[Greens-Media] Media release: Newman Government rips up Channel Country wild river protection from coal seam gas

[Vandeleur, Monique (Sen L. Waters)]

Senator Larissa Waters
Senator for Queensland

Media release

Wednesday, 31 July, 2013

Newman Government rips up Channel Country wild river protection from coal seam gas

The Australian Greens today condemned the Newman Government's decision to open up the Channel Country to gas and petroleum mining.

"The Newman Government has today ripped up protection for wild rivers in the Channel Country, opening up previously off-limits areas of western Queensland to oil and coal seam gas mining," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said.

"The wishes of traditional owners and local graziers have been ignored, with the Newman Government once again doing the bidding of the big mining companies, even though the Wild Rivers Advisory Panel recommended a total ban on mining in floodplains, major rivers, tributaries and lakes.

"The Channel Country's wild rivers, some of the last free-flowing rivers in the world, support floodplain grazing and have significant cultural value for indigenous groups - they are no place for coal seam gas mining.

"Coal seam gas mining threatens these pristine, sacred rivers with masses of salty wastewater and through contamination and depletion of the groundwater these river systems connect with.

"Only the Greens are prepared to stand up to the big mining companies to keep our wild rivers running free.

"The Greens are going to the election with a plan for the federal protection for our wild rivers," Senator Waters said.

Contact - Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725