FED:Coal seam gas moratorium wanted: poll

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2011
FED:Coal seam gas moratorium wanted: poll

CANBERRA, Aug 26 AAP - The Greens have released polling showing 68 per cent of Australians
support a moratorium on the coal seam gas (CSG) industry until the full health and environmental
impacts are known.

The Galaxy poll comes just two days after the Greens introduced a bill into federal
parliament to increase the right of land owners to have a greater in CSG explorers moving
in on their properties.

"I think this survey really demonstrates the strength of opinion here in the Australian
community about the risks with coal seam gas and the need to press pause until we have
that full information," Greens Senator Larissa Waters told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"When there are so many unanswered questions, we need a moratorium at both the federal
and the state levels. And clearly that's what the majority of Australians want on this
dangerous and risky industry."

Senator Waters said water was a key issue.

"When our farmers have had to tighten their belts it beggars belief that coal seam
gas miners can de-water billions of litres from our underground aquifers without a licence
and jeopardise other interests like food security."

She called on both major parties to support the bill, and on Opposition Leader Tony
Abbott to "stick up for landholders and stick for Australia's ability to feed itself into
the future."

The Galaxy national poll of 1048 people, conducted last weekend (August 19-21) found
two in three Australians supported a moratorium, with 18 per cent opposed and 13 per cent
uncommitted.

"The idea of the moratorium is popular across all demographic groups and all states
of Australia," Galaxy said.

As well, 70 per cent believed CSG mining should be prohibited in cities and towns.

CSG production is a major industry in southeast Queensland and areas of NSW.

AAP ms/klm/dep

KEYWORD: CSG GREENS

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