Ballina MP Don Page has been conspicuously absent from protests against unconventional gas, according to some of his constituents, so they hatched a plan to make sure he was seen around Bentley this week.
Since the minister for the north coast couldn’t be enticed to Metgasco’s planned gas-well site in person, they made sure he put in some ‘face time’ by donning masks featuring his smiling visage.
Members of Gasfield Free Byron Shire, who made the statement at the protectors’ camp yesterday, told Echonetdaily Mr Page seemed to have changed his pre-election stance of no CSG mining in his electorate since being returned to office.
‘He doesn’t represent the vast majority of his constituents in Ballina electorate, and as minister of north coast he refuses to have open dialogue,’ said group member and Mullum Creek resident Dave Rawlins.
‘We refute his claims that unconventional gas mining is safe, as has been evidenced by events at Pilliga and Tara,’ he added.
His views were echoed by George Gebhardt, of Bangalow, who is currently at the Bentley protectors camp.
‘Don Page has stated CSG should only ever occur if there is no negative impact on our environment, land and water resources,’ he said.
‘The evidence is pretty damning from every angle. This dangerous industry has no place anywhere, let alone our pristine northern rivers,’ he added.
‘We call on Don Page, our MP to stand with us when we really need him,’ Mr Gebhardt said.
Yes I would like to know where Don Page is too …& Thomas George. Are they our representatives?…. or only at election time?
Where are you Don? I have been writing to you for months & you have not even replied!
Don was very helpful with environmental defence when he was Shadow Minister for Land & Water in the 1990s. Strange then that he appears to have lost interest in the health of our Land & Water now that he is elected & a government minister.
Wot no Don? Well that’s a surprise. Perhaps he’s asked Tom to come up and meet us. I’m sure they will come armed with all the scientific evidence to back up their claim of safety.
Don represents big business, just like Tony Abbott and most of the Labor Party also. We have been abandoned by the people WE elect… Shame Don… and all your treacherous mates !
I think Don’s no show on this major issue will perhaps be his downfall at the next election – if he intends to run again. Then we have Justine Elliot coming out strongly against CSG and using that as a major election platform when we know this is contrary to her party’s position. The Greens are the only major party who have opposed CSG across the board right from the outset as far as I know. Good on you Dave, George and all on the front line at the protector’s camp.
Megan
Your so right! “The Greens are [and were in the last Federal election ] the only major party who have opposed CSG across the board right from the outset as far as I know. ” And the Greens vote was?
In the electorate of Page the only Northern Rivers electorate with the slightest gas prospects; the Greens’ vote was down by one third to a huge 6.52%.
Tells you something!