Local representation
Locals meet International:
Five concerned water groups will express their concern to Parliament
at midday tomorrow.
Today I met with our local Mornington Peninsular Federal MP: Greg Hunt. The meeting was arranged as part of a campaign to introduce local politicians to the GetUp Organisation’s people agenda. The purpose was to familiarise Greg with the process by which GetUp members across Australia determined the priorities for our nation: these are Environment, Education and Reconciliation with another 7 concerns listed.
Our local Flinders group agreed unanimously that environment was most crucial: in particular the concerns about Gunnamatta Ocean, Westernport and Port Phillip Bays. Top of the agenda for Flinders group when it met in December was concern re the dredging of Melbourne’s Bay.
Greg came prepared to the meeting with copies of articles expressing his own concerns. These were published in the Herald Sun:
Dredging casts dark shadow on beautiful Port Phillip
01 December 2007
Highlights the projected loss of income for the people whose livelihood depends on the Bay as well addressing the dire consequences of the dredging and toxic dump – to the health of the Bay:
“The State Government’s own assessment of the channel deepening project found that dive operators and other businesses reliant on the bay will lose almost $19 million in income as a direct result of the dredging.”
24 January 2008
Further emphasises his concern with the pollution of the Bay:
“Would a private company be allowed to dump sediment contaminated by zinc, lead and mercury in the bay?
Answer: absolutely not. “
Greg is the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water. He is friendly, interesting and impassioned about both human and environmental issues and is definitely committed to participatory democracy.
His website is:
www.greghunt.org
Perhaps you could approach your own local Federal representatives before they head for Canberra and the first sitting of Parliament for 2008.
A reminder: for those who are interested in applying for the Port of Melbourne Community Liason group to assist in the monitoring of the Bay: applications close on Friday 8 February.
clg_expression_of_interest_form.pdf
clg_information_for_applicants.pdf
Cheers and here’s welcoming the much needed rain!
Hilary
[*pic by Rhys at the heads on January 29]