I am proud of Labor’s CSG Policy for the next state election. It shows that things are changing.
Like many in our community, I and other local Labor branch members have written letters, attended protests, moved motions and lobbied politicians to voice our concerns about CSG.
This resulted in a unanimous resolution of the party’s state conference that the northern rivers be declared CSG free. This is the policy we will take to the next election. We will give the people of the northern rivers real certainty. No CSG, no unconventional gas.
For the rest of NSW, Labor will seek to enact an immediate moratorium on all CSG activity. The drills will stop at Gloucester and throughout NSW. Whether the drills are ever allowed to commence again will depend on later re-assessments of science, risk and evidence of a social licence.
It seems that the Nationals’ policy on CSG has been paid for. There’s no other rational explanation for their abandonment of our community.
The continuing revelations at ICAC show that the Liberals have engaged in a sophisticated attempt to sell political influence. It is unlikely that elements of the National Party, with their close association with mining interests, are immune.
I believe the Labor Party took appropriate action in expelling those that sought to abuse the system for their own gain and I am confident that the party is continuing the process of reform to ensure that no individuals can ever hold so much sway again.
I am proud to stand beside those who have fought for reform, who insist that honesty, integrity and democracy must be the foundations upon which we build a changed Labor Party.
The voters of Ballina and Byron shires that make up the state seat of Ballina are now being given a choice. The Labor Party is conducting its first ever community preselection in a regional seat. You will have the opportunity via a postal ballot sent to your home to help select the Labor candidate.
I’m standing for preselection because I care about our environment, the state of our oceans and rivers and the need for change in politics.
I’m standing for Labor because I care about people, about education and health and about jobs.
When that ballot paper arrives in the post box in a couple of weeks time, please don’t just throw it out and curse all things Labor. You have an opportunity in your hand to change things.
Keith Williams, Labor candidate for Ballina
This is absurd Keith. Caring about “people about education and health and about jobs” means that the north of the state is “CSG free” while the rest of the state will be under a temporary “moratorium” until such time as the political heat around CSG eases. There are no principles behind this position – only evidence that labor can count.
So much for “Labor’s CSG policy for the next election” what is labor’s track record on CSG? Expedient I would say.
Obviously we need to be deeply concerned for the actual CSG Drilling Sites but nobody is thinking about the Pipelines which will be needed to carry the Gas. There will need to be the pipes themselves plus the Maintenance and Security Roads which will be required right along the Pipeline, the Pumps, the Lights and an Electricity Supply for everything. These Pipelines, Roads etc. will need to pass across every farm not just the farm which is the actual Drilling Site. Is it the law that non-involved farmers must allow these Pipelines to cross their farmlands. As this Gas will be passing up to Gladstone to be exported at top dollar price do the Mining Companies expect to pump it all the way or will there be interim storage facilities. This is such a big issue it is obvious why the Miners haven’t mentioned it at all.