24th Nov 2015, 3:56 PM – Senate Motions - Coal Seam Gas - Landholders' right to say "no"

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Larissa Waters. The motion asked for the Senate to agree that landowners should have the right to say "no" to coal seam gas activity on their land.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the Victorian National Party’s announcement in early 2015 that they ‘support landowners having the right to say no to coal seam gas extraction activity on their land’,

(ii) comments by the Leader of the Nationals and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Mr Truss MP, that farmers should have the right to say yes or no to coal seam gas exploration and extraction on their property,

(iii) comments by:

(a) the Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Mr Joyce MP, and

(b) the Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate and Minister for Rural Health, Senator Nash,

supporting a right for farmers to say no to coal seam gas activity on their land,

(iv) reports that:

(a) the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr McCormack MP, and

(b) Mr Broad MP, and Senators McKenzie, Williams and Canavan,

support the right of farmers to say no to coal seam gas activity on their land; and

(b) agrees that landowners should have the right to say no to coal seam gas activity on their land.