Action Needed: Send a Fax now!
Faxes are preferred. If you cannot get access to a fax, write a letter or send an email.
Use the sample letter below. Feel free to add your own words. Pass this email onto your friends so they can add to the pressure.
Sample Letter to the Premier:
[Your name and address]
Hon Morris Iemma
Premier of NSW
Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
[Date]
Copy: Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water
Dear Premier,
Support for Improved Environment Ministry
Congratulations on your recent restructure of the natural resource and environment ministries.
We expect that there will be a reaction from conservative interests that may seek to reverse the changes. This must be resisted.
Management of marine parks, vegetation and Catchment Management Authorities must remain under the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water.
This arrangement ensures that there is a much closer alignment between the objectives of the legislation and the role of the Minister. It will ensure that there is a strong and independent regulator and environmental manager, without any conflict of interest that occurred in the past when the minister also represented industry interests.
The change also mirrors Federal and Victorian government arrangements, assisting inter-governmental cooperation.
These changes will assist in achievement of natural resources targets prominently outlined in the State Plan and they will be an important signal showing the seriousness that you hold for protection of the environment.
Yours sincerely
[Your name]
Send your letter to:
NSW Premier, Morris Iemma
Address (see letter above for address)
Fax: 9228 3934
Email: thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 9228 5239
Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, Phil Koperberg
Address: PO Box A250, Sydney South NSW 1232
Fax: 9995 6654
Phone: 9995 6750
Further Background:
On 2 April, when the new Ministers were announced, the Department of Natural Resources was abolished and responsibility for native vegetation, water, and oversight of catchment management authorities was passed to the new Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water. The same minister also received exclusive control of Marine Parks and aquatic threatened species, instead of being under by the Minister for Primary Industries (jointly for marine parks).
These changes follow constant criticism from environment groups over the last decade that saw the old arrangements fail the environment due to interdepartmental conflict, agency capture by vested industry interests and lack of enforcement on native vegetation, catchment management and marine and freshwater conservation.
The landmark improvements will ensure that there is a much closer alignment between the objectives of the legislation and the role of the Minister. They will ensure that there is a strong and independent regulator and environmental manager, without any conflict of interest that occurred in the past when the minister also represented industry interests.
The change also mirrors Federal and Victorian state government arrangements, assisting inter-governmental cooperation. They will assist in achievement of natural resources targets prominently outlined in the State Plan.
____________________
Andrew Cox
Executive Officer
National Parks Association of NSW
PO Box A96, Sydney South NSW 1235
Tel: 02 9299 0000; Fax: 02 9290 2525
Email: execofficer@npansw.org.au
Website: www.npansw.org.au