Justin Field MLC & Cate Faehrmann MLC-Speechs re Jeremy Buckingham MLC

Jeremy Buckingham MLC

Mr JUSTIN FIELD: Tonight I speak in acknowledgement of the work and achievements of my colleague and friend Jeremy Buckingham. In the event that Jeremy is no longer a member of Parliament after the March 2019 State election, I wanted to join with my colleagues Cate Faehrmann, who will speak next, and Dawn Walker, who gave her valedictory speech earlier today, in acknowledging Jeremy's contribution to the New South Wales Parliament, politics in New South Wales, the environment, our climate, our rivers, farming and the wider Greens movement. I worked for Jeremy from his election in 2011 until early 2013. It was about 18 months—it felt like a lot longer than that. I do not think I have ever worked as hard as I did over that period—we all did—and it was the start of something quite special.


Jeremy started his term just as the people of New South Wales began to learn of the extent of coal seam gas exploration plans in this State. The majority of the State—from the Shoalhaven, the entire Sydney Basin, across the Western Division and all the way to the Queensland border—was covered with coal exploration licences. The Lock the Gate movement was just kicking off in Queensland. Jeremy's office became the de facto Lock the Gate campaign office in New South Wales in its early days, working hand in hand with Drew Hutton, Frackman Dayne Pratzky and others to get out the message to farmers and communities.

Bentley Rally

The coal seam gas inquiry that Jeremy negotiated with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and the Labor Party was a critical turning point. Jeremy's interrogation of the industry and work to ensure communities across the State had a voice in that inquiry shone a light on the substantial risks to our water, air, communities and climate presented by the industry. Many will have heard of Jeremy's Frack Finding Tour to the United States [US]. The Buckingham team travelled with Lock the Gate President Drew Hutton, as well as landholders and campaigners Kim and Peter Martin, across the US to learn firsthand about the impact fracking.

Climate March Bellingen

The experience was a pivotal moment in the campaign for New South Wales—the lessons Jeremy brought back to this State and the stories of farmers like John Fenton in Wyoming, the former Mayor of Dish in Texas and campaigners across Pennsylvania gave Jeremy and the campaign a credibility in this place and in the media that was unmatched by any others in politics. And that was his strength: to go and see, hear and share stories. He is a storyteller and it is a wonderful sight to see him in story mode. It is motivating and he is powerfully effective.

That trip was noticed by many in the community and this place. I remember Duncan Gay carrying around a folder for a long time with the logo Max Phillips created for the trip to the US, with Jeremy in his cowboy hat behind the wheel of what I am reliably informed by the Hon. Dr Peter Phelps is a 1972 Ford Country Squire—I do not know how I ever forgot. In answer to a question in this place Duncan Gay went through a detailed extrapolation of his calculation of the carbon emissions from that trip to the United States had we been driving that vehicle. I seek leave to table an illustration pertaining to Jeremy Buckingham's Frack Finding Tour.
 

Democracy not for Sale

Jeremy has done politics hard and fast. His tactics have been raw but brutally honest. No-one can doubt his effectiveness as a campaigner. Few will forget him lighting the Condamine River on fire or his Steve Irwin style "Crikey!" as he almost fell off his kayak. I am convinced that without Jeremy Buckingham in the New South Wales Parliament over the last eight years, New South Wales would likely have seen coal seam gas wells dotted across this State. If Duncan Gay is listening tonight, he can be sure Jeremy has saved many more carbon emissions than he ever spent travelling around this State and the world talking to people about the impacts of this industry.

Jeremy's contribution does not take away from the work of communities across the State, from Bentley in the Northern Rivers, to Gurley, the Pilliga, Gloucester, Fullerton Cove, Camden and Sutton Forest in the south—people who are on the front line, many for years, and we do not forget those still campaigning today, particularly in the Pilliga. But his presence on this issue—his tireless energy to get across the State to meet people, to listen and to inspire—was a critical ingredient in an incredibly successful public campaign.

Climate Rally Bellingen

I take this opportunity to acknowledge on Jeremy's behalf his staff over the past eight years: Jane Garcia, Jack Gough, Adam Guise, Louise Callaway and the rock who has been with Jeremy since he first decided to run for preselection to be a Greens member of Parliament, Max Philips. It has been a pleasure to work with you all. I am sure Jeremy would have liked to have given this speech and acknowledged your efforts and contribution. It is sad for me that Jeremy is not able to give his valedictory speech today. In the event that he is not a member of Parliament after the next election, the Parliament will certainly be less interesting. More to the point, the people of New South Wales will have lost an effective and passionate voice for communities and the environment. Jeremy, mate, I am confident that history will judge your contribution very well indeed. [Time expired.]

