[Greens-Media] Government rushes through Land Access Bill

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release
19 May 2010

Government rushes through Land Access Bill

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the NSW government's decision to rush the Land Access Bill through the NSW Upper House today, which seeks to overturn a recent Supreme Court decision about access arrangements that favoured Caroona farmers over BHP Billiton, has not allowed enough time for MPs to review the dozens of amendments to the legislation.

"The fact that the NSW government is amending its own Land Access Bill reflects there are problems with the current draft and that more time is needed to ensure the legislation works," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"Government representatives have said that they are determined to get the Bill through today. 

"This suggests they have the numbers to vote it through in the Upper House and so are prepared to rush it through without further debate and analysis of the bill. 

"The legal case that the Land Access Bill effectively overturns was taken to the Supreme Court by Caroona farmers committed to stopping coal exploration on the prime agricultural land of the Liverpool Plains,

"The large number of amendments warrants this Bill being deferred until all parties have had sufficient time to consider it. 

"The government has six amendments to its own Bill and each amendment has multiple parts.  The Coalition has 14 amendments.  

"With all these changes there clearly is uncertainty about the impact this bill will have on the mining industry and farming in NSW. 

"The wise course of action would have been to defer the bill," Ms Rhiannon said. 


For more information:  9230 3551, 0427 861 568.


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (Mon-Thur)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
http://www.leerhiannon.org.au
http://www.democracy4sale.org/ 
http://twitter.com/leerhiannon