Media Release - 4 December 2013

The Greens mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham today welcomed the resignation of Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher saying it presented an opportunity to restore balance to the position and called on Premier Barry O’Farrell to appoint a minister who respects the importance of agriculture and water resources, and who will actively promote renewable energy.

“Minister Hartcher treated community concerns about mining with utter contempt and many people, including the Greens will be saying good riddance,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“He was a one-eyed supporter of coal and coal seam gas over renewable energy and the Greens welcome the announcement that he has resigned.

“Minister Hartcher was very opaque about lobbying activities, refusing to answer basic questions about meetings with lobbyists such as former federal minister Santo Santoro - a factional ally within the hard right of the Liberal Party.

“The Premier should ensure the next minister for resources and energy respects the community and environmental concern about coal seam gas and the expansion of coal, actively promotes renewable energy, and understands the need to restore public confidence in the the administration of mining in NSW.

“Chris Hartcher is the third resources minister to be investigated by ICAC, after Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald. The Premier should take this opportunity to conduct a root and branch reform of the administration of mining in NSW, including the implementation of recommendations recently made by ICAC.”

Contact: Max Phillips 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 29 November 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham called on government and industry to discuss domestic gas reservation as a sensible regulatory response after the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) in its Gas Statement of Opportunities 2013 predicted a gas shortage in the East Coast network - particularly in NSW -  caused by the move to export vast amounts of LNG from Gladstone, Queensland.

“The rush to export huge amounts of LNG is severely distorting the East Coast gas market and the only sensible response is for the government to regulate the industry to ensure domestic supply to households and the manufacturing industry,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“The AEMO report notes that domestic demand for gas will only increase by 0.9% per annum and it is LNG exports that are causing an artificial gas crisis.  Conventional gas supplies from Moomba in South Australia will be directed away from Sydney and redirected to the LNG export facilities at Gladstone to fulfil export contract commitments.

“Santos admits they will not be able to connect their coal seam gas fields near Narrabri to the Sydney pipeline until 2017 at the earliest, with 2018-19 being far more realistic.

“NSW Resource Minister Hartcher should stop bleating about coal seam gas and talk with his state and federal colleagues about reserving some of Australia’s conventional gas for domestic needs to  avoid this looming market failure.

“Why should the LNG gas consortiums be able to prioritise exports to North Asia over the gas requirements of Australian businesses and households?  Why aren’t governments acting to ensure Australian gas is made available for Australian use before it can be exported?

“The United States only allows gas exports after it has been proved that there is not a domestic market for the gas.  Australia is neglecting its national interest by failing to regulate gas exporters,” said Mr Buckingham.

The Greens are currently discussing policy responses to the gas shortage, including potential support for a gas reserve that is compatible with a rapid transition to renewable energy.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 29 May 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham slammed the arrogance of the gas industry and resources ministers on display at the APPEA conference, after Santos moved to ‘escalate its war’ against opponents of coal seam gas and NSW Resources Minister, Chris Hartcher accused the community of ignorance.

“The battle over coal seam gas is truly a David and Goliath battle. The gas industry has spent many millions on television, print and online ads and paid consultants to draft glowing reports. Meanwhile community groups are holding stalls and public meetings and putting their bodies on the line blockading drill rigs,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“For the industry to complain that opponents of CSG have hijacked the debate is ridiculous.  For Minister Hartcher to complain of a level of ignorance in the community is offensive.

“The public have good bullshit detectors and the alarm is sounding loud when it comes to spin from the coal seam gas industry.

“First we were told coal seam gas is clean. Then it was all about jobs and economic development.  Now it’s a threat of gas shortages and price hikes.

“A social licence has to be earned from the community.  It cannot be bought with money and slick advertising or imposed by government.

“The CEOs of these energy companies that have put all their eggs in the CSG/LNG basket should get the sack. They’ve backed the wrong horse. They should have invested in renewable energy such as solar and wind, which is what the public wants and what the climate needs.

