The major parties' bipartisan support for the coal seam gas (CSG) mining industry will be tested in federal parliament this week when the Greens and a key independent MP introduce bills to increase the rights of land owners and protect water quality.
Independent MP Tony Windsor wants to slow down the 'frenzy' of development in the CSG industry and is planning to introduce a private member's bill on Monday extending existing federal environmental laws.
In rural Queensland and NSW, farmers are concerned that the CSG industry's fracking process - the injection of chemicals, water and sand at high pressures to crack rock and release gas - will poison underground water, contaminate good agricultural soil and cause serious health problems.
Bigpond News (21 Aug)
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