Illawarra Greens

Navigation:

Use the navigation bar above to move to our other pages. As indicated by the headings these contain information on these topics:-

Council Restructure Proposal: The Greens believe that Wollongong and Shellharbour are ill served by the present preferential system of local government voting. A proportional representation system is available that would allow a fairer, more representative make up of Councils. Click this page to read more.

Media Releases: recent press releases are posted here originating from the Illawarra Greens, Greens NSW and other relevant sources. Also other public documents such as reports, studies and correspondance can appear in these pages.

About us: is a page of information about the Illawarra Greens - contacts, meeting times and places, electorates covered and what inspires us are all here.

Policy: all members of the Illawarra Greens are also automatically members of the Greens NSW and the Australian Greens. These pages detail the published policy statements of these three levels of the Greens Party in Australia.

Get Involved: here’s where we invite you to join us and help to reshape Australian society and save the planet as well. We welcome visitors to our monthly meetings or to most other events to check us out before committing to anything.

Campaigns: at any one time the Illawarra Greens are involved in various campaigns locally and nationally in pursuit of our policy objectives. This page details what we are currently campaigning for.

Mailing Lists: so our members can keep in touch with what’s happening we operate several online mailing lists, one of which is open to non-members also who may be interested in Greens activities. This page provides details of how to connect.

–end of page–

Protest Against Weak Carbon Emissions Targets
Tuesday 16 December, 11am
Commonwealth Government Offices, 70 Phillip Street, Sydney

Help send a message to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Climate Change
Minister Penny Wong that Australia needs to show leadership and commit to
meaningful targets.

This event will be part of a nationwide protest in all capital cities and
major centres against the Rudd government's inadequate response to the
greatest threat facing our planet.

For more information contact Greens MP John Kaye’s office on 9230 2668.

SPATE Anniversary
Sunday 14th December 12pm – 7pm
Macauley’s Beach, just north of the Sandon Point headland.

SPATE is celebrating its 8th Anniversary on Sunday December 14th and
everyone is invited to attend. There will be a concert featuring local and
visiting performers, guest speakers which include Aunty Barbara Nicholson
and Uncle Victor Chapman, plus a BBQ.

This is a free community event hosted annually by SPATE and NIRTG at the
embassy.
Everybody is Welcome at Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Free Community Event, No Drugs or Alcohol

Dootch 0434 366 374
Karen 4268 6283

**NSW Greens End of Year Party**
Fri 28 November, 6-11pm - Teachers Club, 23 Mary Street, Surry Hills (near Central Station). You are all warmly invited to celebrate another successful year for the Greens.

**Illawarra Greens Final Meeting of the Year – bring some Christmas Cheer!**
Monday 1st December, 7pm, ACON, corner Ellen and Kenny Sts, Wollongong

NSW Greens State Delegates Council
6-7 December in Manly.

Saturday 22nd November, 11-3 – The 2008 Last Minute Gallery Exhibition
The Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation invitation to Coomaditchie Hall, RSVP to 4274 7477. Exhibition open until 28th November.

Saturday 22nd November, 10-3 – Chook Keeping Workshop
Free – put on by Sustainable Illawarra. Book before November 19 on 4227 7453

Friday 28th November, 6pm – Positive Producers Exhibition
Opening night, Vision and Space gallery, Moore St, Austinmer. Unique Eco-Friendly presents and produce

Saturday 29th November – APHEDA (Union Aid Abroad) Garage Sale
Fundraiser for Zimbabwe Trade Unions, Austinmer Scout Hall, Moore St.

Saturday 29th November, 10am – Don’t scrap CDEP
Lowden Square, next to Wollongong Rail Station

Wednesday 10th December, 7.30pm – A Closer Walk
A free screening of a film about AIDS, IPAC

SOME SUBMISSIONS

Friday 21st November – Metropolitan Colliery application for expansion
This proposal will include long-wall panels directly beneath the Woronora Dam, which provides water to Sutherland and Helensburgh: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=2672

Thursday 27th November – Wollongong Mall Changes
Once again a push to open up the mall: http://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/crownstreetmall.asp

Friday 5th December - Shellharbour Shared Path Strategy 2008
An update of the old Bike Plan with proposals for greatly increased bike/walking paths: http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/default.aspx?WebPage=1057

Friday 12th December – ABC/SBS review
Don’t let them water down our wonderful independent broadcasters: http://www.abc.net.au/corp/haveyoursay/

Friday 19th December – Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act review
This Act has been a beginning but not very effective in protecting Australia’s biodiversity – tell them to beef it up! http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/review/index.html

MEDIA RELEASE
8th August 2008

The Illawarra Greens today called for the sacking of General Manager of Shellharbour City Council, Brian Weir. Council’s joint partner in the Shellharbour Marina Project, Australand, announced yesterday that work on the $100 million marina complex had been delayed indefinitely.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Illawarra Greens welcome the final report of the Independent Commission Against Corruption into Wollongong City Council.

The ICAC report details corrupt conduct of some staff at Wollongong from the General Manager down, over many years.

Read the rest of this entry »

3rd October 2008

GREENS PLACE ALP ON NOTICE FOR STATE ELECTION

The Illawarra Greens has put the Labor Party on notice that it cannot rely on Greens preferences to win the four State seats currently held by Lylea McMahon, David Campbell, Noreen Hay and Paul McLeay.

Read the rest of this entry »

2nd October 2008

GREENS CALL FOR FOR FULL DISCLOSURE ON SHELL COVE

Following the release of the Shell Cove Management Agreement yesterday, the Illawarra Greens have called for the immediate release of all the documents associated with the Shell Cove development.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Illawarra Greens believe that democracy has suffered in both Wollongong and Shellharbour City councils because of their ward structures and election systems.

Both councils have this year been sacked by the NSW Government. Both councils have been dominated by the ALP for many years, entrenching relationships which, in the case of Wollongong (and probably Shellharbour) have led to systemic corruption.

With both Illawarra councils under administration, we have a unique opportunity for reforms to be carried out with the least disruption.

As just one example of how unfair the preferential system of voting used in our council elections can be, in 2004, in ward B in Shellharbour one group won both of the positions despite gaining only 29% of the primary vote. However, another group, which gained 34.5% of the primary vote, won no positions. In other words, 70% of people voted for someone other than the successful candidates.

The introduction of three or more councillors for each ward would require a proportional representation voting system to be used at council elections under present legislation, with far more democratic results.

In Shellharbour, we support the recommendation of Commissioner Richard Colley in his report of 9th July 2008 (Report into Shellharbour) that the Council should be restructured to three wards of three councillors, plus a mayor.

Wollongong City Council

We propose that Wollongong’s local government area be restructured into four wards also with three councillors for each ward, plus a lord mayor (see map for new ward outlines).

To read our proposal in detail click on the menu item above called ‘Council Restructure Proposal’

We invite scrutiny of the proposal and welcome your comments. Please email your thoughts and comments to us at convenor@illawarra.greens.org.au or secretary@illawarra.greens.org.au

7th September 2008

In the days before the rest of NSW holds their local government elections, the Illawarra Greens hosted a public forum yesterday to discuss some of the reasons for the failure of democracy in Illawarra Councils.

Read the rest of this entry »