Sustainability Dialogues 2016: Rising Up

'Rising Up: The role of citizen activism in a sustainable society' was the topic for this year’s Sustainability Dialogue co-hosted Ku-ring-gai Council at the Zenith Theatre in Chatswood, held on 26 May 2016. The annual Sustainability Dialogues are a collaborative enterprise between the Centre for Environmental Law and Ku-ring-gai Council, bringing together leaders in science, law, business, government and communities to discuss contemporary and pressing sustainability and environmental justice issues.

Our host this year was comedian and activist Rod Quantock.  Our panellists were the NSW Planning Minister, the Hon. Rob Stokes MP; CEO of Nature Conservation Council, Kate Smolski, and Chief Justice of the Land and Environmental Court, the Hon. Justice Brian J Preston SC. The debate was extremely heated however all panellists acknowledged the need for reform in this area.  The night finished with audience participation which highlighted the real concerns of the local community.