Coal and Gas Mining
Ms Cate Faehrmann: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Energy. Yesterday the Government announced it will kill off the PEP 11 gas exploration licence along with all offshore gas and mineral exploration.
In justifying the decision, the Minister stated that she is listening to community concerns and prioritising the environment. Santos' Narrabri Gas Project has also been the subject of overwhelming community opposition. The project and associated pipeline will clear threatened species habitat in the Pilliga Forest, threaten water and agricultural resources on the Liverpool Plains and produce coal seam gas, which is 94 per cent methane, with the global warming potential 85 times greater than carbon dioxide in just over 20 years. When will the Minister's Government acknowledge the widespread opposition to Santos and kill off the threat posed by its Narrabri Gas Project and Hunter Gas Pipeline once and for all?