John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of this amendment, especially in relation to the black soil farming country in the Gunnedah area—Breeza Plains, Liverpool Plains—which Senator Bob Brown has referred to. It is probably some of the most magnificent farming land not only in Australia but in the world. I have been saying for some 12 or 18 months that to sacrifice a thousand years of farming for 30 years of mining does not make sense. We need to have a proper independent inquiry into underground aquifers in these areas and many other areas in the Murray-Darling Basin if this is to be an issue in the future. It is vital that the truth be brought out about these prime agricultural areas. It is vital that this study be undertaken, hence I offer my support for this amendment. The National Party has worked on this area over the last 12 months. My state colleagues Andrew Fraser, Rick Colless and Andrew Stoner have had a close look at the issue. We need to ensure that the long-term viability of this agricultural land is not put under threat at any stage and the best way to do that, as I have said, is to have an independent assessment of the underground water aquifers and the impact that mining may well have on this agricultural land. I support this amendment.