Gloucester Residents in Partnership

STOP Coal Exploration around Gloucester Town

Exploration License Areas
© GRIP inc

STOP PRESS: February 2010 Newsletter now available, with important updates (see Media Releases).

The comments below are written by Mr Gary Ferris, former President, Gloucester Residents in Partnership (GRIP). GRIP is not aligned to any political party and its sole purpose is the removal of three coal exploration licences around the township of Gloucester in New South Wales.

On Thursday 4th June over 150 farmers and concerned citizens from Gloucester and Gunnedah (The Liverpool Plains) descended on New South Wales Parliament in a peaceful demonstration aimed at supporting the Mining Amendment (Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water) Bill 2009 which was debated in the Upper House that afternoon. We were joined by many city supporters, and as such we had a very strong presence on Macquarie Street.

We sat in the gallery of the Upper House and listened to the Bill being debated. I think you will find what follows extremely interesting reading (but it is long). I have gone through Hansard and extracted some of the highlights (lowlights) of the debate. Please take the time to read this e-mail. It gives you some good insight into how important decisions are made in New South Wales Parliament. My comments have been added in italics.

The Hon. ROBERT BROWN [3.10 p.m.]: from the Shooters Party had this to say: ....The bill is based on the assumption that mining and agriculture cannot coexist. I do not believe that to be the case. Let us look at the Hunter Valley, which is the home to coalfields, is a world-famous winegrowing region, has a leading thoroughbred horse stud industry, and attracts more than 2.5 million visitors a year....People on the Liverpool Plains and in the Gloucester area are political pawns in a petty little game. The people of the Liverpool Plains and Gloucester deserve more than to be subjected to the political game playing that occurs in this place.

I am sorry that some people listening to this debate are not happy with my comments, but I believe that we have got it right. People may not like what we have to say, but we are not playing political games. The Shooters Party is interested in achieving a genuine long-term resolution, not just being part of some political stunt.

"As a member of the gallery, and an intelligent and reasonable person, I found Robert Brown's comments very insulting. To refer to me and other members of the gallery as pawns was most unacceptable and shows how out of touch this man really is."

Reverend the Hon. FRED NILE [3.38 p.m.]: .....Sadly, the Greens have misled the people in the public gallery for their own political purposes. I am sorry that the people in the gallery have been misled by the Greens. No doubt their legislation and other matters will arise in due course from the water resources inquiry announced by the Minister today. The terms of reference for that inquiry have been established. That inquiry will clarify the areas in the Liverpool Plains that need to be protected. The matter will gradually unfold through the water resources inquiry, not through the Greens agenda. This bill is a perfect example of the strategy that was adopted in the 1980s by extremist socialist parties, communist parties and Maoist parties that realised they were making no political progress or gaining political influence in New South Wales and Australia.

That is why I nicknamed the Greens the watermelon party: green on the outside and red on the inside with a pink lining. They worked out how to exploit small groups, whether it be the farmers on the Liverpool Plains or residents in other communities. That is why I cannot support this bill. It is not because of the content; it is because the bill will give the Greens greater ability to blow their trumpets and claim a great victory in this State, and give them further political oxygen. During my time in this Parliament I have been working hard to deny political oxygen to the Greens.

"A bit of comedy relief from the Rev? Sadly not - his vote counts. What a pity he couldn't put aside his prejudices and deal with the Bill on its merits. Fred, you've been around way too long, it is time to retire. You are nothing more than a puppet of the Labor Party, and you are too bloody old and stupid to even realise it! Simply disgraceful."

The Hon. TREVOR KHAN [3.54 p.m.]: Let me first deal with people being duped. Amongst those who are in the public gallery today is a former Supreme Court Justice, who, one would think, is far more legally qualified than anyone else who sits in this House. No doubt he may see some basic problems with the bill, but he understands the intent and purpose of the legislation and its very importance. Are we to consider him to be a dupe of the Greens? I do not think so....and I am sure it is the same with all the other people who have travelled for five, six and seven hours to get here today.

.....This problem is created by the State Labor Government's need for money; it is not based upon prudent analysis or on doing what is best for the people of New South Wales, or upon creating employment. It is based upon a fundamental need to try to do something about the budget holes that the Government itself has created. In that regard, we cannot ignore parts of our electorates and, in essence, imply that the people are complete idiots. They are not; they are intelligent people who deserve to be listened to. They deserve to be treated with appropriate respect. Today we saw time and again that they had not been accorded that respect or regard. They have been treated as an embarrassment to the State Labor Government.

