One hundred and one ‘Knitting Nannas’ from around NSW converged on Parliament House in Sydney on International Women’s Day last Friday to protest about the state of our rivers and the lack of effective government action to restore their health. The theme of the protest was “No Water no Life”.

The Nannas came from Loops in the Northern Rivers, Grafton, Coonabarabran, Dubbo, Mid-coast, New England-North West, Central Coast, Gloucester, Hunter Valley, Illawarra, and Sydney.

Various politicians who met with the Nannas outside the parliament were presented with their “knagging list” – the Nannas’ demands for action.

While the theme of the protest focused on the major problems with rivers and water, the Nannas demands were much broader. They included a call for immediate climate action, transition to 100% renewables, a state-wide ban on gas extraction (including in the Pilliga), proper protection of Aboriginal sacred sites and revocation of the draconian anti-protest laws brought in by the current NSW Government. 

The Knitting Nannas Against Gas and Greed are hopeful that all of the state political parties will accept their calls for effective action on these important matters. The Nannas, who are very concerned about the protection of the land and water for future generations, are non-party political and have a policy of annoying all politicians equally.