What we’re reading: NSW Energy Minister labels anti-CSG farmers “eco-fascists”

Encouraging news from the US, where the state of Oregon has become the country’s first to legislate a shift away from coal, after committing to eliminate the use of coal-fired power by 2035 and to double the amount of renewable energy in the state by 2040. The Guardian reported on Friday that the “landmark” new law – which had been passed by the state’s assembly, and would now need to be signed into law by Oregon Governor Kate Brown – would transition the north-western state away from coal, which currently provides around a third of its electricity. The state will also require its two largest utilities to boost their share of renewable energy capacity to 50 per cent by 2040. Combined with Oregon’s current hydro-power generation, this would make the state majority renewables-powered by that date.

Meanwhile, in Australia…

NSW’s Baird government has distinguished itself this week by labelling farmers and other community members opposing coal-seam gas development in the state as “eco-fascists”. The comments, made by resources minister Anthony Roberts, accompanied the announcement of new measures to crack down on CSG protesters, including increased fines and new search and seizure powers for police. More specifically, the Daily Telegraph reports, the powers will allow police to issue “move on” orders on private land, similar to those now available on public land, while fines for aggravated unlawful entry will rise from $550 to a huge $5500.

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The new rules – which come a month after AGL Energy said it would quit CSG exploration and production due to poor economics and a changing focus – have angered opponents of CSG mining, including the Australian Greens, who said the introduction of the “draconian new offences” – along with Roberts’ inflammatory comments – revealed the Baird government’s true colours.

“Many of those taking direct action against coal seam gas projects are farmers who feel they must act to protect the land and water from being poisoned or destroyed,” said Greens MP and resources spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham in a statement on Monday. “I’ve sat next to a 64 year old farmer with a lock around his neck and the gates of Santos’ project out of concern for water resources and his family’s farming future. To label these patriots ‘eco-fascists’ is wrong and offensive …Does Mike Baird care more about paying back his political donors in the mining industry, and doing the bidding of his former Chief of Staff, Stephen Galilee, who now runs the Minerals Council of NSW, than he does about farmers and communities in regional NSW?”


Comments

10 responses to “What we’re reading: NSW Energy Minister labels anti-CSG farmers “eco-fascists””

  1. Doug Avatar
    Doug

    I think Mr Baird might have lost some country support with this move. It is not just radical Greenies that are opposing CSG (& invasive polluting mining), but otherwise reasonable farmers & even Conservative voters! Marginal seats as on the North Coast could easily change if voters feel threatened by this legislation.
    It really beats me wondering why we do not use the move to Alternative power generation & fossil fuel elimination to generate wealth for Australia. Even if we only replace 10 to 20% of fossil fuels by battery powered Electric vehicles it would make a huge difference to our Balance of payments. This would also create jobs, particularly in the country where they are sorely needed.

    1. MaxG Avatar
      MaxG

      I wish the Greens were actually radical… nothing radical about the softies we have at play 🙂

    2. MaxG Avatar
      MaxG

      Also, are you kidding: “wealth for Australia (the people)?! Only wealth for the corporations and the rich is on the agenda. Keep on dreaming.

  2. Thucydides Avatar
    Thucydides

    Well, at least one of Santos’ investments has paid off for them – the one where they paid off the politicians! http://www.lockthegate.org.au/what_influence

  3. Fibbo Avatar
    Fibbo

    But how is the NSW government going in updating the outdated compensation laws for mining and CSG occupations of private land? Surely they wouldn’t be stupid enough to introduce punitive provisions before making provisions for proper landholder compensation. Would they?

    Fibbo

  4. Les Johnston Avatar
    Les Johnston

    Maybe Anthony Roberts has a financial reserve to pay farmers compensation for the long term damage inflicted upon the farmer’s private land. Or will Anthony Roberts not be around for the public to pick up the compensation claim?

    1. Mike Dill Avatar
      Mike Dill

      There are also supposedly sound funds for reclaiming the lands after the mines have been closed. Good luck with both being solvent in a few years.

  5. Vic Avatar
    Vic

    I dare you to jail a Knitting Nana Mike Baird and let’s just see you try and un-Lock the Gate now, punk.

  6. solarguy Avatar
    solarguy

    Brought to you by the Government who is selling NSW (the peoples) infrastructure assets and who wanted to introduce a Solar tax, sell Sydney trains and has just engineered higher power prices coming this July.
    Get rid of him this next election!

  7. MaxG Avatar
    MaxG

    Vote these clowns out of office… this has got nothing to do with Greenies — these clowns are dismantling democracy in favour for corporate exploitation without regard to the environment and the people.

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