NSW Legislative Council Hansard, March 15 2012:
The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM [10.39 a.m.], in reply: I thank all members for their contributions to the debate—despite half of them being categorically wrong. At the outset, I must say it is disappointing to hear the Government's response to the Coal Seam Gas Moratorium Bill 2011. The Hon. Scot MacDonald called this bill "facile". I think that is a damning indictment of him rather than of the bill. The community will not be thanking the Government today. By voting against the bill the Government is opening the door just a fraction more to an industry that has unequivocally proven itself to be neither clean or safe nor good for our economy. I say to the Labor Party upfront that The Greens will support its amendments and I think the Government should take note of that. We congratulate the Labor Party on putting aside its history and the party's involvement in the beginning of this industry and standing up for the community today.
We support the move to have a moratorium pending the outcome of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee's bioregional assessments. I also note at the outset the authentic and heartfelt contribution from the Hon. Luke Foley during the adjournment debate when he discussed coal seam gas exploration in the Putty Valley, his comments on the environment generally and Labor's proud commitment to protecting our environment. I urge the Shooters and Fishers Party and the Christian Democratic Party, despite what they have said previously, to take note of the hundreds of phone calls and emails that have flooded all members' offices over the past week.
These have not been from Greens members or activists. In the main, they have been from farmers and mums and dads across the State who have genuine concerns about the potential for this industry to cause very real harm to their communities, their families' health, local water supplies and agricultural land. I urge members of those two parties to vote for the second reading of this bill and to back Labor's amendments. The Premier has said he will support the Federal bioregional assessments. Let us call on him to do that. Let us put a moratorium in place until those assessments are done. The community demands at least that much.
Since I introduced the bill last year, more and more evidence of the destructive nature of the coal seam gas industry has come to light. More and bigger public meetings have been held. More groups have formed in local communities across the State, all committed to protecting their land and water where this Government and the previous Government both failed them. The coal seam gas industry is at war with the New South Wales community, from Kangaroo Valley in the south to Kyogle in the north and everywhere—and I mean everywhere—in between. People are absolutely fed up with what they see as an assault on their way of life, on their businesses and on the future prosperity of their communities.
Last month, in Lismore 600 people turned up for a public meeting at the Soldiers Club. I spoke at that forum and it was clear to me that for many it was their first time at such a meeting. At least half were local farmers, with many from the Casino area where Metgasco continues to pursue its project in the face of clear community opposition. The meeting resulted in the formation of a new Lismore-based coal seam gas campaign group, and another has formed in Channon to the north. I understand that 150 people turned up to their first meeting held the following weekend. At that meeting I was approached by some members of the North Coast community who have, very eloquently and with clear understanding of their local geology and ecology, mapped out the risks of the industry to their region. They started their plea quoting this Government's own words back to it, highlighting the Government's commitment to use the strategic land use process for identifying land use practices for different areas ahead of the granting of exploration licences.
The Government has failed to deliver this, so now the community has made its voice clear. The Northern Rivers community has put together a plea to heed local concerns and this document has been backed by eminent scientists and academics with links to the region. They end this document with the following conclusion:
We support the move to have a moratorium pending the outcome of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee's bioregional assessments. I also note at the outset the authentic and heartfelt contribution from the Hon. Luke Foley during the adjournment debate when he discussed coal seam gas exploration in the Putty Valley, his comments on the environment generally and Labor's proud commitment to protecting our environment. I urge the Shooters and Fishers Party and the Christian Democratic Party, despite what they have said previously, to take note of the hundreds of phone calls and emails that have flooded all members' offices over the past week.
These have not been from Greens members or activists. In the main, they have been from farmers and mums and dads across the State who have genuine concerns about the potential for this industry to cause very real harm to their communities, their families' health, local water supplies and agricultural land. I urge members of those two parties to vote for the second reading of this bill and to back Labor's amendments. The Premier has said he will support the Federal bioregional assessments. Let us call on him to do that. Let us put a moratorium in place until those assessments are done. The community demands at least that much.
Since I introduced the bill last year, more and more evidence of the destructive nature of the coal seam gas industry has come to light. More and bigger public meetings have been held. More groups have formed in local communities across the State, all committed to protecting their land and water where this Government and the previous Government both failed them. The coal seam gas industry is at war with the New South Wales community, from Kangaroo Valley in the south to Kyogle in the north and everywhere—and I mean everywhere—in between. People are absolutely fed up with what they see as an assault on their way of life, on their businesses and on the future prosperity of their communities.
Last month, in Lismore 600 people turned up for a public meeting at the Soldiers Club. I spoke at that forum and it was clear to me that for many it was their first time at such a meeting. At least half were local farmers, with many from the Casino area where Metgasco continues to pursue its project in the face of clear community opposition. The meeting resulted in the formation of a new Lismore-based coal seam gas campaign group, and another has formed in Channon to the north. I understand that 150 people turned up to their first meeting held the following weekend. At that meeting I was approached by some members of the North Coast community who have, very eloquently and with clear understanding of their local geology and ecology, mapped out the risks of the industry to their region. They started their plea quoting this Government's own words back to it, highlighting the Government's commitment to use the strategic land use process for identifying land use practices for different areas ahead of the granting of exploration licences.
The Government has failed to deliver this, so now the community has made its voice clear. The Northern Rivers community has put together a plea to heed local concerns and this document has been backed by eminent scientists and academics with links to the region. They end this document with the following conclusion:
For the Northern Rivers there is little to be gained and much to be lost from allowing the Coal Seam Gas industry to operate in our region. ... We believe critical evaluation will show the destructive potential of this industry and the potential for loss of irreplaceable community and natural assets. In any cost-benefit analysis our region will lose; please help us to protect our water, our ecology, and our home.
I seek leave to incorporate this plea and the supporting letters from the academics in Hansard.
Leave not granted.
