[Greens-Media] Media Release - Greens stand up for Victorian farmers and communities against unconventional gas

[Blyberg, Andrew (Sen R. Di Natale)]

Media Release

09/10/2014

Greens stand up for Victorian farmers and communities against unconventional gas 

Victorian Greens Senator Richard Di Natale was today joined on a tour of Western Victoria by Greens candidate for Western Victoria Lloyd Davies and Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters, who spoke of Queensland's devastating experience in the fight against unconventional gas and announced the Greens' new bill to give landholders the right to say no. The tour will include stops in Hamilton, Portland, Colac, Warrnambool and Heywood over the next two days.

"In my home state of Queensland, the big mining companies got in early and swamped farmers and communities despite their best efforts to protect their land and water from unconventional gas," said Senator Waters.

"Negotiations between farmers and the big mining companies are completely one-sided. Not only do the big companies have massive spin-doctoring budgets but landholders have no right to say no to exploration or mining on their land. 

"The Greens are the only party working to change this. Twice before we've introduced a bill to the federal Parliament to give landholders the right to say no but both times the Nationals, Liberals and Labor have failed to support the bill. 

"Now we're giving the old parties another chance, with our new expanded bill to ban fracking and give landholders the right to say no, including farmers, local councils on council land and traditional owners with Native Title rights. 

"We've seen some wonderful success stories in New South Wales, where communities learned from Queensland's experience and banded together early to lock the gate," said Senator Di Natale.

"Now in Victoria it's wonderful to see communities standing together to lock the gate to the onslaught of unconventional gas. The Greens will be with you every step of the way both in the federal and state parliaments and with you in your communities.

"The temporary moratorium on fracking is facing an uncertain future after the coming State election so it is crucial that the Greens win the balance of power in the Victorian upper house."

Media Contacts:
Senator Di Natale - Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600
Senator Waters - Monique Vandeleur 0419 626 725