Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 5 July 2011(my emphasis added):
Make sure your voice is heard on coal seam gas and mining
Senator Barnaby Joyce today announced public hearings for the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Committee’s inquiry into the impact of coal seam gas and coal mining developments in southern Queensland. Hearings will take place in Dalby, Roma and Brisbane on the 18, 19 and 20 July.
Serious concerns have been raised about the impact of mining development on aquifer health and agriculture productivity. This inquiry gives people a chance to directly communicate their issues and concerns with government.
Mining is vital to the economy of Queensland but people rightly want to make sure that it is not at the expense of the nation’s most vital asset, prime agricultural land and our scarce water resources.
I encourage everyone to have their say at these inquiries. The Committee is also taking submissions. More detail on how to do so is available here http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/rat_ctte/mdb/index.htm or submissions can be sent to the addresses below.
The Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee will examine the economic, social and environmental impacts of mining coal seam gas on:
• the sustainability of water aquifers and future water licensing arrangements;
• the property rights and values of landholders;
• the sustainability of prime agricultural land and Australia’s food task;
• the social and economic benefits or otherwise for regional towns and the effective management of relationships between mining and other interests; and
• other related matters including health impacts.For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
AustraliaPhone: +61 2 6277 3511
Fax: +61 2 6277 5811
Email: rat.sen@aph.gov.auMore Information (Senator Joyce’s office) – Matthew Canavan 0548 709 433
Barnaby Is Right 
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