The rail trail debate that was to be held in parliament on the June 19 didn’t happen. Instead Mehreen Faruqi from the NSW Greens submitted petitions from the northern rivers community who want their train back.
Since then it has come to light that large areas of Byron CBD that are owned by State Rail could be sold off under the new Crown Lands legislation if the rail trail legislation is approved. Don Page from the Nationals has been spruiking the benefits of a rail trail in the Northern Rivers rail corridor. Now we know why.
Political parties used to promote their vision of how they would make a better world for all to live in. Increasingly we are seeing how political leaders have become more focused on looking after themselves and their own pockets. This is a sad indictment of where our materialistic values have led us as a society.
I’m happy to announce that not all our political leaders are focused on themselves. We have a bright new star in the firmament of the northern rivers who is standing in the state election next year. Adam Guise of the Greens is standing firmly with our community against invasive gasfields in the northern rivers and is committed to standing up for this community where the Nationals have failed.
Adam cares for this community and has not sold his name to any vested interest. We need people like him who are willing to hold fast against the influence of those with money and power and to give voice to the needs of the northern rivers community. I am grateful to anyone in leadership who has a vision of caring for the community and the land. Adam stands for clean air, clean water, clean energy and clean politics and it’s wonderful to see that we don’t have to choose between only the tired older parties in order to have a voice about the things that matter. We have the Greens – and I’m grateful for that.
Beth Shelley, Booerie Creek
