Greens welcome Labor-Liberal anti-CSG auction as Sydney exploration licence is cancelled

MEDIA RELEASE - 6 March 2015

The Greens NSW mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham welcomed news that the coal seam gas exploration licence (PEL 463) that covers a large section of the Sydney metropolitan area will be cancelled, saying the Greens were very pleased that three weeks out from the state election, both Labor and the Liberals seem to be adopting the Greens long-held opposition to coal seam gas and were now holding an anti-CSG auction.

“It might be occurring now for cynical electoral reasons, but it is clear that fracking for coal seam gas has no future in NSW, with all sides of politics now competing to crack down on the toxic industry,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“The question for voters is who do you trust to oppose coal seam gas?  The Greens who have consistently fought fracking for years?  A Labor Party that unleashed the industry in the first place, but has seen electoral opportunity?  Or the Coalition who try to facilitate CSG, but have been constantly beaten back by community concern.

“It’s now clear that coal seam gas has no social licence to operate in NSW and Santos, AGL, Metgasco and others should cut their losses and cancel their projects.

“The cancellation of PEL 463 is a great victory for the activists and many thousands of Sydneysiders who have campaigned against the ridiculous plan to frack for gas under homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces.

“The Greens policy is for complete and permanent ban on coal seam gas and for the promotion of renewable energy to power the NSW,” Mr Buckingham said.

Contact: Max Phillips - 0419 444 916

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