[Greens-Media] Government*s Land Access Bill delivers hefty concessions for mining industry

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
20 May 2010


Government*s Land Access Bill delivers hefty concessions for mining
industry

Commenting on the passing of the Government's Land Access Bill late
last night in the NSW Parliament, Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee
Rhiannon accused the Labor government of doing the mining industry's
bidding by overturning a recent Supreme Court decision that favoured
Caroona farmers over BHP Billiton.

"The NSW government has used the Land Access Bill to grant concessions
to the mining industry well beyond the scope of the Supreme Court
decision the bill overturns," said Ms Rhiannon.  
 
"The government's Land Access Bill has removed certainty for
landholders to negotiate land access arrangements with mining
exploration companies.

"Only a portion of this bill relates directly to the Supreme Court
decision the government falsely claimed it needed to address.

"The government used this bill as cover to deliver huge gains to its
mining mates, skewing land access laws heavily in favour of the mining
industry.

"Bowing to pressure from the NSW Minerals Council, the government
amended its own legislation to give mining companies a further 60 days
to continue exploring on land after a new landholder has objected to an
access arrangement.  

"The government's bill was drafted in haste last month following the
Supreme Court decision against BHP Billiton, and the many amendments
moved have created considerable confusion.

"The government refused to support an amendment to uphold the Supreme
Court decision that recognised the rights of the Caroona farmers to deny
BHP Billiton access to their property.

"The Greens moved amendments to ensure that any standard access
arrangements would provide for best practice prospecting, environmental
protection and rehabilitation procedures. The government and the
opposition voted together to defeat the Greens amendments. 

"The Greens voted against the government bill in order to retain the
current law where an access arrangement ceases when a property is sold.


"The Nationals and the NSW Farmers Association negotiated away
landholder's rights to deny a mining company access to their property if
they breach their access agreement.  

"There is no balance in this bill, it is all the mining industry's
way," said Ms Rhiannon.


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