GREENS lead Senate candidate for NSW David Shoebridge and Greens candidate for Cowper Timothy Nott met with Gumbaynggirr Elders at Muurrbay Language Centre this week to talk about the priorities of First Nations people in this upcoming Federal Election.

Mr Shoebridge and Mr Nott were welcomed to Country by Uncle Micklo Jarrett who said, “Housing, education, employment and language and culture are the most important things that I feel will benefit my people, the Gumbaynggir people.”

Uncle Micklo Jarrett also highlighted the importance of protecting the environment.

“The protection of our forests, the protection of our waterways, the protection of our sacred places, that is what Gumbaynggirr people, and everyone who lives on Gumbaynggirr land should be about.

“It should be about the protection of all the animals, all the forests, all the waters and all the sacred places.

“That’s who we are,” he said.

Mr Nott said, “As a community representative, I will promote First Nations peoples’ voices in deciding management outcomes for Aboriginal heritage as well as housing, education, employment and culture.”

Mr Shoebridge said, “By empowering First Nations communities, handing decision-making and funding to local communities, we can ensure that First Nations people thrive and live good lives in this country.”

The Greens will use the balance of power in Federal parliament to ensure the next Government works with First Nations communities to deliver outcomes on First Nations housing, education, health, climate and environmental protection, as well as Treaty and First Nations justice.

Mr Nott is also concerned about the threat of logging in Pine Creek Forest, where he was joined by NSW Greens MPs Cate Faehrmann and Sue Higginson.

“Now we know that native forestry logging operations are losing money and thus are taking money from the community to remove a valuable forest, I can not support this,” Mr Nott said.

“Other forest products, water resources, carbon sequestration, tourism, animals, plants as well as the mental health values of these forests, have been devalued and the community wishes ignored.

“The Great Koala National Park is the best opportunity to limit the loss of these values and reverse the irrational short term management.

“We must stop degrading our natural resources for the ongoing lust for profit.”

He said the Great Koala National Park is the right thing to do socially, economically and environmentally.

Cate Faehrmann supported him, saying, “Pine Creek is a vital corridor for koalas from the coast up to the tablelands and must be protected so that this population can thrive and grow.

“Any politician who is not committed to protecting and expanding their habitat is essentially signing the koala’s death warrant.”

 

By Andrew VIVIAN