Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. I move:

"(1) That the following bills have precedence in seriatim over all government business until determined:

(a) Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 [No.2] and Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2]"

(b) Landholders' Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2015;

(c) Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Bill 2016."

(2) Paragraph (4) add the following bills:

"Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 [No.2] and Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2];

Landholders' Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2015"

(3) Add the following new paragraph "(4) (c) for the purposes of this order, the consideration the Landholders' Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2015 be listed and considered as a Government Business Order of the Day."

Coal seam gas mining is one of the most evasive and diverse forms of mining in the world. CSG mining is currently exploding across Queensland, affecting the health and welfare of Queenslanders across my home state. CSG mining is depleting the important aquifers, contaminating remaining water, damaging the health of people and animals, and destroying communities. The people of Queensland have virtually no rights to say no to mining on their land. Queenslanders who try to stop CSG mining companies from coming onto their land are bullied and subjected to harassment and other nasty tactics. Farmers and Queenslanders affected by CSG mining are expressing a range of serious matters, including health issues, death of livestock and depletion and contamination of groundwater. Bores and wells are running dry and are becoming toxic because of CSG mining. Animals are losing their hair and they are dying. Children are suffering from nosebleeds and unexplained ailments. Many people have developed chronic illnesses.

Senator McGrath interjecting—

These are the people who voted you in. Oh, no, you didn’t get voted in—did you?—you got parachuted.