Australians will be represented by the Greens in every state, for the first time. We are empowered by more than 1.5 million voters to negotiate with Government and the Opposition to get better outcomes for the nation.
Comparisons between respected climate science and the smoke and mirrors presented by the gas industry are absurd, the Greens said today.
"All we are asking is that honest data on the climate impact of coalseam gas should be put on the table," Australian Greens Senator Larissa Waters, said.
Queensland’s first Greens Senator, Larissa Waters is passionate about protecting our environment, caring for communities, and public participation and accountability in government.
Before her election Larissa was an environmental lawyer working in the community sector for eight years advising people how to use the law to protect Queensland’s environment.
Posted on 15. Aug, 2011 by DavidParis in Video, Mining
Larissa spoke on ABC News Breakfast about the Greens' plan to bring a bill into the Senate in the next fortnight to require the permission of landholders before companies can explore for, or extract, coal seam gas.
Australian Greens Senator for Queensland and spokesperson on mining Larissa Waters has welcomed Tony Abbott’s support on giving farmers rights to refuse coal seam gas mining on their land, but a moratorium on coal seam gas is still needed.
A government report into the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef released last night contains some encouraging news, but the unique reef ecosystem is about to come under further pressure from coal and coal seam gas industries, Greens Senator Larissa Waters said.
“The results show some improvement since 2003, but we can do better than “moderate” condition for this internationally significant biodiversity icon,” Senator Waters said.
Protect Reef and marine wildlife by suspending CSG approvals: Greens
Following a visit to Gladstone, Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters has called on federal environment minister Tony Burke to suspend and reconsider his approvals for massive dredging for three LNG plants on Gladstone’s Curtis Island, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The Greens have welcome the belated commencement of the Queensland Government’s ‘ban’ on BTEX*, the carcinogenic chemical cocktail used in hydraulic fracturing during coal seam gas mining.
“It’s great to see such a rapid response to the Greens’ call a fortnight ago to commence the limitation on BTEX use, and to be in that position to deliver positive outcomes for Queenslanders worried about coal seam gas,” said Greens Senator for Queensland and spokesperson on Mining, Larissa Waters.
Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters has welcomed the announcement that the NSW Legislative Council will conduct an inquiry into the coal seam gas industry.
“While the Queensland government has given the go-ahead for an unbridled stampede into the unknown, the NSW parliament will investigate the CSG industry’s impact on the environment, particularly on groundwater and on good agricultural land,” Senator Waters said.
The federal government needs to put the Great Barrier Reef ahead of mining profits, following UNESCO’s criticism of the Australian Government for approving liquefied natural gas processing on the doorstop of the Great Barrier Reef which could threaten its Overall Universal Value.
