THE offer is still open for the coal seam gas industry to provide a speaker at a forum about CSG, but the industry’s peak body has declined the invitation, calling the event a “media stunt”.
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APPEA was criticised for denying it was invited to the forum about the economic impacts of CSG, organised by The Australia Institute (TAI), despite an email trail obtained by The Leader showing otherwise.
TAI principal adviser Mark Ogge said the proposal was still on the table and offered to discuss dates with APPEA.
“We’d be happy to come up again and have the debate – in fact we’ll even have the debate in Sydney if it suits APPEA,” Mr Ogge said.
An APPEA spokesman said the gas industry regularly liaised with Narrabri residents, its business chamber and relevant stakeholders, but had no faith in any event organised by TAI.
“Industry has no confidence in The Australia Institute’s ability to deliver anything more than a media stunt and therefore will not be participating,” he said.