The Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends on August 4 reminded politicians of their responsibilities to protect the environment and phase out coal.
Around 50 Nannas and supporters gathered opposite NSW Parliament to tell them to “do a lot better”.
“There’s a state election in March 2027, so time is running out to keep promises made before the last election in 2023. It will be a stretch, but there’s still time,” they said.
The Nannas talked about five promises MPs have “not yet kept”. They include emission reduction targets that have been legislated by Chris Minns Labor’s government, but which are not on target. Parliament needs to accept the expert advice of the Net Zero Commission, they said, adding that the “targets won’t be met if coal mining keeps expanding”.
The Nannas want the Great Koala National Park to include the full proposed 176,000 hectares, tol protect endangered species, and benefit the climate and environment.
They want land clearing on private land to be reined in. They said already at the last election in 2023, land clearing was “out of control” and it has increased since then. They told MPs to “act on expert advice to amend the Land Services Act”.
Another promise they want kept is to save the rivers of the Murray Darling Basin to end mass fish kills and implement the River connectivity report as an initial step.
Reinstating real protection for Sydney’s drinking water is another issue, which includes taking strong action to prevent the city’s dams and water supplies being polluted.
Nick Clyde, from Lock the Gate Alliance (LTGA), said: “More than 170 million tonnes of additional coal has been approved under this Labor government. By stopping new coal and building renewables, we can look after both workers and the climate.”
Candice Bartlett, from the NSW Nature Conservation Council, said: “Around 60 per cent of native vegetation has disappeared in this state up to now. We need urgent action immediately.”
Jane Garcia, also from LTGA, said Glencore’s push to extend its Hunter Valley Operations mine, now being considered by the NSW Independent Planning Commission, is the “biggest ever coal project in NSW history. We want to protect people, water and creatures by campaigning against this project.”
[Lock the Gate Alliance is organising a protest against coal mine expansions is being organised on August 8 at 10am at Martin Place, near Phillip Street, Sydney.]
