Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

  (i) Leigh Creek Energy has produced its first syngas using underground coal gasification (UCG), and

  (ii) UCG was banned in 2016 in Queensland after the Linc Energy disaster in Chinchilla, which was declared Queensland's worst environmental disaster;

(b) further notes that UCG has been responsible for incidents of poisoning the water table and contaminating soil and air, and has been linked to an increase in cancers, including lung and breast cancers; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene and stop the Leigh Creek project from progressing any further and ban UCG across the country.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia has a diverse range of energy resources, including conventional and unconventional gas. The development of our gas resources, including underground coal gasification, supports Australian industry and Australian jobs. Numerous inquiries into unconventional gas development have come to the same conclusion—that the industry can be developed safely with appropriate regulation. Any risks associated with unconventional gas development can be mitigated and managed with rigorous outcomes-focused regulation and evidence-based policy backed by scientific research.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are a number of points of fact that are raised in the motion that Labor hasn't been in a position to confirm. For that reason, Labor can't support this motion.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One Nation will be supporting this motion. Having been out to Chinchilla and spoken to the families there, they're devastated about the effects it's having on the health of the children and the community. I believe that underground coal gasification, UCG, should be monitored a lot more. It is the responsibility of the state government to have a duty of care to the people in that region and to look after their health.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was an extraordinary excuse from the Labor Party to not be voting for this motion. The truth is this poisonous, toxic technology has been banned in Queensland by the Labor government up there. The same company, Linc Energy, now want to push their poisonous, toxic technology in my home state of South Australia, and I'm not having it. The Greens aren't having it. The South Australian community aren't having it. If it's good enough to ban it in Queensland, it's good enough to ban it in South Australia, and it should be banned everywhere.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 1146 be agreed to.