Queensland landholders are only signing agreements with coal seam gas companies because they don’t have the right to deny access, say the Australian Greens.

“Qld Gas Corporation is boasting that it has signed agreements with 1700 Queenslanders but this is only because landholders don’t have the right to say no to coal seam gas,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

“Landholders don’t have a choice when coal seam gas companies come knocking.

Revelations today that the Queensland Government did not properly assess the impacts of major coal seam gas projects prove we need federal protection for water supplies, say the Australian Greens.

ABC reports show there was not enough time or information for staff to assess the environmental impacts of Santos' and Queensland Gas Company's coal seam gas projects in Southern Queensland.

“Coal seam gas mining is going full steam ahead without full examination of the impacts on our precious water resources,” Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said. 

After sustained pressure from the Greens, the Independents and the community, federal responsibility to protect water resources from coal seam gas mining, has been passed through the Lower House today.

“The Greens are thrilled that by working with Independent MP Tony Windsor we have strengthened the government’s protection for water resources from the impacts of coal seam gas by ensuring the impacts are assessed at a federal level, even under an Abbott government.

The Australian Greens today circulated amendments to Abbott-proof proposed protection for water resources from coal seam gas mining and to give landholders the right to so no to coal seam gas mining on their property.

“There’s no point locking the gate if you don’t Abbott-proof the fence,” Senator Larissa Waters, the Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

“Tony Abbott has clearly stated that, if Prime Minister, he will hand national environment protection, including this new protection for water, to state governments. 

 “In senate debate today, the government made it clear that it will not lift a finger to stop Tony Abbott from handing over federal environment protection to his state cronies, who have let the coal seam gas industry run rampant,” Senator Larissa Waters, the Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

“It’s great that the Gillard Government has finally decided to consider the devastating effects of coal seam gas on water resources through national environment law.

The Australian Greens will work to strengthen the government’s bill to consider the impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mines on water resources when assessing these projects.

“The government’s proposed changes fail to protect communities through a number of clear concessions to the mining industry,” Senator Waters, the Australian Greens mining spokesperson, said.

“The Environment Minister is ignoring the farming communities in Queensland and New South Wales where he has already approved major coal seam gas projects.

The Australian Greens congratulate and support the members of Lock the Gate Alliance who are taking action on coal seam gas today by delivering their list of demands to the electorate offices of federal members of the lower house.

“It is time the old parties, who pretend to support farmers, actually do so by ending their embrace of the coal seam gas industry at the expense of farmers and our future,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne.