MEDIA RELEASE - 8 May 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today said that AWU National Secretary Paul Howes was correct in the need for a domestic gas reservation policy to protect Australian manufacturing and consumers from a market failure relating to export of LNG from the East Coast, but that Howes was dead wrong on the need for CSG and totally out of step with the public. 

“We are staring down the barrel of a massive market failure caused by the race to export LNG from Gladestone, but the answer is sensible regulation, not to let coal seam gas rip on farms, cities and water catchments throughout NSW and Queensland,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Paul Howes and I rarely see eye-to-eye, but I agree with him 100% on the need for a domestic gas reservation policy for the East Coast.

“The race to export LNG will see big Asian export contracts prioritised over domestic supply, resulting in a gas shortage for domestic users that will hit both residential consumers and manufacturers that use gas in their processes.

“An East Coast domestic gas reservation policy, that reserves gas for residential and manufacturing, but not electricity generation, would ensure access to gas for cooking, heating, manufacturing processes such as fertiliser and brickmaking, while ensuring the transition to renewable energy for electricity generation.

“There is plenty of conventional gas in Australia and some of that should be reserved for domestic use.  It is only the race to export large amounts of LNG that is behind the push for coal seam gas.

“However, Paul Howes is dead wrong on coal seam gas and his attack on Australian farmers concerned about the environmental impacts of CSG is disgraceful.  75% of Australians are opposed to coal seam gas for very good environmental reasons.

“Protecting productive agricultural land, water resources and communities is not ‘extremist’ and is far more important than a decade or two of gas exports,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or  0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE – 10 April 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham welcomed industry acknowledgement that LNG exports from Queensland were the cause of future gas squeezes and price hikes, but said a domestic reservation of conventional gas resources from Moomba and Bass Straight was the answer, not drilling for coal seam gas and risking land, water and communities.

“Santos’ announcement that it would reserve future coal seam gas projects for NSW domestic use, is all smoke and mirrors, aimed at luring the public into supporting coal seam gas projects, while the gas companies divert conventional gas to LNG export, resulting in price hikes for domestic users,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Australia is the only country in the world to allow unrestricted exports without reserving gas for domestic use. Australian governments need to look at developing an East Coast domestic gas reservation policy for conventional gas to ensure gas is available for domestic customers, as we make the transition to renewable energy sources.

“This is a crisis of the gas industry’s own making. They’ve forward contracted huge amounts of gas for export to Asian markets, and now expect Australian farmers and communities to suffer the consequences of coal seam gas.

“The three LNG export terminals being built in Gladstone, Queensland, will act like a giant vacuum, sucking up all available gas for export to Asian markets. This will have a significant impact on the availability and price of gas to domestic customers with consequential effects on economic activity and jobs.

“The answer is not to let the coal seam gas industry run riot over our farms, water and communities, but rather to implement a sensible domestic gas reservation policy to ensure less destructive conventional gas.”

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE

9 April 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham said today that key resource and energy ministers, as well as representatives of the gas industry, must address the question of an East Coast domestic gas reservation policy at the ‘Australian Domestic Gas Outlook 2013’ conference held in Sydney 10 – 12 April.

Dish Texas gas wells from above

“The East Coast is facing a massive market failure when it comes to domestic gas supply and governments must step in with sensible regulations such as a domestic gas reservation policy to ensure continued supply for industrial and residential gas customers,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“The three LNG export terminals being built in Gladstone, Queensland, will act like a vacuum, sucking up all available gas for export to Asian markets with significant effects on the availability and price of gas to domestic customers and consequential effects on economic activity and jobs.

“Unrestricted exports without any gas reservation policy will see the market fail domestic gas users. The sensible answer is for state and federal governments to implement a gas reservation policy to ensure Australian gas is available for Australian use – it is in the national interest.

“NSW Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, as well as federal Coalition resources spokesperson Ian Macfarlane, and the various gas industry CEOs attending the conference should state their positions on domestic reservation policy

“The Greens do not want to see an export induced gas squeeze become an excuse to let coal seam gas rip in NSW to the detriment of farmers, the environment and our precious water resources.

“No other gas export country allows unrestricted exports without reserving gas for domestic use. Australian governments need to look at developing a domestic gas reservation policy to ensure gas is available for domestic customers, as we make the transition to renewable energy sources.

“Governments have been sitting on their hands while we head towards a crunch in the East Coast gas market created solely by these LNG export terminals.”

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA ALERT

9 April 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham will take on the Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward tonight at a community meeting on coal seam gas in Gerringong.

For or Against?

“Gareth Ward’s government recently renewed the coal seam gas licence PEL 469, which covers from Wollongong to Sussex Inlet and inland to Mittagong, however, Mr Ward is pretending he is against coal seam gas. He can’t have it both ways. You can’t renew an exploration licence then say you are opposed to coal seam gas,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Gareth Ward needs to come clean with the people of his electorate and tell them whether he’s for or against coal seam gas.”

What: Coal Seam Gas Mining Public Meeting

When: 7.30pm 9 April 2013

Where: Gerringong Town Hall, 106 Fern St Gerringong

Who: Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham and Liberal MP Gareth Ward

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 2 April 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today said the suspension of coal seam gas operations in NSW by Dart Energy and Planet Gas showed that gaining a social licence is important for business and cannot be bypassed.

Dart Energy announced to the ASX that they would suspend their NSW operations placing them in ‘care and maintenance’, while Planet Gas wrote in its annual report it was considering its NSW activities ‘impaired’.

“Coal seam gas has a large impact on the community and our environment.  It has not gained a social licence from the people of NSW and has instead faced open resistance in communities it has tried to force its way into,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“A social licence is community approval or trust, and the coal seam gas industry has failed to gain either of these in NSW.

“The suspension of coal seam gas activities by these companies shows the value of a social licence and is a warning to other mining companies that they must seek and receive community support.

“The NSW Mining and Petroleum Acts may give mining companies the whip hand when it comes to forcing access agreements, but there is immense power  when ordinary people lock their gates, educate themselves and form community alliances to repel mining companies.”

“The Greens policy is that coal seam gas is unnecessary, unsafe and unwanted.  Australia should be investing in clean renewable energy like wind and solar, not risking our land and water for another era of fossil fuels,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE

13 March 2013

Metgasco’s withdrawal from Northern Rivers a recognition of community opposition to CSG

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today welcomed coal seam gas company Metgasco’s announcement that it was suspending its activities in the Northern Rivers of NSW saying it was recognition that gas companies can not force their way into communities and that its clear they do not have a social licence.

“This is great news and a big win for the community of the Northern Rivers and the environment and demonstrates that gas companies can not force their way into communities,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“It was always a risky and dumb idea to turn the beautiful and productive Northern Rivers region into a toxic coal seam gas field.  Fracking precious water resources and risking community health for a few years of gas rush is short-sighted and greedy.

“This is a big win for the impressive community campaign and shows that coal seam gas does not have a social licence to operate in NSW.

“The Greens have consistently opposed coal seam gas operations.  Australia should be moving to clean renewable energy, not wrecking our land and poisoning our water for a new era of fossil fuels.

“The LNG export facilities being built at Gladstone will act as a giant vacuum cleaner for gas on the East Coast and will cause a gas crunch in the near future.  State and federal governments must regulate the gas industry to reserve gas for domestic customers and households.

“Sensible regulation in the national interest is the way forward for gas.  Invading suburbs, farms and communities with toxic coal seam gas wells is not the answer and will only go to export facilities anyway.

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916