Front Line Action on Coal vows to continue its 82-day-long blockade camp in Leard State Forest following the O’Farrell government’s approval of the the Maules Creek Coal mine.
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The government has “buckled to pressure from its mates”.
Whitehaven Coal will destroy around 1360ha of native vegetation (half of which is listed as endangered) as well as huge tracts of productive farmland if the mine is able to proceed following Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke’s decision.
Why can a coal company that is so unsound in terms of finance and governance be allowed to do such damage, given that it might not be around to clean up the mess?
As widely reported, Whitehaven’s managing director is looking to quit and its entire board may be sacked next week due to uncertainties around its profitability.
We will not allow Whitehaven to destroy Leard Forest and Maules Creek and we invite the entire community to join us.
The Planning and Assessment Commission has buckled to pressure from Brad Hazzard’s department to water down rehabilitation conditions. Is this because Mark Vaile is the former leader of the National Party, or because deputy chairman John Conde presides over the tribunal that decides
federal politicians’ and judges’ salaries, or because the company’s lobbyist, Liam Bathgate, used to be Barry O’Farrell’s chief of staff?
If the government can’t say no to its mates in the coal industry, then it’s up to the community to stand up for our future.
MURRAY DRESCHLER
SPOKESMAN
FRONT LINE ACTION ON COAL
