Greens Announce Challenger to Garrett

Preventing a third container terminal at Port Botany will be one of the key differences between the Greens and Labor for residents of Kingsford Smith in the federal election, according to Greens candidate Hannah Robert.

"Local residents are overwhelmingly opposed to any expansion of operations at Port Botany. They do not want hundreds more trucks along there and they want to see the environment of Botany Bay protected," Ms Robert said.

"Labor has shown their true colours in federal parliament this week by helping defeat a Greens motion against a third terminal at Port Botany.

"Labor's candidate Peter Garrett now finds himself compromised. Until very recently he had taken a very different position to Labor while still with the Australian Conservation Foundation."

Greens lead Senate candidate for NSW Mr John Kaye joined Ms Robert to challenge Peter Garrett to stand up to Labor's leader Mark Latham and stand by his convictions for the benefit of local residents near Port Botany.

"Only recently, at the ACF's national conference, Peter Garrett joined with his colleagues to formally oppose a third terminal at Port Botany. Local residents of Kingsford Smith would be justifiably hesitant to vote for him if he did not follow through on those convictions," Mr Kaye said.

"In Kingsford Smith it is essential that Labor's plans to expand the Port Botany container terminal are prevented. A third terminal would generate massive disruptions for local residents, including far greater truck traffic through nearby suburbs.

"This federal election will focus a spotlight on the differences between the real change offered by the Greens and the 'greenwash' offered by the major parties.

"The Greens also want to see an end to the Howard Government, and to Howard's agenda of fear. But we want it replaced with a real Green alternative."

Ms Robert, 28, is a lawyer in private practice who lives in Clovelly. Ms Robert first joined the Greens in 2001, when the Howard Government and Opposition handling of the Tampa crisis and asylum seekers made her re-think her traditional support for the ALP.