Peter
Drew Hutton is an activist, academic, campaigner and past
political candidate for the Queensland Greens in elections in
Queensland, Australia at all three levels of government.
Hutton has been a social activist all his adult life. (wiki)
TRANSCRIPT of Interview by Kirren McKechnie ABC
JESSICA van VONDEREN: The
Crime and Misconduct Commission is
being asked to investigate whether the former Bligh Government broke the
law, amid claims it rushed the approval of two major
coal seam gas
developments. Anti-CSG campaigner Drew Hutton is leading the charge;
concerned green issues were overlooked at the expense of some Queensland
communities. He'll take his case to the CMC on Tuesday. But the CSG
industry insists the environmental reviews were thorough. Kirrin
McKechnie reports.
(FOOTAGE OF PROTESTERS)
PROTESTERS: Hands off Tara, hands off Tara.
KIRRIN
McKECHNIE: It's an industry that's been causing controversy ever since
it arrived in Queensland. Now it's the approvals process for coal seam
gas projects in the spotlight. And anti-CSG campaigners have the former
Bligh Labor Government in their sights.
DREW HUTTON, LOCK THE GATE ALLIANCE: I think they broke the law. When they signed off on these approvals they broke the law.
(FOOTAGE FROM
COURIER MAIL "DASH FOR GAS")
KIRRIN
McKECHNIE: Drew Hutton suspects the Bligh Government breached the
Environmental Protection Act after a report this week that public
servants felt political pressure to quickly approve two gas projects,
worth 34 billion dollars. It found bureaucrats complained they didn't
have enough information about the projects and that environmental issues
hadn't been properly analysed.
DREW HUTTON: What has occurred is a
travesty. They simply short circuited the whole process for a
development that they were absolutely anxious to get up and running. And
along the way they just said well the people and the environment of
Queensland are collateral damage.
(FOOTAGE OF THE TOWN TARA)
KIRRIN
McKECHNIE: Many in the small western downs town of Tara feel they're
one such community paying the price of a rush job. Mother of six Debbi
Orr says she's collected the names of 26 families who have experienced a
string of health problems since CSG companies started drilling in the
area.
DEBBI ORR, TARA RESIDENT: We just don't know why. We don't
know if it is the CSG industry but it's all happened since they've come
to the area.
KIRRIN McKECHNIE: The very thought that environmental
considerations could have been given the once over lightly leaves her
horrified.
DEBBIE ORR: It's just unbelievable that they could do this. I mean there's just such a risk.
KERRIN
McKECHNIE: The resource industry group APPEA insists the environmental
reviews were thorough. But Drew Hutton is not convinced.
DREW
HUTTON: I've been in public life for about 40 years in this State. I
have never seen such a bad process. And I cut my teeth in the
Bjelke-Petersen days. And everyone used to go on about Joh doing this
and doing that for his mates. There was nothing like this.
CAMPBELL
NEWMAN, PREMIER: It's very rare ladies and gentlemen that I would ever
agree with anything that my former opponent in city hall days Mr Drew
Hutton would say, but on this occasion I support what he has suggested. I
should say that I believe that the companies concerned are companies
that will do this right. We've put in place a Gas fields Commission to
properly administer the industry. And I have no concerns at this time
about anything that they're doing. But in terms of the process and what
may or may not have happened, well Drew Hutton is right to raise those
concerns, I share those concerns and I think the CMC should be looking
at it.
KIRRIN McKECHNIE: But the State Opposition insists it's not
at all ruffled by a possible probe saying the
Right to Information
documents don't uncover any directions from Bligh Ministers to rush the
approvals process.
JACKIE TRAD, OPPOSITION ENVIRONMENT
SPOKESWOMAN: The CSG issue approval under investigation here was the
culmination of three and a half years of EIS. It had hundreds and
hundreds and hundreds of environmental conditions placed on it and I'll
let that speak for itself very happy for the CMC to have a look into it.
KIRRIN
McKECHNIE: And look at it the CMC will, if Drew Hutton and Campbell
Newman get their way. Not that the Premier's support for his cause has
impressed the anti-CSG campaigner.
DREW HUTTON: Campbell is just
simply trying to put the boot into the Labor Party and he can do that as
much as he likes as far as I'm concerned because they deserve it. But
that's just an easy shot. And if he's sincere then he'll do something
about what's happened.
For more on this story go to :
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-15/anti-csg-campaigner-wants-cmc-investigation/4522528
