One Uniting Church congregation has expressed real concern about the legal and property rights of local people impacted by the state government’s establishment of the “Galilee Basin State Development Area”. However, the Queensland government has removed long-standing public rights to object to mines. Previously off-limits areas of western Queensland are being opened up to oil and coal seam gas mining ...
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Uniting Church minister explains why he protests
Anti-coal activists at the controversial open-cut coal mine at Maules Creek, near Narrabri, New South Wales are at times surprised to find themselves accompanied by a Uniting Church Minister. Rev John Brentnall joined a blockade for the third time on 26 November, together with three Buddhists and another Christian, this time at the gate of a coal processing plant in ...
Read More »Proposed legislation poses risk to Queensland farmers
Strong concerns have been expressed about some of the provisions in the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Bill 2014 put to state parliament by Hon Andrew Cripps Minister for Natural Resources and Mines on 5 June. The Bill proposes to replace five existing pieces of legislation (which govern the energy and resources sector) with a single, common resource Act ...
Read More »Downs Presbytery calls for moratorium on CSG exploration
The Downs Presbytery of the Uniting Church in Australia has called for a moratorium of six months on further issue of any Coal Seam Gas (CSG) exploration permits and production licences. The Presbytery which covers the Darling Downs and South West Queensland region wants the moratorium so governments, communities, scientists, environmentalists, and the CSG industry can take stock of the ...
Read More »Uniting Church Congregation condemns Galilee Basin proposal
In a letter to the Queensland Premier the Clermont Congregation of the Uniting Church has condemned the proposal to establish the “Galilee Basin State Development Area”. This act of regulation would essentially set the area apart for the specific purpose of transporting coal from the proposed Galilee Basin mines to the coast with all other land uses allowed only if ...
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