THE nation's most prominent environmentalist, Tim Flannery, has spoken out in support of the coal-seam gas industry, warning that opposition to such exploration could lead to "social dislocation" across regional Australia.
Professor Flannery, who is one of the Gillard government's national climate commissioners, also said mining and its products were "utterly necessary" to modern life, and predicted the Australian coal industry would enjoy robust growth for perhaps the next 25 years.
However, speaking at the NSW Minerals Council environment and community conference in Wollongong, south of Sydney, Professor Flannery said rising popular opposition to mining meant the industry's future had "never been under a greater challenge than it is today".
The Australian
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