Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I cannot allow that to pass. It is a complete duck. I expected a bit more directness from the minister than that. This is a changing landscape. It is a moveable feast, because there is inconsistency on the opposition benches. But there have been a number of proposals for a study of the impact on the integrity of the groundwater in the Gunnedah Basin. I refer to the proposal from the Liverpool plains Land Management Committee which involved three universities and other independent assessors. Part of the proposal states:

… a clear, scientifically-robust statement of the areas where coal development might proceed with least impact on the water resources and land productivity of the region will be available for the approvals/assessment process.

It should be there before the assessment process. My understanding is that it means exploration. The proposal goes on to state:

This project approach provides a comprehensive water resources assessment process—spatial risk assessment underpinned with sound natural resources science directed and implemented by a community group—whose principles would be applicable in many situations of competitive development. It will be the first time that an extensive model of the geological and hydrogeological context of the Liverpool Plains has been achieved. This alone will significantly improve the basis upon which natural resource management and development decisions are made.

I simply ask the minister if she will look favourably at this submission from the Liverpool plains Land Management Committee, because it is a reasonable submission. And if her asseveration that the prospect is there in the legislation for such a study to take place is correct, here is the upfront test case. Ministerial authority, government authority, carries a lot of weight here. This is an utterly disappointing day for the bush and for the people of the Liverpool plains. I ask the minister: will she not have the resources of government brought to bear—she says the way is open for it—and will she not commit the government to ensuring that this study is undertaken?