The Queensland Greens have warned that two inquiries are about to embarrass the two major parties in the lead up to the state election and prove that the Greens call for a coal and gas moratorium is warranted. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Affairs will be holding hearings for its Inquiry into the use of ‘fly-in, fly-out’ (FIFO) workforce practices in regional Australia later this month in Cairns, Moranbah, Mackay and Brisbane.
Then a UNESCO delegation concerned about the impacts of coal and LNG ports planned for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area is due to visit Gladstone on 8 March and Townsville later. ‘We know from the impressive submissions made by the Moranbah Medical Clinic and the Moranbah Traders Association to the House of Representatives Standing Committee that the serious negative public health, social effects and strain on local infrastructure will come to the fore in the February hearings, and will be compounded by UNESCO’s concerns in March,’ Queensland Greens state spokesperson Libby Connors said today.
‘The local medical clinic at Moranbah has to cope with an extraordinary GP to population ratio of 1:2750 and its submission outlines the health problems associated with the young, largely male miners,’ Queensland Greens state spokesperson Libby Connors said today.
‘As well as a health burden, there are real social and planning problems outlined in the submissions.
‘The Moranbah Traders Association provides some facts about the social strain and infrastructure problems that have arisen.
The Greens believe that this social and health data adds weight to their persistent call for a moratorium.
‘An increasing number of Queenslanders are worried about these diverse social, health and environmental problems triggered by the pace of the mining and gas rush.
‘Like the Greens, they do not necessarily want to stop all mining and gas development but they do want time to consider where and when developments should proceed.
‘It is too late now for the Labor government to call a moratorium to discuss these concerns and have any credibility.
‘But Campbell Newman should learn from his New South Wales counterpart Barry O’Farrell.
‘Mr O’Farrell responded to the public concern, won the election and agreed to a moratorium on coal seam gas.
‘New South Wales now has a state parliamentary inquiry initiated by the Greens to try to keep Premier O’Farrell to honour his election promises.
‘Campbell Newman is going to lose votes in the city and the bush over this issue. If he wants to win the election, he should commit to a moratorium now.’
Contact: Libby Connors 0429 487 110
Link to submissions to House of Representatives Inquiry into the use of ‘fly-in, fly-out’ (FIFO) workforce practices in regional Australia
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ra/fifodido/subs.htm