SMH: “GOVERNMENTS state and federal are in the process of losing the debate over coal seam gas mining. In their haste to approve new projects they have angered the farming lobby. As they bungle the question of coal seam gas, they risk losing the debate about all mining on agricultural land.
The public meeting in Gunnedah on Wednesday exemplifies the growing wave of opinion, led by local landholders but increasingly backed by regional townspeople, environmentalists and the inevitable radio personalities, against coal seam gas mining. The issue is a populist’s dream: small landholders against big miners, idyllic rural landscape under threat from poisonous industrial processes.
Belatedly the miners have begun to try persuading the public that their operations are environmentally sound and have economic benefits for regional centres. Their advertising campaign resembles the effective anti-mining tax campaign, but this time the voices of all the ordinary citizens depicted are praising coal seam gas. The campaign is slick, but its glib factoids and talking points will probably be swept aside by the torrent of public opinion now rushing in the opposite direction. That torrent gains extra force because it appears to be part of the generalised anger directed at the federal government over, among other things, the carbon tax. It is a poisonous atmosphere in which to consider the legal position of mining on farmland, let alone the appropriate balance between farming and mining.
Despite a brief flirtation with this populist fad, even Tony Abbott has pulled back from attacking the miners. All politicians would do well to pause. Mining is necessary, though its consequences for the environment and landholders may at times be unsatisfactory. But if it comes to a choice, food must win out over energy.
Perhaps, as the coal seam gas miners would argue, there will never be a need to choose between the two. But if the choice does become necessary, it should not be made by default.
Decisions to exploit energy resources must not be made prematurely so that they pre-empt the decision to protect the best agricultural land in a continent where it is in short supply.
There should be no hurry. There is reason to believe Australia already has too many coal seam gas projects being developed all at once. It is time to pause. The gas does not degrade if it stays in the ground. There is plenty of time to devise a course of action which balances all interests.”
Posted on October 14th, 2011 by mt
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