CLAYTON’S Environment Minister (the environment minister you have when you don’t have an environment minister) Greg Hunt’s pathetic decision to approve the Shenhua coal mine on the Liverpool Plains is yet another attack on our farmers, farmland, woodland, native animals and scarce fresh water supplies.
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While the mine will not be located on the black soil, the close proximity on nearby hills and ridges means that surface and underground water contaminated by the toxic, carcinogenic hydrocarbons will flow into the farmland aquifers.
Shenhua has over-exploited groundwater in China and dumped industrial waste water in inner Mongolia. China has a poor record of toxicity in agriculture in its own country, yet the government is content to allow the threat on land with the world’s best soils and pristine waters.
Having recently signed the flawed “free” trade agreement with China, it seems the government is willing to trade off Australia’s most treasured natural assets to placate the Chinese government.
The so-called science used to justify this act of treason is a sham.
Huge political donations to the Liberals/Nationals and Labor by mining companies, and the jobs-for-the-boys culture bestowed on ex-politicians and public servants, has resulted in the two large political parties giving open slather to allowing the CSG and coal mining companies to pillage our country, despite the wishes of the Australian public.
The NSW government is complicit in this treachery also, as it has been with the Leard Forest destruction, and the betrayal of the people of Bulga in the Hunter Valley.
After the Bulga community won two different court cases, the government changed the laws to suit the Rio Tinto expansion plans.
Destroying our country for short-term greed is unacceptable.
The fact that most of the profits relating to coal mining and CSG go off-shore shows even more
stupidity.
Ken Brown
Invergowrie
