The Greens NSW mining and agriculture spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham has called on Premier Mike Baird and NSW resources and energy minister Anthony Roberts to support a national framework to give landholders and traditional owners the legal right to say no to coal and gas companies coming onto their land.
Minister Roberts will be attending a meeting of COAG mining and energy ministers on Friday December 4 and the issue of a landholders’ right to say ‘no’ will be on the agenda after federal minister Josh Frydenberg confirmed in October that he would ‘bring the state ministers together to plan a way forward’.
This follows recent statements from Nationals leader Warren Truss, agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce and Nationals senator Fiona Nash calling for landholders to be able to veto exploration on their properties.
‘The public overwhelmingly support farmers and traditional owners having the right to protect their land and water from coal and gas companies and Friday’s COAG meeting is an opportunity to finally make this a reality,’ Mr Buckingham said.
‘The time for talk is over. Mike Baird and Anthony Roberts need to go into the COAG meeting on Friday with a concrete proposal to give landholders and traditional owners the legal right to say no to coal and gas mining on their land.
‘Coal seam gas and coal exploration is highly disruptive to farming activities and risks polluting the land and water.’
Senator Richard Di Natale, Australian Greens leader, said, ‘We Greens have legislation in the federal and state parliaments to give landholders the legal rights they deserve to protect their land, water and climate.
‘The Nationals say one thing in regional communities and the media and then do the opposite in parliament.
‘Communities are sick of the empty promises and the Greens are standing with them to demand that COAG finally acts to fix this injustice.’
NO mining whatsoever! The end results are clear from countries around during the world. Wake Up. Renewable energy is Needed NOW if we plan to go on living on this planet. The argument that it will provide jobs does not hold water. Short term gains for long term pain.
Look at what BHP and what they left behind in Brazil. Corporations will take their money and run, hide behind their lawyers leaving devastation in communities and the world behind. People treat the oceans and groundwater like their sewage dumps! The oceans have no boundaries!
YOU all, whichever political party you are, have been elected to represent THE PEOPLE so start to represent the people and not corporations with their promises of personal gain for when you leave parliament!
What will you say to YOUR children and grandchildren in 15-20 years’ time when they ask you WHY you sold out their future and that of the planet when you had the opportunity to MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
DO THE BRAVE AND RIGHT THING, otherwise get out of politics!
From a citizen who cares!
NO mining whatsoever! The end results are clear from countries around during the world. Wake Up. Renewable energy is Needed NOW if we plan to go on living on this planet. The argument that it will provide jobs does not hold water. Short term gains for long term pain.
Look at BHP and what they left behind in Brazil. Corporations will take their money and run, hide behind their lawyers leaving devastation in communities and the world behind. People treat the oceans and groundwater like their sewage dumps! The oceans have no boundaries!
YOU all, whichever political party you are, have been elected to represent THE PEOPLE so start to represent the people and not corporations with their promises of personal gain for when you leave parliament!
What will you say to YOUR children and grandchildren in 15-20 years’ time when they ask you WHY you sold out their future and that of the planet when you had the opportunity to MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
DO THE BRAVE AND RIGHT THING, otherwise get out of politics!
From a citizen who cares!