NEWS
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Page 6
4 December 2019
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Labor and Liberal vote against Drinking Water Catchments Protection Bill
reens NSW spokesperson on Mining, Coal and Coal Seam Gas, Abigail Boyd, has described the recent defeat of the party’s Central Coast Drinking Water Catchments Protection Bill 2019 in the Legislative Council as “disappointing”.
Only six of the 42 upper house members, including Boyd, supported the Bill when it went to the final vote on November 21. The Bill, which sought to replicate similar protections afforded to water catchments in Sydney and the Illawarra, was aimed at preventing contamination of drinking water by the Wallarah 2 coal mine. “It is disappointing that the major parties continue to put the short
Greens MLC, Abigail Boyd, addresses the crowd outside Parliament House term profits of the coal industry ahead of the long term interests of the community,” Boyd said of the outcome. “No project is worth risking the drinking water of 350,000 people. “We can protect the environment and provide thousands of good jobs by investing more in
renewable energy and manufacturing on the Central Coast.” Greens Senator for NSW, Mehreen Faruqi, accompanied Boyd to the Central Coast on November 22, where the two met with residents. “The world is changing and the writing is on the wall for coal,” Faruqi said.
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“In response to the climate crisis, we are seeing the coal industry close down in places like Germany while our traditional export markets are pledging to cancel coal power stations. “The Central Coast needs real and sustainable jobs, not empty promises that will damage the environment and threaten crucial water supplies. “We know the Coalition are climate criminals who are refusing to take any action to protect the Central Coast community and its water. “Labor has voted against the Greens’ motion condemning the Wallarah 2 mine in the Upper House. “It’s time they made it clear to the community where they stand on this environmental ticking time bomb. “We need the Federal Government to protect the water of Central Coast communities and cancel all environmental approvals.” Wyong MP and Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris, said “the Greens got this all wrong. “Their Bill, which copied the legislation that I had previously moved, was designed for when the mining company only had an exploration licence,” he said. “The Greens’ Bill failed to acknowledge the fact that the Berejiklian Government has now issued a mining licence which gives permission to Wallarah 2 to mine coal
for 28 years. “Labor has to acknowledge the fact that the Liberals have given permission to mine in our water catchment. “The facts are that there will not be the numbers in Parliament to pass any legislation at least until after the next election in 2023,” Harris said. He said Labor had taken the position that they would focus on the 122 conditions imposed in the licence to make sure no mining began until they were 100 percent met. “Labor continues to take the position that mining under our water catchment is reckless and we will continue to try and protect the integrity of our precious drinking water,” Harris said. “The Greens’ Bill had no chance of success and Labor will remain focussed on what can be achieved to protect our water catchment. “I have personally opposed this mining for over a decade and I remain committed to protecting our water supply,” Harris said. Several Coast residents travelled to Sydney on November 21 to rally outside Parliament House for the vote and many made it into the public gallery to find an almost empty chamber. When it came time to vote however, a Division forced all absent politicians back to the chamber where ALP members sided with the Liberals, Nationals and others to oppose the Water Protection Bill. Liberal Leader of the House, Scott Farlow, said the proposed protections would mean the cessation of all existing mining in the area, including the Mandalong coal mine and Boral Montaro clay mine, causing job losses and adverse impacts to regional growth. He cited a list of environmental reviews that the Wallarah 2 mine had passed through as well as an extensive set of conditions that had been set for its safe operation. Farlow was interrupted at times by disruptions
from the public gallery. The Liberals Central Coast MLC, Taylor Martin, spoke against the Bill, saying the Wallarah 2 coal mine would generate $800M in mining royalties for the State over the life of the project. Labor’s Leader in the House, Adam Searle, said his party opposed the Bill, although he explained at length that his party remained opposed to the Wallarah 2 coal mine. However, he said, since planning approvals had been given, new legislation that prevented its operations would create a case for compensation from the mine owners and create “sovereign risk’’. “To my knowledge, Australia is the only country that mines in water catchments,” Searle said. In a speech supporting the Bill, Independent MLC, Justin Field, said recent studies of coal mining in the Sydney water catchment had shown significant impacts on water supply and quality. “People on the Central Coast need future jobs, not jobs in declining industries,” he said. Boyd made it clear to all members of the House that the Bill would include amendments so no existing mining operations or jobs would be affected. She acknowledged that there could be costs associated with compensating mine owners, but it would be nothing compared to the cost of compensating Central Coast residents for the contamination of their drinking water. “Sometimes, when you make mistakes, it costs money to fix those mistakes, and approving this mine was a huge, huge mistake.” she said. Source: Hansard transcript, Nov 21 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Media release, Nov 21 Abigail Boyd, Greens MLC spokesperson on Mining, Coal and CSG Media statement, Nov 27 David Harris, Shadow Minister for Central Coast and Wyong MP Reporters: Ross Barry, Terry Collins, Sue Murray