Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:43): Margaret Henry, a wonderful community activist, sadly died in September last year. Margaret was a Newcastle transport and heritage advocate, a former Newcastle university history lecturer, a Greens councillor, an activist on big and small issues across five decades and a dedicated mother and grandmother.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (21:43): The New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, is waging a war on trees-quite literally, a war on trees. It is extremely destructive, occasioning great hurt, and right now he is not stopping. In one suburb, Randwick, along Anzac Parade, 400 trees are being turned into woodchips. These are beautiful trees-trees that are habitat to an amazing array of birds, possums and an incredible number of insects. The biodiversity is considerable. Many of these trees are now being destroyed by 'Mike Baird's chainsaw massacre'.

The Greens are committed to high speed rail as the answer to the ill-conceived Badgerys Creek airport. Most of the passengers using Sydney Airport could be accommodated on a rail line on Australia's east coast and  the project could be compled by 2025, the same construction timeline as a second airport.

The dispute between the federal and NSW governments over noise levels associated with Badgerys Creek Airport and the fact that unlike Sydney Airport the Western Sydney Airport would operate 24/7 further strengthens the case for this project to be scrapped, Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said. 

Reports that the World Heritage status of the Blue Mountains National Park could be lost if the current plans for Badgerys Creek Airport flight paths proceed provides further proof that this project should be scrapped, Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon said. (SMH, http://tinyurl.com/pffslr2)

"The World Heritage listing and natural integrity of the Blue Mountains National Park should not be put at risk from noise pollution associated with Badgerys Creek Airport," Senator Rhiannon said.

A new airport for Sydney is urgently needed to overcome the major issues of aircraft noise, air pollution and public safety. Badgery's creek is not the solution.

Click the link below to download the EIS submission guide. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our office on 02 9211 9523.

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (17:00): Urban motorways reveal some of the worst aspects of how major parties do politics and the worst aspects of their own transport policies. In Sydney we have this madness of a WestConnex urban motorway project. A 33-kilometre, dirty tollway that would divide Sydney, bring greater air pollution, increase congestion, divide suburbs and rip up bike lanes.

Labor has voted with the Coalition to block a Greens motion calling for greater transparency of the WestConnex tollway project.

"The Greens motion calls for federal Westconnex funding to be withheld until the full business case is made public and proper community consultation and planning approvals are complete," said Greens Senator for NSW Lee Rhiannon.

"The Labor Party joined with the Coalition to block this motion, despite worrying reports that large amounts of asbestos are unsafely stored at WestConnex sites putting the health of local residents and workers at risk.

The Greens have developed a positive vision for Australia which includes free and fair higher education, a renewable energy transition plan and an efficient public transport system. 

A new airport for Sydney is urgently needed to overcome the major issues of aircraft noise, air pollution and public safety. The Greens have set out a plan which would see public ownership of the new facility, a high speed rail link linking it to major population centers and redevelopment of the site of the current airport.

Click the link below to download our leaflet on Sydney's new airport.