One Nation opposes coal seam gas mining in Channel Country

Queensland One Nation Leader and Member for Buderim, Steve Dickson MP today announced the Party opposes any extension of coal seam gas mining into the State’s channel country.

Mr Dickson said, “The jury is still out on the safety of CSG mining, and what threat it posed to the Great Artesian Basin.

“There needs to be a full inquiry into coal seam gas mining that has already occurred in the Surat Basin before any more projects are considered. Until there is irrefutable scientific proof that such mining would have no impact on the Basin, One Nation is opposed to new exploration or mining.

“We already have the devastating impacts at Chinchilla.”

In supporting Mr Dickson, One Nation Callide candidate Sharon Lohse, who has a grazing property in the Surat Basin said any risk to the Channel Country was not worth taking.

“Where the major parties are focussed on CSG and renewables as the answer to the energy crisis, One Nation has a broader view of the future. We see new coal power stations and water security as the way forward for Australia.

“This country was forged on agriculture, not coal seam gas, and agriculture is our future, because without it, we don’t eat, we need food,” she said.

Ms Lohse said our water resources are too important to put at risk. She said, “The Great Artesian Basin has driven Australian agriculture for nearly 200 years, we cannot risk damaging it by coal seam gas mining.”

“The Channel Country is renowned as a stock fattening area, but depends on a reliable water supply. If mining compromised the Basin, the ramifications for not only Queensland, but the rest of Australia can only be imagined. We need scientific proof there is no risk before any holes are dug.”

Mr Dickson said Queensland only earned $36 million in royalties from gas miners last year.

“I think the mining companies are getting the gas cheaply at the moment, and why are we selling out the reliability of our valuable water supplies for $36 million a year?” Mr Dickson said.

26 September 2017