The national plan to derail new coalmines and facilities grew out of a
campaign against coal seam gas that won the backing of people such as the
Ainsworth family, radio broadcaster Alan Jones, NSW independent MP Tony Windsor
and Wotif founder Graeme Wood.
It is understood parts of the anti-coal campaign document drawn up by
Greenpeace’s John Hepburn were taken directly from a strategy document drafted
by anti-CSG group the Lock the Gate Alliance.
Mr Hepburn is a friend of Lock the Gate spokesman Drew Hutton, who is also
named in the draft anti-coal fund-raising document entitled “Stopping the
Australian Coal Boom”.
Three Greenpeace campaigners were arrested yesterday at Gladstone,
Queensland, after painting “reef in danger” on a coal carrier. Treasurer Wayne
Swan said environmental groups might lose their charitable tax status if
involved in illegal activities.
Mr Windsor said he did not support illegal action but understood the
frustration of communities facing new coal projects.
“We’ve got proposed mines on the Liverpool Plains which are a billion tonnes.
I don’t think people understand the magnitude,” he said.
I don’t see the great rush . . . this mega-rush to get mega-mines. Do we need to
be in that big a hurry? We need to work out the environmental and social impacts
before we just rush in willy-nilly.”
Former Rothschild Australia chief executive Peter Martin, a founding member
of the anti-CSG campaign, yesterday backed the new anti-coal campaign.
“The hysterical comments by politicians and companies are clearly
self-serving,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
“If you think that mining companies spent $30 million to knock off Kevin Rudd
and the mining tax, the $6 million proposed for this campaign is pocket change –
they would spend it on a round of drinks – yet they are whingeing about
community groups, most which have no money.”
Mr Martin spoke as Greenpeace campaigners in Gladstone timed their protests
to coincide with a visit by a UNESCO mission. The mission is investigating
concerns the coal and CSG expansion in Queensland is putting the Great Barrier
Reef at risk.
Australian Financial Review
No comments:
Post a Comment