"And finally someone had something sensible to say. Trevor Khan made a very positive and objective contribution on behalf of the Coalition."

Reverend the Hon. Dr GORDON MOYES [4.04 p.m.]: ....The claim that halting mining of agricultural land will impact on mining jobs is true, but if we do not halt mining it will impact on the wellbeing and livelihood of countless people, the inviolability of their homes, the value of their farms, the aesthetic attraction of the rural setting which sustains tourism and, most importantly, destroy an important part of the food supply for our population now and in the future. Exactly whose interests are paramount in this situation? Certainly not the mining industry's!

Surely it is obvious that these prime lands must be preserved-at all costs-for the feeding of our people. That is not a Green political ploy; it is a logical, a Christian, and a democratic desire. What is critical to our future food security is our wonderful New South Wales farmland, such as is found in the 7,000 square kilometres of fertile black soils in the Liverpool Plains. According to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, crop yields on the Liverpool Plains are consistently 40 per cent above the national average. This is due to the high water-holding capacity of the soils, the region receiving dependable rainfall, and the excellent underground aquifers for irrigation. We should let nothing endanger them.

Paul Ehrlich, in his book "One With Nineveh: Politics, Consumption and the Human Future", posits that: Modern civilisation's most important challenge is the provision of an adequate diet to everyone; in a world where people in many other parts of the world are starving everyday it is an abomination for us to allow the destruction of arable land. Resources such as agricultural lands and sources of fresh water are elements of natural capital that are being lost or degraded at an alarming rate and being turned into non-renewable resources.

I will quote only one other person, a remarkable German scholar of mining and metallurgy. I ask members to listen to these words and I will then mention when he wrote them:

"The strongest argument of the detractors is that the fields are devastated by mining operations ... Also, they argue that the woods and groves are cut down, for there is need of an endless amount of wood for timbers, machines, and the smelting of metals. And when the woods and groves are felled, then the beasts and birds are exterminated, very many of which ... are pleasant and agreeable. Further, when the ores are washed, the water which has been used poisons the brooks and streams, and either destroys the fish or drives them away. Therefore, the inhabitants of these regions, on account of the devastation of their fields, woods groves, brooks and rivers find great difficulty in procuring the necessaries of life. Thus it is said, it is clear to all that there is greater detriment from mining than the value of the metals which the mining produces."

That was written by Georgius Agricola in 1556, nearly 500 years ago, and the description of mining's destruction of the environment is still perfectly apt, is it not? The protection of our prime farmland and its water resources is long overdue, and I am pleased to support this important bill.

"Dr Gordon Moyes' contribution to the debate was a stand-out performance. Well done! This man dealt with the bill objectively and raised crucial issues that require urgent Government consideration. Dr Moyes, you were a breath of fresh air last Thursday. Thank-you for your knowledgeable and considered contribution."

Ms LEE RHIANNON [5.02 p.m.], in reply: ....The object of the bill is essentially to quarantine from mining the best food-producing land in New South Wales and the water sources that feed that land. The bill applies to mining exploration licences and mining operations. We were always clear about that. The bill is not about shutting down the industry. Nothing in the bill can be described as attempting to shut down the industry. The bill is about balance. The bill is not about destroying the economy. If we do not protect prime agricultural land the economy will be destroyed, and jobs will be lost.

The bill is purely about safeguarding a small area of land in New South Wales for prime agricultural purposes. That is all it seeks to do....Some issues raised by members who spoke in opposition to the bill were extreme...the language was certainly excessive. The scare tactics included words such as "demonise", "hoax", "disharmony" and "duped". We need legislation to get that balance so that mining and farming can exist together, something that is not being achieved at the moment....

Because of narrow sectional politics involving the Christian Democratic Party, the Shooters Party and the Government what we were about to achieve looks as though it will be lost, probably by one vote. That is tragic. The fight is certainly not over. The campaign continues. The farmers I met today and their supporters, including many people from Sydney, are really inspired and know something has to change. That work will continue.

"Indeed it will. The groundswell has only just begun. Well done Lee Rhiannon and all those who supported the bill."