A northern rivers woman has begun a petition calling on the NSW Police Association to speak out against new legislation aimed at curbing protest action against miners.
Bernardine Schwartz of Blue Knob said the new laws – which increase police powers and penalties – were rushed through by the state government in April.
The new laws make trespass on mine sites – now expanded to include exploration areas – an offense punishable by a fine of $5500 and 7 years gaol. Police can now also confiscate anything they think might be used to obstruct company activities.
At the same time the fine for illegal drilling by miners was reduced for $1.1 M to just $5000.
Meanwhile, the NSW Government has announced today that it will spend $3.8 billion on new and bigger jails over the next 4 years.
Ms Schwartz, who was one of the first protectors to turn out at Bentley to stop junior miner Metgasco from drilling, described the new laws as unfair and dangerous.
‘I’m just an average woman in her late 50’s. I’m not an anarchist or a criminal but that’s how this present government would like to portray me and many other citizens,’ she said.
Ms Schwartz wrote to NSW Police Association president Scott Weber in April but is yet to receive a reply.
She is hoping that a petition containing thousands of signatures might make Mr Weber take not of the growing resentment against the new laws.
She has begun a petition on Change.Org, and has also been handing out petitions on paper ‘the old fashioned way’ around Nimbin, Murwillumbah and local markets.
‘I have had strong support because many people see the new laws as government doing the bidding of mining companies, especially SANTOS which has been hampered by concerned citizens trying to protect the Pilliga region, the Laird Forest and the water in our Great Artesian Basin,’ she said.
‘The police are the ones who have to enforce these new laws, not the politicians, and that’s why I’m asking Scott Weber if he is able to give credible justification for enforcing this law and explain how illegal mining or drilling has become a lesser crime than protesting.
‘Police are part of the community and their morale plus credibility with the public will be affected if they have to enforce this.
‘Australia used to be a country that stood for upholding FAIR laws and freedom to speak out.
‘These basic rights are what makes a nation a functioning democracy. So I am asking, do Police intend to enforce such draconian laws?”
The petition can be found at:
Meanwile, Greens MP David Shoebridge said the $3.8 billion to be spent on jails was the cost of failed social policy.
‘The NSW prison population has been allowed to surge under a toxic mix of the Coalition’s broken bail laws, new offences, underfunded courts and aggressive policing policy,’ he said.
‘The Greens believe that this funding would be better spent on improved public schools, hospitals and justice reinvestment programs aimed at building stronger communities and keeping people out of jail in the first place.
‘We are now seeing the real cost of Mike Baird’s growing police state, and it starts with $3.8 billion being poured into more and bigger jails.
‘This is $3.8 billion that can no longer go towards public schools, better hospitals and public transport in the upcoming budget.
‘Put in simpler terms, this is a $500 bill for every single resident in NSW and its going towards bigger jails not better schools.
‘Rather than listening to best evidence about reducing crime, the major parties have instead taken their advice from a law and order campaign run by radio shock jocks and tabloid newspapers.’
The law is irrelevant if people think oil and gas companies want to invest in NSW. I can assure the people of NSW that no new companies will investment in NSW CSG for the foreseeable future. I work as a consultant in the oil and gas industry. NSW CSG sovereign risk ranking is the same as Venezuela. {Beware of unintended consequences}. What Santos is going to do I do not know but they are under a lot of stress from NSW domgas & NSW unions as they endeavour to save NSW workers manufacturing jobs.
My recommendation is for the anti-gas movement, NSW Domgas & NSW unions discuss what is best for NSW. My preference is to ban natural gas from NSW as this will improve the supply demand issues in SA & QLD.
What concerns Queenslanders is IPL’s [ASX 10May16] warning that their fertilizer plant may have to close due to natural gas supply. Inevitably we’ll import fertilizer and in doing so, lose control on its quality. Once imported fertilizer (chemicals) is spread across the land you cannot take it back.
NSW sort out what you want!
Protest is the basis of democracy. Conservatives make all judgments based on $ value. There is more to life than $ value. How we live, our happiness, contentment, satisfaction, inner peace do not have any relationship to the economy. We are one of the richest nations on earth yet we struggle with expenditure as if we were one of the poorest.
Now this! If the last state labor government was corrupt with Obeid etc, the actions of this Liberal one are definitely corrupt. Why does Baird push thru hugely unpopular laws against protesting unless there is an unfair or illegal advantage. It stinks of corruption, the same forces of industry behind this move were behind Obeid and co. Its fishy and it stinks!
There is only one hope the Greens put principles first.