Greens candidate for Maranoa Grant Newson

March 17, 2013

The Queensland Greens say more needs to be done to protect residents and farmers from the impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mines, despite some Federal Government future safeguards.

Greens candidate for Maranoa Grant Newson said the government’s proposed changes announced last week failed to protect communities’ water resources.

“The Environment Minister, Tony Burke has not acted to protect Queensland communities where he has already approved major coal seam gas projects like the one at Tara,” Mr Newson said.

“Water quality around other major mining projects at Acland, Felton, and Wandoan is also under threat.”

He said two primary changes on the Bill – which is due to be debated in the Lower House on March 18 or 19 – were “absolutely vital to deliver a basically credible reform”.

These were:

  • Future-proofing the Bill so that these powers cannot be handed straight back to the States post-election.
  • Removing the broad exemptions contained in the Bill which mean that highly controversial projects, such as the Arrow Coal Seam Gas project on the Darling Downs, will not be covered by it.

“The government’s changes should apply retrospectively to previously approved coal seam gas and coal projects, as suggested by Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters,” Mr Newson said.

“Both the Federal and State Governments are too willing to keep the mining industry happy at the expense of our water resources.

“The Federal Government’s plans to weaken environmental laws by transferring environmental protection powers to State Governments like Queensland is a very disturbing issue.

“This is a step in the wrong direction and would unleash a string of harmful decisions which would have long-term impacts on our environment.

“That would be like putting the fox in charge of the hen house.”