[Greens-Media] Greens will call for papers on Santos MOU and aquifer contamination incident

[Max Phillips]

JEREMY BUCKINGHAM MLC  THE GREENS NSW
MEDIA RELEASE

10 March 2014

Greens will call for papers on Santos MOU and aquifer contamination incident

Jeremy Buckingham Greens mining agriculture spokesperson will introduce a call for papers into parliament under Standing Order 52 seeking all information regarding the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government and Santos and the EPA's handling of the revelations that Santos contaminated an aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium and other heavy metals.
 
"The Greens want to know why it took a year for this information about the aquifer contamination to become public.  Why the fine was so paltry?  Why the media were not properly alerted by the EPA?," asked Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.
 
"What has been the relationship between the EPA and Santos on this matter? We know there has been a degree of collusion between the EPA and polluters such as Orica in the past in drafting reports and media releases.
 
"I also want to know who in Government was aware of this contamination when they were negotiating and signing off on the MOU with Santos"
 
"The Greens think it is incredible that Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner made this sweetheart deal with Santos to fast track coal seam gas while his government had information that their coal seam gas operations had poisoned an aquifer with uranium 20 times the safe drinking water standard.
 
"The people of NSW are rightly concerned about the influence of mining and gas companies on politicians and bureaucrats and have a right to know whether anything improper has occurred here."

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916


Draft motion:

That, under standing order 52, there be laid upon the table of the House within 14 days of the date of passing of this resolution all documents in the possession, custody or control of:

a) the Premier, 
b) the Minister for the Environment,
c) the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure,
d) the Department of Premier and Cabinet, 
e) the Deputy Premier, the Minister for Trade and Investment, and the Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services,
f) the former Minister for Resources and Energy Chris Hartcher, 
g) the current Minister for Resources and Energy, 
h) the Minister for Primary Industries, 
i) the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, 
j) the Treasurer, 
k) the NSW Treasury, 

in relation to 

a) the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2014 between the NSW Government and Santos Ltd regarding the proposed Narrabri Gas Project; 
b) the pollution incident at the Narrabri Gas Field operations of Santos Ltd in the Pilliga which Santos Ltd reported to the NSW Environmental Protection Authority in March 2013; 
c) any document which records or refers to the production of documents as a result of this order of the House.



Max Phillips
 
OFFICE OF JEREMY BUCKINGHAM MLC
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 02 9230 2202 | Fax: 02 9230 3341 | Mobile: 0419 444 916