Awaba open cut coal mine at Lake Macquarie was stopped by People Power in 2007, after a sustained and vociferous nine month battle, just prior to the State election. The seat was a Labor marginal and went to an independent.

A planned diesel-fired power plant near Port Macquarie was stopped by People Power in June 2008 when the local council withdrew its support and refused to sell land for the project after an extensive community campaign. The Nationals-held seat in the area is about to face a bi-election.

What do these two examples of people power have in common? Correct. Sustained action by the community on political parties that are terrified they will lose seats. Not do the right thing by their communities, but lose seats. We trust that with council elections coming up in September, and an increasingly unstable State government, the politicians that represent us will take note. 

 
To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson: “People should not be afraid of their Governments; the Governments should be afraid of the people.”  People Power – it’s time.