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Labor playing catch up on mining exploration

The Bligh Labor Government is playing catch up on the eve of an election by moving to make mining exploration off limits in and around urban areas. This move  is a belated admission from a tired 20 year Labor Government that the process for issuing mining exploration permits near urban areas is flawed. You have to wonder how Labor could have allowed mining exploration permits in such close proximity to Queensland towns in the first place. 

Labor has had 20 years to sort this out and is only acting under pressure on the eve of an election. 

I made speeches in State Parliament in March highlighting the LNP’s concerns about the impact mining exploration permits had on people who lived in permit areas. 

In addition, the LNP wrote to the Qld Resources Council on 18 July 2011 and began consultation with miners and explorers a month ago to establish simple measures to help resolve some of the conflicts that have erupted between explorers and other interested parties. 

The LNP has long been saying that too many mining exploration permits were being granted for projects in areas that were unlikely to proceed. 

In many cases, exploration permits have been sought and granted for areas that there is no intention to mine, including urban and other areas, so the explorers can hand back the required portion. 

All this does is put a cloud of uncertainty over affected residents and landholders. 

Local communities should not have to live with a sword hanging over their heads for five to ten years. That causes enormous stress on individuals and property prices fall. The uncertainty and fear can destroy families, businesses and asset bases. 

As usual, Labor is playing catch up. Labor never plans for the future, they only live for the moment and only act under pressure. 

Labor has created a complete mess of this because they are so desperate to get cash, and that’s why they have taken so long to fix this and why they have let the whole coal seam gas boom get out of control on their watch. 

The LNP is committed to protecting prime agricultural land and ensuring our energy-rich resources are developed in a way that complements the economic future of other industry sectors, and finds the appropriate balance between growing our economy and protecting Queensland’s environment.