[Greens-Media] Govt sells out Gunnedah farmers for Chinese coal company

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release - 15 August 2008

Govt sells out Gunnedah farmers for Chinese coal company

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the NSW government has ridden roughshod over the Gunnedah farming community by granting the Chinese government owned giant, China Shenhua Energy Company, a coal exploration licence, the first stage in opening up this rich agricultural land to a fully operational coal mine. 

"The Iemma government says this is an 'exploration' license but really it's the go-ahead for massive coal mines that will rip the heart out of the Gunnedah Plains," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The government will pocket $675 million but abandon farmers and its responsibility to tackle climate change, all for the profits of a foreign owned company.

"This is an exploration license but history shows that this government never says no to the granting of a mining license following exploration.  

"The Nationals have been willing participants in the selling out of the Gunnedah community, deserting farmers for the interests of big foreign mining companies.

"Appointing former Nationals Leader Ian Armstrong to chair a community consultative committee is evidence of how complicit the Nationals have been in this process.

"We know community consultative committees are a charade, paying lip service to local voices to justify steamrolling the community.

"Mining Minister Ian Macdonald must now reveal the deal his government has done with this Chinese company. 

"Will it be paying the lower production cost for this coal of less than $20 a tonne before shipping it back to China, rather than the higher export rate of around $100 a tonne?

"If so, Minister Macdonald is sacrificing the amount of money flowing back to the public purse and greatly reducing the stated value of Australia's coal industry. 

"Research shows that the economic returns of this deal to the Caroona area and NSW will be pittance compared to the economic returns from existing agriculture. 

"Minister Macdonald makes a jaundiced claim that this licence will benefit the local community by generating funds for public infrastructure.

"But the government has failed to ask the big question of whether this deal is worth it considering its long term impacts on water, agriculture and food security, the local community and climate change?," Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568. Macdonald's release available on request.


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au