Hartcher digs that hole
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| A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON FROM GREG FIRST .... awesome article too I might add |
ANOTHER month, another priceless quote from the NSW Minister for Resources and Energy, Chris Hartcher.
In June he said, "There is no Newcastle without coal and any attack on the coal industry is an attack on the people of Newcastle".
Now
he's coughed up this ripper: "The community, local councils and the
mining industry have all expressed frustration and a lack of confidence
in the processes governing how decisions are made on major mining
proposals".
I don't suppose the minister remembers this, but there was a state election in 2010.
And
his Liberal-National Coalition went into that election with the
anguished cries of communities and farmers ringing in its ears.
People
felt besieged by mines and mining proposals and they had zero
confidence in the Labor government's ability to make fair decisions.
They suspected that an addiction to royalty payments from mining had
made Labor incapable of listening to any voices other than those of the
miners.
"Trust us," said the Coalition. They promised a new, fairer regional land use policy.
Some
people probably believed them. But the new policy - when it appeared -
was an almost total joke. It created a new "gateway" system for mining
applications, sure enough.
Only problem: the new gate could never be
closed on a mining application.
Such a
failure was the new system, it seems, that it already needs "fixing".
Because, as Minister Hartcher notes, communities and local councils are
complaining.
- Like Muswellbrook Council complained when Rio Tinto wanted to rip up Wallaby Scrub Road.
- Like the village of Bulga complained when Rio wanted to mine Saddleback Ridge, even though Rio had earlier promised it wouldn't.
So, does Mr Hartcher want to address such complaints as these? No bloody fear, I'd say.
The government happily approved Rio's plans over the top of all community and council complaints.
Then
the proposal got overturned in court and it was the mining giant's turn
to complain. And the minister's deafness to complaints was miraculously
cured overnight and now we are going to get some "planning law reform".
We need "certainty", you see.
But
not the kind of certainty you have when a gigantic multinational
corporation makes a promise. That's just bum fluff only idiots would
believe, apparently.
No, we need the kind
of certainty that confirms such corporations can always get what they
need, no matter what they may have promised in the past.
Just
in case you have the faintest doubt about what Mr Hartcher is trying to
achieve with his proposed planning reforms, you can read what he wrote
in this newspaper on the subject.
Mining executives have dropped NSW down their list of favourite places to operate, he warned, because the rules are so tough on them here. We need new rules so we can get back to number one on the Christmas card list of the mining corporations. Simple as that.
I reported last week on
some sneaky changes the government has made to water sharing rules in
the Hunter Valley, enabling coalmines to rip up aquifers with virtual
impunity.
Put those changes together with
the wonderful new rules the government is about to deliver to suck up to
the global mining community and I think the picture is clear.
We may be entering the end-game for the Hunter Valley as a place with any significant agricultural future.
If
the mining corporations get open slather (and there is no sign that
anybody can stop them) then our river flats and alluvial plains are
probably finished,
If you can prove me wrong, I don't mind. I'm happy to be discredited on this point.
But
if I'm right, and in 20 years or so you and your children look back and
regret what your once-beautiful valley has become, don't say I didn't
try to warn you.
*That was in AUGUST 2013 and now in DECEMBER 2013 the truth to why we all knew there was a push on the filthy Csg Industry and the connections to Water by Obeid and Hartcher.
BREAKING NEWS on the way home from the Woop Woop March in Canberra with the Franklin Horses defending Water ---> THE CENTRAL Coast state MP Chris Hartcher has quit
as Resources and Energy minister over an Independent Commission Against
Corruption search warrant.
In a statement he issued , Mr Hartcher said he would stay on as Member for Terrigal but had resigned as minister following ‘‘the issue of a search warrant by ICAC against him.’’
‘‘I am confident I will be cleared of any wrongdoing,’’ Hartcher said.
‘‘This
is the first contact I have had with the ICAC and given that their
investigations have thus far had an unknown timeframe, it is appropriate
that I resign.’’
In a separate statement,
Premier Barry O’Farrell, who is currently in India, said he had spoken
to Mr Hartcher and accepted the resignation.
Barry said “Mr Hartcher advised me he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.’’
Well I don't think this will be the case. As a matter of fact I know it will not be the case at all! Obeid, Reith, Hartcher, McDonald... and where else?
Well I don't think this will be the case. As a matter of fact I know it will not be the case at all! Obeid, Reith, Hartcher, McDonald... and where else?
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| National Sparks |
In Australia they have it covered in all levels of government including the indigenous people they have strategically placed in places like National Parks and Wildlife which should be re named to National Sparks and Wildfire Department because of their complete lack of connection to the land and fire!
I want to know if this fellow is up to his neck in it / he didn't save Bulahdelah
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