Groups from across NSW unite to demand full investigation

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has called on all parties to commit to a Special Commission of Inquiry to investigate the full impacts and costs associated with the coal and coal seam gas industry in NSW.

“Such an Inquiry will need to be established by the incoming NSW Government by order of the Governor under the Special Commissions of Inquiry Act 1983,” said Ms Faehrmann.

“This kind of inquiry is an extraordinary step, but the unprecedented coal and gas rush requires this kind of powerful and urgent investigation.

“Groups from across NSW have united to demand the inquiry. Many of them share common experiences of the uncalculated costs of coal and gas mining which is impacting on their local environment, their livelihoods and their health.

“We must fully understand what we are sacrificing before we allow the state to be sold off to coal and gas giants. There are external costs that simply aren’t being taken into account when approvals are granted by the state government,” said Ms Faehrmann.

Attached are the following documents:

• The letter to the Premier, Opposition Leader and relevant Ministers requesting they pledge to request a Special Commission of Inquiry.
• ‘Calculating the true costs of mining’ – The case for a Special Commission of Inquiry.
• The Greens’ commitments in the event that the new government refuses to establish the inquiry.