PDC: CSG policy

Draft Policy This is a draft policy which may still be under development and is not approved or endorsed by the party. Until such time as it is endorsed by the party, it does not represent the views or intentions of the party.

This Working Group (WG) was established by the Policy Development Committee (PDC) on 28 January 2013. The working group was tasked with developing policy to prevent damage caused by coal seam gas mines. It was chaired by Mark Gibbons and has prepared the following policy text for potential adoption by PPAU.

Platform amendment

Pirate Party Australia proposes a moratorium on coal seam gas extraction due to the uncertainties surrounding the impact of extraction methods on our reserves of clean drinking water, our environment, and our food security. The scope of the threat to waterways and groundwater is particularly poorly understood, and instances have already come to light of previously unforeseen impacts[1]. In addition, CSG extraction carries a potential for significant fugitive emissions leaks, which reduces the effectiveness of the carbon tax and undermines the purported benefit of lower greenhouse gas emissions[2]. CSG mining also imposes a permanent risk on farmers already operating under difficult conditions. The undermining of farmers rights to exercise control over productive farmland represents a threat to an essential pillar of Australia's food security.

Until our understanding improves, CSG mining must be subject to an onus of proof given the potential for significant unforeseen damage. We believe that a ban is necessary until technology improves and a strong scientific case can be made for the safety of this practice.

Policy text

Institute an immediate ban on the extraction of Coal Seam Gas through hydraulic fracturing.

• This ban will apply to all new mines.
• All mines operating in metropolitan areas or where permission is withheld by the landholder will be closed. A fund will be established to cover compensation in instances where access was previously officially sanctioned.
• After ten years, an independent panel will review available scientific evidence and present recommendations to the Government on the scientific case for lifting or modifying the ban.
• Landowners will be granted a new right in perpetuity to refuse exploitation of coal seam gas deposits on land they own.

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Citations

[1]: http://coalseamgasnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Contaminated-sites-and-accidents-related-specifically-to-CSG-in-Australia.pdf

[2]: https://www.tai.org.au/index.php?act=display&pubid=1032&q=node%2F19

Previous Minutes

Meeting held 8:00PM, 4 February 2013

[MAUT table link]

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