reflex action launched

Over the weekend I spoke at the Kick Reflex out campaign launch at the Maryvale Paper Mill.








Robbie Thorpe, from the Krautungalung people of the Gunnai Nation did the welcome to country.

"We know that Victoria is the most cleared state in Australia with less than 30% of our original bushland remaining on public land and less than 8% on private land.

We know about the link between forests, water supply and water quality. Because of logging in water catchments we have lost billions and billions of litres of water, the ongoing logging of water catchments continues to put our water supply at risk.
















Greens Senator, Scott Ludlam and Samantha Dunn, Greens Candidate for Eastern Victoria at the Maryvale Pulp Mill.

We know that the Mountain Ash forests found in Eastern Victoria have the greatest carbon carrying capacity of any forest in the world and have a significant role to play in addressing climate change.

We know that the continued logging of wet forests makes them more fire prone.

We know that the ongoing clearance of vegetation contributes significant amount greenhouse gas emissions.

And we know that logging our forests has significant impacts on biodiversity with endangered species on the brink of extinction including our own state faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's Possum.

In spite of all this knowledge our government continues to condone the logging of our native forests. The tragedy of it is that around 70%, 7 in 10 logs, are pulped for paper and when my community (Yarra Ranges) sees those logging trucks rumbling through their towns they see a wasted opportunity for a more sustainable timber industry and a more sustainable future.















We must have a new vision for timber and that is with plantation timber. It is possible to transition and with that transition we must look after the forestry workers.

Currently forestry workers are losing their jobs. But it's not through any conservation efforts, it's due to the increased mechanisation of the industry, consumer preference for pine and increased wood chipping.

The Greens are committed to supporting workers through the industry transition to a new sustainable future.










Are woodchips from our native forests the only way to make paper? No of course they're not. Existing plantations are the way forward, there will need to be transport infrastructure upgrades from Western Victoria to deliver plantation timber (to Maryvale) and government has a role to play in seeing this happen.

Did you know it is not possible to purchase Australian made paper that is 100% recyclable post consumer waste? This is a travesty that consumers wanting to do the right thing are forced to purchase this product from the US or Europe. It a market gap crying out to be filled by an Australian paper maker.

A transition of the timber and paper products industry will see protection of our water supply catchments and will start to redress the loss of precious biodiversity which provides us with ecological services. It will also assist in addressing climate change.

It is possible to have a vibrant economy in thriving regional communities with increased employment opportunities but pulping our forests is not the way.

Is it a good use of our forests? No.

What are you going to do about it?

Who are you going to tell about today's event?

What brand of paper are you going to buy?

It is a scandal to see our native forests pulped, it is time to stop, it is no longer acceptable.

It is time to get out of forests and into plantations."

save the bush – melbourne’s last intact remnant bush going, going…..gone

Yesterday I went to the Save the Bush rally on the steps of Parliament to hear community groups speaking out about the construction of Peninsula Link and the destruction of some of Melbourne’s last remnant bush.





















The Greens were proud to support the event and have a long history of campaigning for improved public transport and protection of remnant vegetation.
From left to right: Sue Pennicuik - Greens MLC for Southern Metropolitan Region, Brian Walters - Greens candidate for Melbourne, Colleen Hartland - Greens MLC for Western Metropolitan Region, Samantha Dunn - Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria Region and Colin Long - Greens candidate for South Eastern Metropolitan Region.

The event, a joint action between Save The Pines, SOBA (Save our Bushland Alliance), Friends of Banyule, Green Wedge Coalition, Protector of Public Lands and the Greens. Rod Quantock MC’d the event, a funeral for the death of biodiversity in Melbourne.

The speakers talked about the loss of biodiversity, particularly tragic in this International Year of Biodiversity. The loss of amenity, destruction of heritage sites, the lack of focus on public transport upgrades and over reliance on motor vehicles were also key issues raised against the construction of the road.

Rather than some minor local road upgrades, the government has chosen and expensive and unsustainable transport solution for the people of the peninsula.

This map shows how vulnerable each municipality in greater Melbourne are to rising oil prices. It is no coincidence that those suburbs with poor public transport options and a reliance on motor vehicles to get around are very vulnerable. Unless there are significant upgrades to public transport these areas will become severely transport disadvantaged in the future.


Once again the people of the Mornington Peninsula are relegated to their cars to rely on as their main mode of transport. A recent projection by the CSIRO showed that Mornington Peninsula was the second highest most vulnerable metropolitan municipality when oil prices rise due to peak oil. The projections showed that people of Mornington Peninsula will be spending a greater proportion of their income on fuel in comparison to those living in inner city suburbs with a good public transport network. Just for the record Cardinia was the most vulnerable municipality whilst Yarra Ranges came in fourth highest.

Save the Bush included a mock funeral to mark the death of Melbourne's intact remnant vegetation.










Residents are keen to see local road upgrades and improvements in public transport as a way to address congestion issues, far more sensible long term solutions. Building roads does not relieve congestion, it only adds to congestion, anyone who’s driven on Melbourne’s freeways over the last decade would realise that.

