Labor and Coalition back miners over farmers

Australian farmers look set to be denied the right to say no to coal seam gas on their land, as Labor, Liberal and National parties today spoke against a Greens bill previously introduced by Queensland Senator Larissa Waters.

The Landholders’ Right to Refuse (Coal Seam Gas) Bill 2011, which was debated today, would give farmers the right to keep their land free from coal seam gas exploration and production.

“Hot on the heels of rejecting the Greens’ proposed moratorium on coal seam gas last week, the old parties have today spoken at length about their intention to deny farmers any rights to protect their prime agricultural land from coal seam gas,” Senator Waters said.

“By indicating they will vote against my Bill, both Labor and the Coalition are allowing the mining industry to continue to ride rough-shod over Australian farmers.

“The Federal Government want to leave coal seam gas regulation up to the states, but an additional tier of federal protection is warranted since the states are failing to adequately protect groundwater and food security.

“It has not yet been proven that coal seam gas can safely co-exist with agriculture in the long term.

“Now the old parties are joining with industry in turning their back on farmers who are saying they are worried about the long-term impacts of coal seam gas on our water, our land and our food security.

“In fact, the old parties quoted the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) so often in their submissions today, one could be forgiven for thinking they had jumped on board the APPEA spin campaign on coal seam gas.

“Even the National party are abandoning their own constituents to kowtow to miners, leaving only the Greens to advocate for farmers’ rights against coal seam gas.

“This is shaping up to be an incredibly short-sighted move by the old parties to continue fast-tracking the coal seam gas industry, by risking the long-term future of our environment and our ability to feed ourselves.”

 Larissa Waters, Greens Senator for Queensland