Coal Seam Gas Exploration (Proof)

Speakers	President; Buckingham The Hon Jeremy; Gay The Hon Duncan
Business	Questions Without Notice, QWN

NSW Parliament Hansard

COAL SEAM GAS EXPLORATION

Page: 18

The Hon. JEREMY BUCKINGHAM: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Roads and Ports, representing the Minister for Primary Industries. The Sydney Catchment Authority board has expressed its concern about coal seam gas exploration approved for special catchment areas. The authority has requested that Apex Energy's access be withdrawn. Given the special catchment areas supply drinking water to 4.3 million Australians, does the Government support coal seam gas mining in these special catchment areas?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: One thing is predictable: on the first day Parliament resumes after a break The Greens will try to run the mother of all scare campaigns. No matter where it is in the State, whether it relates to water or anything else, they will try to run a scare campaign. They should be working with the Government, the industry, farming groups and the community to ensure that there are proper safeguards. What we have put in place, which was not in place under the previous Government, is an aquifer interference policy. We have put in place a proper examination of the State and the issues. We have put in place a delaying mechanism—some would call it a moratorium—to make sure community needs are addressed. Instead of The Greens coming here and saying, "Congratulations to you—

The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance. The question was specifically about support for coal seam gas mining in the special catchment area of Sydney's drinking water supply.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Minister was being generally relevant.

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NSW Parliament Hansard