E-Brief #12

Parliament sat this week for the last time before the election. It has been a tumultuous time. The Government got on with the job and passed over 45 pieces of legislation as well as releasing significant plans such as the Urban Transport Strategy and the final State plan.

This week we heard the farewell speeches given by members who were retiring. In the Upper House these included: Jan Burnswoods, Peter Breen, Peter Wong, David Oldfield and Jon Jenkins.

It was also the last time that Meredith Burgmann will sit as President of the Legislative Council. Meredith's been a role model and mentor to many. Meredith has fought hard for the rights of indigenous people, women, workers, the GLBTI community, prisoners and their families. She has forced the traditions and procedures of the parliament to become inclusive and more egalitarian. Meredith has always worked against injustice, wherever she has found it. The NSW parliament will not be same without her.

In the case of the Liberal Party, the march of the extremists continued and took the scalps of John Ryan, Patricia Forsythe, Steve Pringle, Andrew Humpherson and Peta Seaton.

Another person who is leaving state politics is Bob Debus. In his time in parliament Bob has delivered many reforms including, better protection for the environment, expanding support for the arts, relationship recognition for same sex couples, justice reforms such as circle sentencing and youth conferencing. He was a key player in delivering to the victims of James Hardie. He is a huge loss to the Government and the parliament.

Finally, in the lead up to White Ribbon Day, the Premier today announced a $28 million package to improve the support for victims of domestic violence with the words:

NSW is saying no to domestic violence, if you are a victim, we will help you, if you are a perpetrator, we will stop you.

Congratulations to all of those who have campaigned and worked hard with government to put together this package.

Regards

Penny

PS. Check out the Four Horsemen of the Liberal Apocalypse.

NSW Labor in Action

Here is just some of the legislation and announcements that were made in the last fortnight:

15% renewables target that will slash greenhouse gas emissions in NSW, and made an agreement with BlueScope Steel to reduce their energy consumption.
$4 billion Hunter train deal delivering 622 rail carriages - to be built and maintained in the Hunter creating jobs for young apprentices,
Opened Australia's largest intensive care unit at Westmead Hospital,
Committed NSW to being a nuclear-power free state,
Introduced legislation to secure agreements between James Hardie and asbestosis victims.
$660 million Urban Transport Strategy to fix traffic congestion on our roads, extending our rail clearways program, new commuter car parks and bus priority programs,
Biggest ever NSW Nursing Recruitment Campaign,
Released the Upper House report into the impact of Workchoices on NSW Families.
Supported school-based apprenticeships before the IR Commission,
Called on the Federal Government to make Reduced Fire Risk (RFR) cigarettes mandatory,
and announced programmes to give a fair go to students from disadvantaged communities in public schools.

Coalition Corner

With blanket media coverage on Debnam's outrageous tactics you may have missed these other moments from the NSW Coalition:

Has the Liberal Party made a deal for preferences with Catch the Fire Ministries, who call for the destuction of 'mosques, casinos and bottleshops'?
The Nationals are misleading the public about the future of Countrylink.
Unsurprisingly, thanks to WorkChoices, wages have declined, though the MInister for Industrial Relations has announced a package of new laws to protect young workers.
Country Labor has challenged the National Party to produce their long-term plan for NSW.

Committees Round Up

All the reports of the committees have been finalised. You can check them out here:

Quotes of the Fortnight

These are some of the final words for Bob Debus and Meredith Burgmann in the Parliament.

People on the outside contemplating a political career might think about these practices and look at the charges levelled at me in the past week or so and wonder if they should make the effort to enter Parliament. And who could blame them? We are all to blame-politicians, political operators and the media. We make the feeding frenzy what it is. It is the price to pay for reducing modern politics to a cross between a blood sport and an open mike night at the Comedy Store. But the events of the past few days have reminded me that the political process still has the power to redeem, to reveal truths and to deliver justice.

Bob Debus

I have just been sent a note from Yvette telling me that, in the spirit of tonight's speeches, I have to quote someone. She suggests either Karl Marx or Paul Roos. So here goes:

For everyone who's waited 72 years for the Swans to win the Premiership ... here it is-Go the Swannies!

Meredith Burgmann