CSG companies to voluntarily regulate themselves

With thousands gathered at Bentley to take a stand against Metgasgo’s latest attempt to force unconventional mining onto the northern rivers, the Greens welcome the news that Santos and AGL Energy have signed a pledge this week to guarantee they will not enter land in NSW without permission.

This is a well-deserved win for the passionate, dedicated communities and Lock the Gate who have been standing up against coal seam gas to protect land and water.

It’s disappointing that it has been left to the big mining companies to voluntarily regulate themselves.

With both the ALP and Coalition wedded to the big mining companies they haven’t managed to give farmers the protection that even the mining companies themselves have realised they need.

Last weekend, the NSW Greens passed the following resolution at the State Delegates Conference in Sydney:

That the Greens NSW acknowledge the blockades over the last two years in the northern rivers by local residents seeking to protect their local water supplies, agricultural land and cultural heritage from the destructive impacts of invasive industrial gas fields.

The Greens NSW support the right of all communities to use non violent direct action tactics to prevent destructive mining practices, especially in relation to fossil fuel mining like unconventional gas.

We congratulate the community for their stand and commitment to a sustainable future for the northern rivers.

The Greens NSW call on the NSW government:
1. To rule out unconventional gas development in the northern rivers due to its incompatibility with the agricultural, and tourism industries that underpin the economy of the region and the overwhelming local opposition to the gas industry.

2. To rule out unconventional gas development across NSW because of its incompatibility with the demonstrated need to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

3. To not use police against NSW citizens exercising their democratic right and responsibility to non-violently oppose environmentally, socially and culturally destructive developments.

Dawn Walker, Tweed Greens