Coal seam gasWell, the coal seam gas lobby is at it againComplaining this time about the Federal Government’s so-called water-trigger amendment introduced into Parliament on 13 MarchThis amendment will allow Environment Minister Tony Burke to take into account the effects on groundwater when considering whether to grant approval to coal seam gas mining projectsIt hasn’t yet passed the ParliamentAnd needless to say, the miners don’t like itRepresentatives from BHP Billiton, Shell, Santos and Arrow Energy will appear before a Senate inquiry today to argue it is “fundamentally bad law” introduced without due process or consultationWhat rubbishThe Government should have been concerned about the effects of coal seam gas mining on groundwater, identified the gap in its powers to block approvals, and moved to amend the Act years agoInstead this has been like pulling teethAnd this amendment doesn’t go far enough - it probably won’t even affect existing drill sites“It will affect projects that want to expand” Tony Windsor said yesterday“But there’s almost an assumption that once you get an exploration licence you can go straight into full production”This legislation should be retrospective as well as prospectiveWe have a long way to go yet until we are out of the woods on this issueBut no politicians, in the meantime, should be wasting time listening to the likes of BHP, Santos and Shell

The Alan Jones Breakfast show: Highlights

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