“Rather than attacking opponents of coal seam gas, government and industry should be discussing a east coast domestic gas reservation policy to ensure the artificial gas shortage being caused by the rush to export coal seam gas, does not adversely affect domestic manufacturers and residential customers,” said Mr Buckingham.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or  0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE

30 April 2012

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham has warned the O’Farrell Government that it is badly misreading community sentiment on the conflict between mining and agriculture in what appears to be senior pro-mining Liberals riding roughshod over the National Party and the interests of country NSW.  

In recent days:

• Resources Minister Chris Hartcher has attacked the NSW Farmers organised rally as a far left conspiracy.  http://bit.ly/KnJL5a
• Planning Minister Brad Hazzard attacked the NSW Farmers Association and Country Women’s Association on ABC’s Country Hour program.  http://bit.ly/Intvke

“Minister Hartcher is badly out of touch if he thinks community concern over mining’s impact on agriculture, the environment and water resources is some kind of conspiracy,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“This kind of arrogant disregard for genuine community concern is the kind of thing we expected from NSW Labor in its dying days, but this exercise in hubris is only one year into the O’Farrell Government.

“It’s clear that senior pro-mining Liberals in the O’Farrell Government are running roughshod over whatever Nationals are left who truly wish to protect our land and water.  The dissenting submission from the National Party to the Strategic Regional Land Use Policy consultation shows there are still some Nationals who want to protect the interests of country NSW, even if many National MPs are lining up with the big city Liberals to promote mining.

“There is a confluence of interest in protecting the land and water from mining.  Farmers recognise the need to preserve these precious resources into the future, while environmentalists understand that farmers are important custodians of the land and water,” said Mr Buckingham.

A Galaxy Research poll conducted in August 2011 found 74% of people in NSW supported a moratorium on coal seam gas, with only 17% opposed.  http://bit.ly/uU0kKb

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 14 November 2011

Coal seam gas blowing up Coalition

Desperate National Party members have broken ranks on coal seam gas only to be reigned in by their Liberal colleague, with Resources Minister Chris Hartcher slapping down the Minister for Western NSW, Kevin Humphries today after Humprhies promised an announcement that coal seam gas pilot production would be halted.

Greens Mining Spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham today said Nationals MP Kevin Humphries was on the right track in defending rural communities from the threat of coal seam gas and should not tolerate being reigned in by his Liberal colleague Chris Hartcher who said there would be no change to coal seam gas policy.

“This is a massive rebuke for the National Party and the Coalition is in complete disarray on coal seam gas,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“If Kevin Humphries can’t deliver on the pending announcement he promised this morning, then he will have lost the confidence of the people of Barwon and Western NSW.

“Labor’s reversal on coal seam gas policy has left the government exposed out on a political limb.  Nervous Nationals are now starting to break ranks, while the pro-industry Liberal Minister attempts to reign them in.

“The government’s handling of this is a dog’s breakfast and Barry O’Farrell needs to step in.

“The Greens Coal Seam Gas Moratorium Bill won’t pick winners and losers as the O’Farrell Government seems to be attempting with its ad hoc announcements.  The Bill will press pause on the industry state-wide for 12 months while we investigate whether it should be granted a social licence,” he said.

Jeremy Buckingham will tour Santos’ coal seam gas operations in the Narrabri area with the Legislative Council Inquiry into the industry on Tuesday.  Hearings will be held in Narrabri on Wednesday and a hearing will be conducted at Parliament House on Thursday.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916

The following Coalition MPs have CSG activities and significant community opposition in their electorates:

Kevin Anderson (Nat) from Tamworth, Kevin Humphries (Nat) from Barwon,

George Souris (Nat) from Upper Hunter, Pru Goward (Lib)from Goulburn,

Brian Doyle (Lib) from Campbelltown, Thomas George (Nat) from Lismore,

Steve Bromhead (Nat) from Myall Lakes, Andrew Stoner (Nat) from Oxley,

Tim Owen (Lib) from Newcastle, Craig Baumann (Lib) from Port Stephens,

Lee Evans (Lib) from Heathcote, Geoff Provest (Nats) from Tweed, Gareth Ward (Lib) Kiama

