CONFIDENTIAL advice to Environment Minister Tony Burke about coal-seam gas developments in southern Queensland has highlighted further uncertainties about the impact on groundwater and salinity.
The advice obtained by The Australian under Freedom of Information laws is at odds with Mr Burke's claims that the risks are minimal because of the federal government's stringent regulation of the industry.
Mr Burke said last week that farmers were safeguarded by federal regulations that went much further than those of the states.
The documents include departmental briefings for Mr Burke's decision to approve the APLNG project, a joint venture between Origin and Conoco Phillips that involves 10,000 production wells and more than 10,000km of access roads and pipelines. It is the biggest CSG project ever approved in Australia.
The Australian
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