Congestion costs Victoria an estimated $1.3 to $2.6 billion per annum (VCEC inquiry into Road Congestion 2007/08). The freeway will cut through many reserves in the region including the Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve, Carrum Downs wetlands, Pobblebonk Wetland Reserve, Wittenberg Reserve, Belvedere Reserve & woodlands and the Westerfields Heritage Woodlands.

It is tragic to think that Melbourne’s last intact remnant bush at the Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve will be decimated by the construction of Peninsula Link. A precious piece of bush providing habitat for the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot amongst many other endangered species.

If the government were genuine about real action on climate change and any action on peak oil, providing real solutions for Melbourne wouldn’t consist on a network of freeways for our city. We don’t need more freeways, we need sustainable transport options.

in the press - fire preparedness

Spring Slashing likely for Yarra Ranges
Lilydale Leader
by Michael Gleeson
24 Feb 2010

in the press - fire preparedness

Burns a crushing blow
Lilydale Leader
by Michael Gleeson and Emily Webb
23 Feb 2010

in the press - fire preparedness

Push for Last Resorts
The Mail Newspaper
by Tania Martin
23 Feb 2010

logging for pulp – our forests in jeopardy

On Saturday 26^th February I will be joining Senator Scott Ludlam at the Kick Reflex out of our Forests campaign at the Maryvale Mill in Gippsland.

Organised by Friends of the Earth, I will be speaking on water catchments and local communities, while Senator Scott Ludlam will talk about the history of the successful WA consumer campaign Buy-pass Bunnings.

We will be joined by speakers talking about sustainable paper alternatives, logging in the Strzezleckis and the day will start with a welcome to country by Robbie Thorpe.

The majority of trees logged in Melbourne's water catchments are chipped and end up at the Maryvale mill where they are made into Reflex Paper and other single-use paper products.

It is time to see our water catchments and high conservation value forests protected from woodchipping, and a switch to an Australian wholly-recycled and plantation-based paper industry.

If you'd like more information on the event click here.

in the press - logging

Rally to stop native forest logging
Latrobe Valley Express
By Ebonnie Lord
22 Feb 2010

safer roads means safer communities

For many years now, I have campaigned to get speed limits through our townships lowered to 50kph.

To read on visit Cr Samantha Dunn.

in the press
Red tape a killer
Mail Newspapers
By Tania Martin
16th Feb 2010

in the press - planning

Planning laws raise objection
Councillor Samantha Dunn fears the changes will lead to a loss of local input into planning decisions
Mail Newspapers
By Tania Martin
16th Feb 2010

in the press - fire preparedness

Alarm over Code Red
Mail Newspaper
Kath Gannaway
16th Feb 2010

time to restore a safe climate

Yesterday I attended the launch of the Transition Decade, a collaboration between Friends of the Earth, The Climate Emergency Network, Beyond Zero Emissions, Sustainable Living Foundation, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Environment Victoria, and many others.

Samantha Dunn and Richard Di Natale, Greens Senate Candidate for Victoria, at the launch of the Transition Decade at the Melbourne Town Hall.

The Transition Decade seeks to mobilise community collaboration and action to see cuts in carbon emissions at a state, national and local level. This comes after we have seen failure at all levels to deliver even small cuts in carbon emissions and the failure of Copenhagen negotiations to produce any meaningful outcome.

Climate Scientists tell us that the time to act is now, we only have the smallest of windows to restore a safe climate.

We have the knowledge, the technology and the capacity to restore a safe climate, but there is very little political will to take real action on climate change.

Victoria is well positioned to capitalise on new jobs, skills, technologies and markets in a low carbon economy.

There will be regions of Victoria which are vulnerable to a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme, where businesses and community will need support for the transition to a low carbon economy. I am committed to seeing their needs supported as these communities transition to a new economy.

Political will is a key driver to change to restore a safe climate, time and time again many speakers spoke to this at the launch of the Transition Decade.

There is no time to waste, it’s time to act now before it’s too late, we all have a part to play to restore a safe climate.

one year on

The 7th February, 2010, one year on from Black Saturday, is a day of contemplation and a day of remembrance. Thoughts turn to those terrible events one year ago, the tragic loss of life, the devastating loss of people’s homes and the shocking loss of wildlife and bushland.

In Yarra Ranges, where I'm a shire councillor, the fires continued to burn for weeks after Black Saturday. Our community either traumatised by the fire that had been or in fear of the fire that threatened.

The tireless efforts of the CFA volunteers were heroic, there were amazing gestures of generosity from near and far as people responded to the tragedy that was unfolding before us.

One year on, we see recovery, rebuilding and regeneration. People starting the journey to get their lives back on track, new houses being built and the bush regenerating.

Our natural environment provides a backdrop message of hope to our fire affected communities. Gum trees covered in epicormic growth, species of plants only ever seen after bushfire, mass displays of spring flowers, blackened tree ferns with their lime green fronds, all in response to fire.

It will take a long time to recover from such a calamitous natural disaster, Black Saturday has affected many people in many ways. With understanding and care people will rebuild their lives, overcome the trauma and learn to live with the memories.

At this one year mark, my thanks again to all the volunteers who went well beyond the call of duty in responding to Black Saturday and still do to this day.

I also extend my heartfelt and sincere well wishes to all those people who lost loved ones in the fires, this day will be difficult for you but know that our thoughts are with you.