Antinuclear

‘No fracking way’: delegation hits Canberra COLIN BETTLES  http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/no-fracking-way-delegation-hits-canberra/2690278.aspx08 Mar, 2014 A NOVEL delegation of concerned community groups has backed the Australian Greens push to give farmers and private landholders greater legislative protection against potential damage from coal seam gas (CSG) mining and fracking The 15-member delegation descended on Parliament House in Canberra this week, holding meetings with 30 ministers and MPs to push their anti-mining views and call for more stringent regulations.

The group was pulled together by the Lock The Gate Alliance and i cluded amongst its members, farmers from Victoria, NSW and SA, an Anglican Minister with environmental concerns from the ACT, an eco-tourism manager from Queensland arrested for anti-CSG protests and traditional land holders from the WA Kimberley region and Gunnedah in NSW.

Their visit coincided with debate in the Senate this week on proposed legislation spearheaded by Green’s mining spokesperson and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, to give landholders power of veto over mining on their land.

The Bill was defeated after the ALP and Coalition voted against it which Senator Waters said let down the Lock the Gate delegation.

“Right across our country, people are concerned about coal and gas threatening their land, water and climate and disgracefully landholders have no rights to stop the big mining companies from marching on to their land and doing whatever they want,” she said.

“Alarmingly shale gas is taking over Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia and the Greens are the only party standing up for landholders against this dangerous industry.

“The Liberal and National Senators didn’t even bother to participate in the Senate debate, even though rural communities are crying out for landholder rights.”

Lock The Gate Alliance national co-ordinator Phil Laird said while an invitation to meet with Prime Minister Tony Abbott was rejected, the delegation would hold talks with Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, as well as Coalition, Greens and Labor members.