Qld Greens Call Again for Moratorium on CSG (Australia)

Queensland Greens Call Again for Moratorium on Coal Seam Gas

Bulgaria has now joined France in banning hydraulic fracturing and followed it by cancelling a gas exploration permit it granted to energy giant Chevron.

The Queensland Greens say it is proof that the Queensland Government has rushed into promoting the industry without full consideration of all the issues.

Bulgaria is totally dependent on gas imports and has huge reserves estimated at 1.0 trillion cubic metres but public concern led the government to cancel exploration,” Queensland Greens state spokesperson Libby Connors said today.

It makes no sense that a state like Queensland with its enormous wealth has rushed into this unsafe industry because of government anxiety over short-term deficits.

“The centre-right Bulgarian government and the conservative Sarkozy government in France are showing greater concern for public and environmental health than the state Labor government or the conservative opposition here in Queensland.”

The Queensland Greens have repeatedly called for a moratorium on coal seam gas development and pointed out that the rush to exploit the resource is having harmful effects on other economic sectors.

Coal seam gas development in the midst of rural communities and the port expansions for LNG at Gladstone have proved that Queensland’s Environmental Impacts Statements process has been hopelessly debased into a licence to degrade the environment.

“There has not been a single public health investigation into the effects of gas wells, lines and compressor stations in the midst of rural residential communities.

“It is clear neither major party deserves to be re-elected” the state parliament desperately needs voices that are not intimidated by the power of the multinational resource sector for democracy in this state to work effectively.

[mappress]

LNG World News Staff, January 19, 2012