Ms CATE FAEHRMANN 

(22:14): Tonight I speak about one of the most incredible environmental and community campaigners in this country's history, someone whose passion, dedication and charisma has allowed him to have a level of influence and respect which far surpasses what most members of Parliament will ever achieve. I am speaking of course of my friend and colleague Jeremy Buckingham. Tonight in the short time available I want to place on record some of his remarkable achievements in the eight years since he was elected to this place in 2011. First and foremost among these was his successful campaign to stop coal seam gas in New South Wales. It is not an exaggeration to say that without the contribution of Jeremy coal seam gas wells would be pockmarking our countryside.

Jeremy worked tirelessly with community groups, farmers and the Lock the Gate movement. He spearheaded the parliamentary inquiry into coal seam gas [CSG] and reversed the royalty holiday on gas extraction. He exposed foaming wells in Western Sydney, was integral to the Northern Rivers movement which culminated in the Bentley blockade, and worked with Penny and Robbie Blatchford to stop CSG in Gurley. He assisted Victoria and Tasmania with their campaigns for fracking bans and worked tirelessly for the people of the Pilliga, Gloucester and the Hunter in their campaigns. He attacked the economic case for gas and was the first to raise the issue of a domestic gas reservation policy, which has since become Commonwealth policy. And, of course, there is the famous video, which my colleague Justin Field has already mentioned, of the Condamine River on fire, which has had tens of millions of views and been shared by everyone from Bernie Sanders to Russell Crowe and Banksy.

Supporting Gloucester anti-coal mining rally

On coalmining Jeremy was equally groundbreaking, working with farmers and communities to stop the Shenhua, Bylong, Berrima, Rocky Hill and Wallarah 2 coalmines. We have our stories about Duncan Gay. I recall from my previous time as a member of this place Duncan Gay relentlessly teasing Jeremy every time he spoke. "Shenhua, Shenhua," was what Duncan Gay said, because Jeremy Buckingham asked so many questions on Shenhua. He started the "We need to talk about coal" campaign and now this has become one of the main debates in Australia. He developed and introduced a policy for a 10-year phase out of coal exports policy. He was charged with trespass for jumping a fence and taking a video of the giant Warkworth mine and arrested up at Adani with Dawn Walker.

Campaigning to protect Darling River

His work on the Darling River out in Broken Hill is legendary. He was the first politician to really listen to the community and take their concern into the Parliament, making the plight of the Darling a national issue. I remember very well a packed community forum in 2015 in Broken Hill with Richard Di Natali. When we went into the forum Richard was expecting about 10 people. I remember the look on Richard's face when 150 people had come to listen to The Greens and Jeremy speak about water. I know that the recent $25 million funding for the Wilcannia weir which Jeremy has been banging on about since 2014 is one of his proudest campaign victories. Jeremy led the successful campaign to stop the Western Sydney waste incinerator. He took up the campaign with gusto and rallied the community to the point where every political party had to oppose the toxic incinerator.

Jeremy and his office pioneered the use of social media and

Supporting Posselt Kayak4Earth marathon

video for political campaigning in New South Wales. He is one of the most successful politicians in Australia on the internet, with multiple videos with millions of views and a huge and dedicated following. Jeremy has communicated with regional and rural voters about the issues they care about more than any other Greens representative. That means here in New South Wales, in every other State and federally. He did this because he broke down barriers. He smashes the stereotypes of what a typical greenie is and so many people love him for it. I love him for it.

As Senate candidate in 2013, I went to AgQuip with Jeremy. As a direct result of his inspirational campaigning on coal and gas over the preceding few years, I was blown away by the number of people who were approaching our stall at The Greens tent to find out about our work on coal and gas and to congratulate Jeremy on his advocacy in this area. The Greens tent was humming because of Jeremy's work and hitting the road and making connections with thousands of people. As a direct result of Jeremy Buckingham's energy, passion and incredibly sharp strategic mind, we saw a lift in the regional vote and we saw more people from the regions join The Greens and take an active involvement in the party. Jeremy was a catalyst in bringing regional communities together and bringing their voices to Parliament, always with boundless energy and wicked humour. Jeremy Buckingham has done more to scare the pants off the National Party in his eight years in Parliament than any other individual has done in a lifetime. Of course, winning Ballina and Lismore was the culmination. The people of the Northern Rivers, our members and supporters in Lismore and Ballina are hugely thankful for that.

Campaigning in Bellingen

Courage is pushing up against the status quo and challenging existing power structures, especially if they are unfair or stale or privileged. Jeremy has done this in spades. He has challenged his own party to reform, including arguing for greater member participation and the direct election of office bearers. He has refused to stay silent when critics within the party have tried to silence him and intimidate him. I thank you for that, Jeremy. Your determination and energy and sometimes sheer bloody

Buckingham quote

stupidity to win for the community and against coal and gas giants is unsurpassed—not by any Greens I know, not by any environmental campaigner I know, not by any member in this place, not by anyone. History will show that you, Jeremy Buckingham, are a true climate warrior and the finest environmental campaigner I have had the pleasure of ever working with.

https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/…/Pag…/HansardResult.aspx…
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/…/Pag…/HansardResult.aspx…