New South Wales

Newsletter date: 20 November 2012

Contents:
* Gerry Georgatos: Mining Deal Bombshell - Fortescue and the Yindjibarndi
* Chris Graham: Beer Goggles - The politics of backing grog bans despite scant evidence they actually work
* The Wire: Aboriginal women who experience sexual violence have a new support network
* Greens Rachel Siewert: JPP [James Price Point] protection relies on Minister Burke as the WA Government greases the wheels of industrialisation
* Graham Lloyd: New action to stop $35bn gas hub [James Price Point, WA]

Recent findings and recommendations made by the NSW Coroner in relation to the death of a young Brazilian Boy.

Summing up the Coroner recommended that the conduct of five NSW Police Officers be referred to and for the Police Integrity Commission to investigate. Personally and from past experience I have no faith in the PIC to investigate or have the Police on behalf of the PIC investigate the conduct of any police officer, and the Ombudsman to oversight.

Click on the links for details of the events ...

Event: 17 November - 23 December 2012: Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW
Theatrical Documentary: Beautiful One Day
"Beautiful One Day is a theatrical documentary
about the irrepressible life and times of Palm
Island. Three theatre companies (Belvoir,
Ilbijerri, and version 1.0) came together in 2011
over a shared sense of outrage at the injustices
surrounding a death in custody in 2004. But,
prompted by the Palm Island community,
Beautiful One Day looks for a way to turn outrage
into real understanding and new possibilities.

Coal seam gas has been touted as a green transitional fuel, far less polluting than coal, but a new study implies it may not be as green or climate friendly as the industry makes out. It hinges on the level of fugitive emissions produced in development and production of a gas field. A study by two scientists from Southern Cross University based in Lismore, northern NSW, detected much higher levels of the strong greenhouse gas methane around the Tara gas field on the Darling Downs of Queensland west of Brisbane.

Action: Getup! have started a Dirtier than Coal? campaign calling on Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet to commission urgent research into the climate impacts of coal seam gas, and to make sure that CSG companies start accounting, and paying, for fugitive emissions.