Two Illawarra MPs in new State Ministry Kiama joins NAB coal protest

Illawarra MPs have been appointed to some of the most important portfolios in the new Labor Government.

The re-elected Member for Keira, Ryan Park, has been appointed the Minister for the Illawarra & South Coast, Minister for Health and Regional Health, and Minister for Mental Health; and the Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, has been appointed the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.

Mayor Neil Reilly welcomes the appointments and the expanded area being elevated back into the Ministry.

“I’ve know both of them and having worked closely with them on a number of occasion know they are extraordinarily energetic and competent.

“I’m pleased we have two strong local ministers to assist the State, but more particularly our Council, in its future endeavours.

“It is good to see that after such a long time with a Parliamentary Secretary that our area is receiving the ministerial recognition it deserves.”

The new Minister for Local Government, who will be keeping a close eye on Kiama, is Ron Hoenig, the Member for Heffron. He was the Mayor of Botany Bay before entering Parliament.

“I am pleased to have someone with a background in local government in the role, and look forward to creating a strong working relationship with the new Minister,” says Mayor Reilly.

Climate change activists gathered in front of Kiama’s NAB branch with one message – don’t lend another dollar to Whitehaven Coal.

The protest is part of a 10 day protest by the Move Beyond Coal movement – in partnership with the national multifaith group Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) – that aims to achieve a cessation of coal mining by 2030.

The movement’s spotlight is shining on NAB for funding the leading Australian producer of coal, which plans to double its production within the next decade.

“This is the 31st action that’s happening this week across the country,” says Gerry Kelly, volunteer of the Tipping Point organisation who put together the campaign.

They are calling on NAB to immediately end all forms of finance to coal industry companies, beginning with Whitehaven Coal, and end all forms of finance for coal, oil and gas by 2030.

“We called out their greenwashing which is basically what they do. They sponsor the AFL so their name gets associated with healthy sports yet they’re contributing to climate change,” Gerry says.

Convener of the Kiama and South Coast ARRCC branch, Denis Quinn, says, “From a recent report, the United Nations Secretary General said there is need for urgent and escalated action in terms of the cessation of coal mining and we need to make an urgent shift to renewable energy.

“On the basis of NAB’s commitment to reach zero emissions by 2050, they’ve got to cut back and cease the funding of Whitehaven Coal and its planned expansion.

“Funding them is like a carbon dioxide bomb.”

In Denis’ speech made at the protest, he said, “Since 2016, NAB has loaned hundreds of millions of dollars to Whitehaven, including most recently a loan of $110 million in 2020.”

He continued, “The world’s scientists warn that all coal expansion must stop im- mediately to avoid runaway climate change. We cannot afford another dollar for coal.”

The group of protestors sang parodies to the songs YMCA and We Will Rock You, changing the words to “why NAB” and “we will, we will stop you” before jumping on their phones to send a direct message to NAB executives.

by Cassandra Zaucer