James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The government does not support this motion and opposes any moratorium or blanket bans on development. Safeguards are already in place to protect agricultural groundwater systems and the environment. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 has a water trigger requiring environmental assessment for coal seam gas and large coalmining development that may significantly impact water resources. The minister is also required to seek the advice of the independent expert scientific committee on all large coal and coal seam gas projects that require approval under the EPBC Act. Moratoriums have only served to restrict gas development and supply and increase energy costs.