Hi all,
By now you may understand the purpose of this bill is to facilitate the construction of rail trails and roads in unused regional rail corridor with power to decide given to the minister. Currently, if a council wants to construct a rail trail, the minister has to submit an amendment to the Transport amendment act and get parliament approval.
This bill was debated in the Upper house last night. Apart from a couple of mminor amendments, most proposed by Greens MLC Abygail Boyd were defeated by the government and Labor MLCs. Her amendment proposing that the bill be referred to a committee for further examination received only 9 votes. Last night, John Graham, Labor MLC acknowledged the contribution Northern railway Defenders Forum made to the present conversation.
Though it is disappointing that most of the crucial amendments proposed by Abygail Boyd so eloquently last night - one requiring a feasibility study of both rail and trail before the approval of a unused line to be used for a rail trail - were defeated by majority vote, we now need to focus on the Legislative Assembly or the lower house.
We need to keep an eye on the LA business paper to find out when the bill will be taken up for consideration.
John Graham,MLC(Labor) mentioned in the upper house debate that his colleagues in the lower house such as Jenny Aitchison will propose some amendments. I hope that some of the suggestions made by us will be included!
I suggest we contact the MPs in Legislative Assembly including Adam Marshall during the week until the bill is taken up for discussion and debate in LA.
You can access MPs contacts by using the following link:
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/all-members.aspx?&house=la&tab=browse
Siri Gamage
Suggested MPS to Contacts
Butler, Roy (Shooters and Fishers party)
Phone (02) 6792 1422
Fax (02) 6792 1466
barwon@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Minns, Chris (Labor, Leader of the opposition)
Phone (02) 9587 9684
Fax (02) 9588 7138
kogarah@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Clancy, Justin (Liberal)
Phone (02) 6021 3042
Fax (02) 6021 8884
albury@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Dalton, Helen (Independent)
Phone (02) 6962 6644
Fax (02) 6962 7725
murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Donato, Philip (Shooters and Fishers) -Orange
Phone (02) 6362 5199
Fax (02) 6361 3922
Greenwich, Alex (independent)
Phone (02) 9267 5999
Fax (02) 9267 5955
sydney@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Piper, Greg (independent,Lake Macquarie)
Phone (02) 4959 3200
Fax (02) 4950 4076
lakemacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Ward, Gareth (independent,Kiama)
Phone (02) 4232 1082
Fax (02) 4232 3577
kiama@parliament.nsw.gov.au
McGirr, Joe (independent, Wagga Wagga)
Phone (02) 6921 1622
Fax (02) 6921 4424
waggawagga@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Harris, David (Labor)
Phone (02) 4352 2711
Fax (02) 4352 2766
wyong@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Hornery, Sonia(Labor,Wallsend)
Phone (02) 4950 0955
Fax (02) 4950 0977
wallsend@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Parker, Jamie (Greens)
Phone (02) 9660 7586
Fax (02) 9660 6112
balmain@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Smith, Tamara (Greens,Balina)
Phone (02) 6686 7522
Fax (02) 6686 7470
ballina@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Saffin, Janelle,Lismore,Labor)
Phone (02) 6621 3624
Fax (02) 6622 1403
lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Suggested Shadow Ministers to Contact
Jenny Aitchison,MP
Phone (02) 4933 1617
Fax (02) 4933 4782
maitland@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Haylen, Jo (Labor)
Shadow minister for Transport
Phone (02) 9572 5900
Fax (02) 9572 6414
summerhill@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Scully, Paul, Labor,Wollongong, Shadow for Planing and public spaces)
Phone (02) 4226 5700
Fax (02) 4226 9963
wollongong@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Suggested Ministers and Government MPs to Contact
Marshall, Adam (Northern tablelands,National)
Phone (02) 6772 5552
Fax (02) 6772 5026
northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Kevin Anderson,MP
Phone (02) 6766 1422
Fax (02) 6766 6765
tamworth@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Coure, Mark (Liberal)
Minister for multiculturalism
Phone (02) 9580 9349
Fax (02) 9580 9103
oatley@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Elliott, David (minister Transport)
Phone (02) 8574 6290
There is a form to send our concerns and comments
Contact the Minister for Transport, and the Minister for Veterans
Gulaptis, Christopher (Clarence)
Phone (02) 6643 1244
Fax (02) 6642 7574
clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Kean, Matt (Liberal, Treasurer)
There is an online form to complete
Phone (02) 8574 6150
Contact the Treasurer, and Minister for Energy
Pavey, Melinda ,Parliamentary secretary for Stronger communities etc(nationals,Oxley)
Phone (02) 6562 6190
Fax (02) 6563 1355
oxley@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Perrottet, Dominic,Premier,Liberal)
There is a form to complete online
In his capacity as Premier:
Phone (02) 8574 5000
Contact the Premier
Roberts, Anthony ,Minister Planning,Liberal)
There is an online form to complete
Phone (02) 8574 5600
Contact the Minister for Planning and Homes
Singh, Gurmesh (Coffs Harbour,Nationals)
Phone (02) 6652 6500
Fax (02) 6652 7934
coffsharbour@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Stokes, Rob (Liberal Ministrer infrastructure & active transport)
There is a form to complee
Phone (02) 8574 6707
Contact the Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport
Toole, Paul (Nationalos, Minister for regional NSW,Bahurst)
There is a form to complete
Phone (02) 8574 7000
Contact the Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW, Minister for Police