MEDIA RELEASES
Damning report on the Closing the Gap
7 February 2024 - The Productivity Commission’s Report on Closing the Gap released today outlines a damning assessment of governments in their failure to implement the National Agreement on the Closing the Gap initiative.
Another death in custody at Parklea Correctional Centre
7 February 2024 - Another inmate at the Parklea Correctional Centre has been confirmed dead and we understand the cause of death to be suicide by hanging. The suicide occurred over the weekend of 3-4 February 2024. Deaths in custody in NSW have been steadily rising with 43 reported deaths in...
New logging rules abandon protections for endangered Greater Gliders
2 February 2024 - The NSW Government has today announced changes that will remove protections for endangered Southern Greater Gliders despite dozens of community reports, and an active court case, that show the NSW Forestry Corporation have been unlawfully logging critical habitat.
Calls for action on harmful chemical sprays - Spray Drift
25 January 2024 - Continued wet conditions in some agricultural areas have brought forward concerns about the types of chemicals being used in spraying operations and how they are impacting communities and the environment.
Minister must respond as Yamba community unite against dangerous floodplain developments
25 January 2024 - In a petition to the NSW Legislative Council, Yamba residents have demanded stop work orders at two proposed local development sites, citing unacceptable and unknown new flood risks and irreversible native species loss. Petitions regarding proposed development at 52-54 Miles Street and 120 Carrs Drive have each...
Loggers found guilty of assault after years of continued trauma for victims
15 January 2024 - The Coffs Harbour Local Court has today (15 January 2024) found two forestry workers guilty of assaulting two members of the community on a public road in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest on 25 June 2020. Michael Luigi Vitali and Rodney James Hearfield were found guilty of...
Federal Court says native forest logging while deemed technically lawful in NSW is political
10 January 2024 - The Federal Court has today handed down its decision about the validity of agreements that allow native forests to be logged in NSW. The Court examined the validity of Regional Forest Agreements (RFA), that were first made in 2000 and extended for 20 years in 2018, that...
Federal Court decision on Native forest logging to be handed down in landmark case tomorrow
9 January 2024 - On Wednesday morning the Federal Court will hand down the decision of a monumental hearing with serious implications on the validity and continuation of native forest logging in NSW. The case which was heard in March 2022 was brought by the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) against...
Federal Court Decision, native forest logging deemed to be unlawful in NSW
9 January 2024 - On Wednesday morning the Federal Court will hand down the decision of a monumental hearing with serious implications on the validity and continuation of native forest logging in NSW. The case which was heard in March 2022 was brought by the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) against...
Logging operations at Clouds Creek State Forest blocked as communities prepare for High Court decision
8 January 2024 - Greens MP Sue Higginson has joined members of the community who have blocked access to logging roads at Clouds Creek State Forest this morning to prevent logging roading operations and protect endangered species in the forest, including Koalas and Southern Greater Gliders. The Federal Court is...