Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to incorporate the continuing remarks of Senator Birmingham in the second reading debate on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development) Bill 2012.

Leave granted.

The speech , in continuation, read as follows:

However, I note there were some recommendations directed to the Commonwealth government and it concerns me that nearly three years later a response from the government remains outstanding. I take this opportunity to urge the government to finalise and table its response to this committee's recommendations, and those of any other committees inquiring into issues of coal seam gas but to which it has not yet responded, and also identify what, if any, action was taken as a response.

Coalition support

The coalition supports this bill before us today, and the establishment of this committee, given it explicitly provides for independent expert input to the debate and into particular developments. This input should all help improve public confidence in the environmental safeguards we afford our critical and precious water resources as well as the environmental approval processes surrounding the coal seam gas industry and ultimately the industry itself.

This can only be a good thing, provided the input is provided in an appropriately timely fashion as we would hope will be the case. It will also assist, particularly state governments, balance the interests—or better provide for the co-existence of –the agricultural and mining industries.

I note and welcome adoption in the other place of a coalition amendment that we believe improves the bill, and the credibility of the committee, through the minister ensuring that a majority of the members possess qualifications and expertise in one or more of the areas of geology, hydrology, hydro-geology and ecology.

Given that amendment, and for the reasons I have outlined, the coalition supports this bill.

What this bill does not address, and which remain to be addressed, are legitimate concerns particularly among farming communities about the long-term impacts of coal seam gas developments and a landowners right to say 'no' to development on their land.

As I say, these important issues and concerns remain to be addressed.

But this bill is a positive step forward in terms of environmental protections and greater public confidence in those protections.