In a highly unusual move, NSW Resources Minister Chris Hartcher has issued a media release criticising Greens mining spokesperson, Jeremy Buckingham’s questions at a Budget Estimates hearing last Friday, the 28 October 2011. At the hearing Minister Hartcher and Jeremy Buckingham repeatedly clashed over the topic of mining and agriculture, with the Minister repeatedly attacking the questions rather than answering them. The media statement indicated that Minister Hartcher prefers pre-planned Dorothy Dixer questions from his own side.

Hartcher’s release put out on 28 October 2011 (after Estimates) entitled ‘Jeremy Buckingham: Uninformed and Unprepared‘  says in part:

“I received a number of valid questions from my Liberal, Nationals and Labor colleagues and was questioned on everything from energy security to the IPART review on a fair price for solar,” Mr Hartcher said.

“By comparison, questions asked by Greens MLC Jeremy Buckingham were half-formed thoughts with little basis in fact and displayed a complete ignorance of NSW Government policy.

(Read Hartcher’s entire media release here)

Hartcher’s release may have been motivated by Jeremy Buckingham’s media release ‘Minister dodges questions on coal seam gas’ put out the same day as the hearings.

Under immense pressure from farmers and the community to stop mining and coal seam gas destorying large tracts of NSW, it is no great surprise that Minister Hartcher prefers Dorothy Dixers like this one from his colleague, the Nationals MLC Rick Colless:

The Hon. RICK COLLESS: Minister, can you advise the Committee what the Government is doing to meet the growing demand for gas in New South Wales?

Mr Hartcher then read a pre-prepared statement to the committee.

Rather than Jeremy Buckingham being unprepared, it seemed Minister Hartcher was more intent on playing the man rather than the ball, and dodging some critical questions relating to the coal seam gas industry.

You be the judge whether Jeremy Buckingham’s questions were uninformed or whether the Minister wished to dodge the questions:

HANSARD TRANSCRIPT - GPSC5 - 28 October 2011

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: The Government has announced its plans to ban evaporation ponds for coal seam gas. How does the Government expect the industry to deal with the millions of litres of salty, chemical-laden wastewater that the industry produces?

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: There is a premise in your question that there are millions of litres.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: There are.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Can you source that and justify it?

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: Absolutely.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I will await the information from you.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: The National Water Commission identified that as a key risk with coal seam gas in its submission.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: No, I asked you about your premise that there were millions of litres involved.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: Are you saying there are not millions of litres of salty water or toxic water involved in coal seam gas? Maybe you should check the facts.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Once again you are making wildly speculative statements in the form of questions.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: That is not speculation; that is a statement of fact.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Mr Buckingham, I would urge you to actually get the facts right.

The Hon. SCOT MacDONALD: Point of order: Can we let the Minister answer the question, please.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: Certainly. How will the industry dispose of the millions of tonnes of concentrated brine or salt that the industry produces?

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: Once again I need you to be able to substantiate to me that it is going to produce millions of tonnes of brine or salt.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: It is widely acknowledged that that is the case.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: It is not widely acknowledged at all.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: Estimates are that in Queensland it is 40 million tonnes of salt over the lifetime of those proposals.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: That is in Queensland.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: Okay. So we have no plans. Recently Ross Dunn, my good friend from the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, told a public meeting in Leichhardt in relation to coal seam gas drilling that drilling will, to varying degrees, impact on adjoining aquifers. Do you accept that it is the case that coal seam gas drilling will impact on adjoining aquifers?

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I am not going to comment on statements other people may or may not have made. I will tell you that we have introduced the aquifer interference regulation, which is designed toprotect aquifers from any impact from drilling.

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: Do you guarantee there will be no impact from drilling and, potentially, fracking?

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER: I have given you my answer.