copy of SMH article. Baird government cracks down on protesters, - TopicsExpress



          

copy of SMH article. Baird government cracks down on protesters, fast-tracks mining Nicole Hasham Published: November 22, 2014 - 12:15AM CSG: the facts about coal seam gas The close relationship between the state government and the mining industry has come under renewed scrutiny after Premier Mike Baird announced faster mining approvals and harsher fines for protesters who illegally enter mining sites. The announcement, at a dinner for mining heavyweights on Thursday night, came just hours after it was revealed that corrupt former Labor minister Ian Macdonald will face criminal charges over a mining deal. Critics have accused the government of cutting special deals with the mining industry, and failing to follow advice by the corruption watchdog to safeguard the planning system. Lock the Gate Alliance said protesters already face heavy penalties, citing farmer Ted Borowski, who was fined about $3000 for protesting against Santos coal seam gas operation earlier this year. By comparison, the company was fined $1500 for contaminating an aquifer with uranium. The government says protesters do not have the right to act unlawfully, and industry and the community should not wait years for mining applications to be decided. Mr Baird told a NSW Minerals Council event that his government will halve assessment times for so-called state significant proposals, such as mines and manufacturing plants. He said assessment times for mining projects had jumped from 500 to more than 1000 days in the past six years. On Friday, Planning Minister Pru Goward said the government intends to slash 170 days from the average time it takes to assess major applications by introducing new timeframes and ensuring timely advice from government agencies. New timeframes would also be applied to the Planning Assessment Commission, the independent body that decides some of the states most controversial proposals. The government has been under pressure to streamline the mining approvals process after its maligned planning reforms stalled in the upper house. Fairfax Media has reported that 13 mining industry leaders met Mr Baird two weeks ago for a crisis meeting after Anglo Americans application to extend the Drayton South coal mine project was rejected. The industry has also called for stronger penalties for trespassers, following heated protests over projects such as Whitehaven Coals Maules Creek mine and Santos coal seam gas venture in north-west NSW. Mr Baird said it was galling that the mining industry was responsible for the safety of trespassers. The government will seek changes to workplace health and safety laws, and increase penalties for protesters who break into mining operations, damage equipment or disrupt work. Lock the Gate Alliance spokesman Phil Laird, whose organisation campaigns against coal and gas mining, said the announcement highlights the close relationship and special treatment given to industry over the interests of communities. He said the government had ignored advice by the Independent Commission Against Corruption to expand community appeal rights on planning decisions. A spokesman for Ms Goward said independent scrutiny of decisions already exists.  The NSW Minerals Council said the planning changes would help attract investment and create jobs in our state. Labors environment spokesman Luke Foley welcomed the move towards faster approvals, but said it should not come at the expense of proper environmental, social and economic assessment. Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham claimed the Liberal and National parties were essentially just the political arm of the mining industry. This story was found at: smh.au/nsw/baird-government-cracks-down-on-protesters-fasttracks-mining-20141121- 11r882.html
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 03:26:14 +0000

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