Senator on North West visit

Independent ACT Senator David Pocock visited the North West last week to meet with farmers and traditional owners over concerns about the impact of fossil fuel projects on agricultural land.

The visit comes as major reforms to Australia’s environmental laws are set to come before the federal parliament next year.

The visit was also an opportunity to discuss impacts from the roll out of renewable energy infrastructure, following the commencement of the Community Engagement Review which is currently consulting with communities and is due to report later this year. The government commissioned this independent review by Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner

Andrew Dyer as a result of negotiations with Senator Pocock and Member for Indi Helen Haines.

Senator Pocock travelled to Coonabarabran on Thursday for meetings with Gomeroi traditional owners and visits to sites around the Pilliga.

On Friday, Senator Pocock travelled to the Maules Creek and Vickery coal mines, and heard from farmers on the Liverpool Plains about their concerns over proposed coal seam gas around their country. Senator Pocock described the trip is a great opportunity to hear from those directly impacted by an expanding fossil fuel industry.

“We know that approving new and expanded fossil fuel projects is against the advice of climate scientists, the IPCC and the International Energy Agency,” Senator Pocock said.

“We often forget that climate change is not the only cost we suffer when new projects are approved. In the Liverpool Plains and the Darling Downs we are risking prime agricultural land.

“It makes no sense to sacrifice some of our most precious and productive land to a dying industry that will harm our climate and fail to provide sustainable economic development.

“Fossil fuels are a dying energy source. People will always need food and fibre to survive. We should prioritise what matters.”