Greens slam appointment of Shenhua coal lobbyist as National Party federal president
MEDIA RELEASE - 9 September 2015
The Greens NSW mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham today slammed the National Party for appointing Larry Anthony, a registered lobbyist for Chinese coal mining company Shenhua, as their new federal president.
Larry Anthony, a former MP for Richmond, is a Director of SAS consulting Group which currently lists Shenhua Watermark as one of its clients on the NSW Lobbyist Register. Larry Anthony has also been personally lobbying the NSW Department of Planning on behalf of Shenhua since at least 2012.
“It’s clear that the modern National Party is nothing more than the political arm of the mining lobby,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.
“The decision to allow Shenhua to mine the heart out of the Liverpool Plains, the food bowl of Australia, is completely irresponsible and the public are understandably sceptical about the influence that the revolving door between politicians and the mining industry has had on decisions like this.
“It seems Shenhua have contracted senior National Party identities to open doors and smooth the path to a mine approval to the detriment of farmers.”
“The National Party have sold their soul and sold out farmers. The Greens stand ready to fill the gap to protect agriculture,” Mr Buckingham said.
Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916
The Nationals do not represent farmers any longer - food is not a political issue! Wake up Nationals.
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