MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, October 18, 2002
Greens Ask - Will Sullivan Or Pearce Get A Wilderness Vote Out Of Page Before He Leaves Coogee?
Cr Murray Matson, the Greens candidate for Coogee has urged voters not to ignore Ernie Page on forest issues now that he has indicated that he won't re-contest the seat.
The Greens are calling on Labor's two most likely replacement candidates to publicly press Mr Page to vote to preserve the "Pilliga, Goonoo, Jilliby, Chaelundi and Badja areas" of NSW from being cleared before he stands down.
Both Randwick ALP Mayor Dominic Sullivan the seat and Waverley ALP Mayor Paul Pearce have both been rumored to be interested in acquiring the seat after Page.
Matson states that crucial votes on forests will probably occur before the March 2003 election. He said,
"There's about 15 sitting days left this year. Forest activists are hoping that the ALP will bring in legislation to make national parks of several areas of western woodlands out past the Great Dividing Range, such as Pilliga and Goonoo.
It is also hoped that key areas of forest will be protected along the states northern coast line such as Jilliby and the former environmental battle ground of Chaelundi."
The Greens want Sullivan and Pearce to indicate where they stand and whether they will be accountable for whichever way Page votes. Matson elaborated further,
"Coogee voters should put both the likely ALP candidates seeking to succeed Page on the spot as to whether they approve of the way he intends to vote."
Matson claims that without public pressure Sullivan and Pearce will be "unlikely to try and exert influence over Page". He said,
"Pearce and Sullivan will be able to distance themselves after the March election from any negative publicity Page generates by saying it wasn't them that voted.
It is thus crucial that Coogee voters force Pearce and Sullivan apply some pressure on Ernie to come good on preserving the forests and woodlands of NSW."
If Sullivan and Pearce want to contest the seat against the Greens, then they should be made to own whatever decisions on the environment that Ernie makes!"
Contact: Coogee Greens candidate, Councillor Murray Matson 9661-9413