Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg will hold discussions with his state counterparts, including NSW Energy Minister Anthony Roberts, on Friday.

Gunnedah farmer and Mary’s Mount Protection Alliance chairman Phil Herbert said it was vital the meeting delivered tangible action and gave farmers, landholders and traditional owners the power to refuse mining companies access to their land.

“This meeting has the capacity to come up with meaningful reform – if it is given due weight on the agenda,” Mr Herbert said.

He said members of the farming community were in desperate need of a decision, so they could have the confidence to invest in their operations.

“We can deal with market downturns and bad weather, but when you get government policy that actively discourages investment, that’s not a good place to be,” he said.

“Farmers want to be sure that extractive industries will not impact on their operations.

“Without the right to say no, we can’t safeguard the land and our businesses.”

Mr Herbert said a number of senior politicians, including Mr Frydenberg, had stated farmers should have a moral right to say no to mining companies.

“They’ve expressed their desire to do something, so we’ll wait and see if it’s just talk. We want action, not more talk. It is time for the buck-passing and bullying to end.”

Lock the Gate Alliance said it wanted the COAG to reach an agreement to legislate the right for landholders to say no and for the state governments to implement the changes within six months.

The alliance also called for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission inquiry into whether the unconventional gas industry had “engaged in unconscionable conduct” in its dealings with landholders.