you ask the party leaders, Mike Baird and Luke Foley, to firm up their policy commitments on solar by sending a message using our easy tool?

    *http://www.smh.com.au/environment/renewable-energy-nsw-to-be-australias-answer-to-california-20140722-zvl60.html

    **http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/state-control-vital-to-shape-power-luke-foley/story-fnsgbndb-1227254088797

    Solar Citizens

    http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/

  • Reading them out loud, devastating: Domestic Violence

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    Engadget RSS Feed – Google Calendar comes to the iPhone – 5 hours ago

    Reading them out loud, devastating:

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    Katrina Keshishian via Change.org
    11:50 AM (8 minutes ago)
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    Change.org
    Hi everyone.

    I couldn’t bring myself to read them out loud until this week. Domestic violence, child abuse – the stories of people impacted by this cut to victims of crime support are truly devastating.

    Many of them can’t speak about it publicly, but asked me to help ensure their stories are told.

    That’s why I put together this video. To tell their stories, and help finally convince Premier Baird to do the right thing by reversing this cut to help for the most vulnerable.

    Please watch and share the video today to help ensure Premier Baird sees it too by clicking here.

    You can read an article just published on news.com.au about these stories here.

    What’s scary to think about, is there are 24,000 stories just like this: of everyday people struck down by a violent crime and who are still struggling.

    I’ve never been interested in politics. Going on Channel 7 to ask a question at the debate was so terrifying. But I’m speaking up because this cut to help to violent crime victims is unfair – and I know first-hand that it’s making recovering that much harder.

    If you can help by watching and sharing the video – and if you want to help send it to Mike Baird on Facebook or at manly@parliament.nsw.gov.au today I’d really appreciate it. 

    I couldn’t do this without knowing 130,000 of you are with me. Thank you so much.

    Katrina x

    katrina.petition@gmail.com

  • Our chance to “torpedo” pension cuts GET UP

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    triple j music news – Watch: Florence + The Machine debut new songs at UK show – 5 days ago

    Our chance to “torpedo” pension cuts

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    Georgina – GetUp!
    10:37 AM (4 minutes ago)
    to me
    Dear NEVILLE,

    We’ve discovered a powerful new ally in the fight against pension cuts: the Liberal Party backbench.

    The very same group that mutinied over the GP copayment has this week taken aim at Mr Abbott’s planned changes to the pension, calling it “the next public battle” in the Coalition party room.

    On Monday, key backbencher Andrew Laming named pensions as a priority issue for the backbench, warning the PM of “a couple of large missiles.. and torpedoes aimed at this policy”.1 Other backbenchers have since joined the chorus.

    With the battle lines drawn, Coalition MPs will be deciding whether to make the case on behalf of pensioners in their electorates. Let’s stir up the the backbench by arming them with thousands of compelling stories from their voters to take back to the party room.

    Click here to share your story with your Coalition MP and ask them to “torpedo” pension cuts once and for all.

    Figures released over the weekend by Australian National University show that Mr Abbott’s planned cuts would drive the age pension down from 28% of average weekly earnings to a shocking 16% by 2055. Australia hasn’t seen the pension below 20% of average earnings since 1965.2

    These cuts will hit full, single age pensioners the hardest, the majority of whom are women with no superannuation – individuals already living below the poverty line. Once again, this Government is placing the Budget burden on those least able to afford it.

    It’s evident the backbench is readying itself for a big push against pension cuts, with one backbencher telling reporters yesterday, “I will certainly be putting the case of my many pensioners to the party room and to the prime minister”. 3 With Mr Abbott already stepping on eggshells and eager to please, now’s the moment to add fuel to backbench’s fire.

    Will you write to your Coalition MP, to give them the powerful constituent stories they need to make a compelling case in the party room?

    https://www.getup.org.au/stop-the-cuts

    Coalition MPs have had a turbulent few months, but an informed, compassionate voice from GetUp members could help unite the party room against pension cuts at this critical moment. A dissatisfied backbench, bolstered by unhappy constituents, saw Mr Abbott drop his toxic Medicare copayment last month. So, with key members of the backbench already on side, will you encourage your MP to join the bandwagon?

    Thanks for speaking out,
    Georgina, Mark, Nat, Evan and Lily, for the GetUp team

    PS – Mr Abbott’s proposed cuts will cost retirees $23 billion over the next decade.4 The question we need to ask ourselves is: would we rather live in a country where pensioners live below the poverty line or where everyone has savings for their retirement? There are smarter, fairer ways to reform the budget that recognise the valuable contribution of older Australians and doesn’t risk the creation of an underclass of retirees. Click here to tell your MP how these cuts will affect you or someone you know.

    References
    [1] – Liberal MP Andrew Laming says missiles and ‘torpedoes’ aimed at Abbott’s pension policy, ABC News, 9 March 2015.
    [2] – PM shifts on age pension time bomb, The Australian, 7 March 2015.
    [3] – Second Liberal backbencher warns Coalition about age pension policy, The Guardian, 10 March 2015.
    [4] – Liberal MP Andrew Laming says missiles and ‘torpedoes’ aimed at Abbott’s pension policy, ABC News, 9 March 2015.

    GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you’d like to contribute to help fund GetUp’s work, please donate now! To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders – past, present and future – and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia and the GetUp community.

    Authorised by Sam Mclean, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.

  • Welcome to the Australian Progressive Party

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    CNN.com Recently Published/Updated – Iraqi forces expected to retake Tikrit within days – 4 hours ago

    Welcome to the Australian Progressive Party

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    Australian Progressive Party <change@progressives.org.au>
    4:01 PM (31 minutes ago)
    to me
    Australian Progressive Party
    Neville —

    Welcome to the Australian Progressive Party. We have a plan over the next six months to get up and running, spread the word and give Australia a real choice for sensible politics.

    Our first step is to hold a ballot of members on a new name. We want a new name to reflect the ideas of members who have joined us from other parties and groups. We also want to make it clear that we are in the sensible centre of Australian politics, and we want a name that conveys this position very clearly.

    As a member-driven organisation, we’d like to hear your thoughts on a new name and give you the opportunity to choose one. The board has proposed four options that we’d like you to consider, ones that we feel closely represent our values and direction, but we’d like to hear your ideas too!

    To facilitate this discussion, we’ve set up a consultation forum on our member’s site. You will first have to register on the member site and will receive an invitation to join via email shortly.

    We’ll give you two weeks from today to review and discuss the proposed names, after which time you’ll be asked to participate in a formal ballot to choose our new name.

    We’re really excited by this opportunity to refresh, rebrand and more clearly articulate our centrist position. Of course, once you’ve chosen our new name we’ll need some help in the areas of graphic and web design, social media and much more. If you’ve got the skill and the will, let us know!

    So sign up, get discussing and give us a makeover!

    Australian Progressive Party
    http://www.progressives.org.au/

    Australian Progressive Party
    http://www.progressives.org.au/