MEDIA RELEASE - 16 November 2012
Greens mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham will move a motion in the Legislative Council calling on the O’Farrell Government to suspend the Eddie Obeid related Mt Penny coal licence because of the evidence tendered in ICAC and the uncertainty the mine proposal is causing for Bylong Valley residents.
“Given the evidence that has been presented to ICAC, I believe the Minister for Energy and Resources, Chris Hartcher, has cause to believe that false and misleading information is associated with the licence application and that the whole process itself may have been corrupted.
“Premier O’Farrell can not just allow the exploration licence to continue along with the planning application as if the government is oblivious to the major revelations made at ICAC. It’s time for Barry O’Farrell to give local residents some protection and certainty.”Residents of the beautiful Bylong Valley have been fighting this coal mine for years because they want to keep their valley as good farming country. The allegations involved in the ICAC inquiry only increase their uncertainty.
“The Greens have put on the Legislative Council notice paper a motion calling on the government to suspend or cancel this tainted exploration licence,” he said.
Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916
Notice of MotionRe: ICAC hearings into the issuing of coal exploration licencesI give notice that on the next sitting day I will move:1) That this house notes:a) that the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is currently conducting public hearings into the circumstances surrounding the issuing of a coal exploration licence in the Bylong Valley to Cascade Coal;
2) That this house calls on the Government to: of an exploration licence if the Energy and Resources Minister reasonably considers that the holder of the authority provided false or misleading information in or in connection with an application; and
a) to instruct the Energy and Resources Minister to investigate options for the suspension or termination of the exploration licences subject to the current ICAC inquiries and to release any legal advice obtained publically; and
b) if no legal avenues currently exist to suspend or terminate the licence to introduce legislation to the parliament to bring this into effect.