ALP HQ blockade: decision on Newcastle Coal Export Terminal needed
27th February, 2007:
Climate change activists today set up a barricade at the NSW headquarters of the Austrailan Labor Party, demanding the Iemma Government make an announcement on the expansion of Newcastle coal exports before the March 24th election.
A group of about 15 people set up a barricade of ply wood and 44 gallon drums on the 9th floor of the Sussex Street building, blocking access to ALP HQ. One person was attached by a D-lock around the neck to the barricade. The people announced that they would stay until the Iemma Government made an announcement on the proposed new Coal Export Terminal at Newcastle.
Steve Phillips, spokesperson for Rising Tide Newcastle – the group that organised the protest – said: “The proposed new Coal Export Terminal at Newcastle would produce more greenhouse pollution than every single source within our state's borders. 66 million tonnes of coal per year would be exported, the equivalent of doubling NSW greenhouse pollution from all sources. Every power station, every vehicle, every steel mill and cement factory, every landclearing operation, the lot. They would all be eclipsed by the greenhouse pollution from just one project in Newcastle, that is now pending a decision from the Iemma Government.”
“The Coal Terminal proposal has been subject to a public submission period, and over 800 people wrote to the NSW Government demanding that it be rejected due to the massive impact the project would have on the global climate. The facts are simple: the terminal would produce over 150 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution per annum, which would fuel global climate change and endanger the persistence of life on earth. With this is mind, there is no reason for the NSW Government to delay its decision on this issue any further.”
There is a range of massive new coal mine proposals in NSW that are designed to provide coal to the new terminal. Projects such as Anvil Hill, Moolarben, and various coal mine proposals in the Gunnedah Basin are all inextricably linked to the proposed new Coal Terminal at Newcastle. All of these projects are now pending a decision from the NSW Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor.
“Why is the Iemma Government keeping its climate change policy a secret until after the election? The people of NSW need to know where this government stands on climate change, before we go to polls. Is Morris Iemma for doubling coal exports from Newcastle, and doubling our state's contribution to climate change? Or is he for tackling climate change and standing up for a sustainable future for our state? He has to choose one or the other, and he has to choose now.”
Police cleared the building of media and all activists except Ms Dean and another woman, who the police gave an undertaking could remain to take care of Ms Dean without being arrested. However, after Police Rescue had removed the lock from Ms Dean's neck, the police reneged on their undertaking and both women were arrested. The two women were charged with trespass, given conditions of bail to remain at least 50 metres from the ALP Headquarters, and will appear in Downing Centre local court on the 10th April.
Comments
I think its great what
I think its great what you've done to try and stop this. I've recently started using bio diesel for home heating it's cheaper and cleaner but there is still room for plenty of advances in renewable energy. We had our home re insulated with better and more modern insulation to keep in the heat during winter and keep it out in the summer. My father and uncle both are in construction and were able to get us great deals on double glazed windows and doing the installation on our own kept the cost down. We are saving an enormous amount of money each winter on heating oil and in the summer our electric is down since the home doesn't lose as much air and keeping the hot air out. If everyone could make small improvements where possible we'd all be better off.