Opinion — WestConnex attacks democracy

BY PAULA RIX

The following is an edited extract from a speech given at anti WestConnex picnic in Ashfield Park.

“Last Tuesday I was one of the four women arrested whilst occupying a house in Chandos Street Ashfield slated for demolition .

Why did we do it? Some people say that the mayhem already evident along Parramatta Road suggests that protest is pointless.

I’d like to tell why I don’t think so.

– I recently retired as Senior Policy Officer at Shelter NSW where the focus of my work is on the crisis in availability of affordable housing.  Finding solutions to affordable housing requires housing to be available:

At the right price

In the right place

With right amenity

This is why I am outraged at the wanton destruction of perfectly habitable homes.

I’m also the current Chairperson of the Tenants Union of NSW – which makes me extremely aware of the vulnerability of tenants living in both private and public rental accommodation, especially in Sydney.

– My personal and family situation compounds my opposition the WestCONex.

I am a grandmother and I am concerned that Haberfield Public School and it’s school population is within 200 metres of the pollution of stack particulate emissions and dust emissions with a devastating effect on young children’s lungs.

I have a 35 year old son who has an intellectual disability and lives in a community housing property in Ashfield also in the path of WestConnex.

And finally I want to mention my 95 year old father Ray Harrison who has been active in many No WestConnex Public Transport actions who is now living in residential aged care in Ashfield. A seasoned campaigner – who says : ‘Don’t give up the fight!’

The experience of Baird’s bulldozing of our community for a toll road to nowhere and forced local government amalgamations for his developer mates can make us despair.

I say determination is the best antidote to despair. Let’s be clear – If we don’t act, we lose.

We are currently facing attacks on democracy, left, right and centre.

Non-violent direct action is something each one of us needs to consider now.