Emissions from New South Wales coal burnt聽overseas need to continue to be taken into consideration by planning authorities. But, as Pip Hinman writes, the NSW Minerals Council is pushing the state government to do the exact opposite.
NSW Minerals Council
The New South Wales state government has released changes to the state鈥檚 planning law which, if passed, will grant big mining companies more power and reduce communities and councils鈥 already limited rights of appeal.
The government says the changes to the , released on January 9, are primarily about promoting 鈥渃onfidence鈥 in the state鈥檚 planning system.
The NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee is keen on new anti-protest laws in NSW. He claims to be concerned about the safety of the workers as well as the protesters 鈥渋llegally accessing mine sites鈥.
has been a little more blunt: he says the new law is aimed at better enforcing the protection of private property and 鈥渓awful business activity鈥.
Most, however, can see through the spin.
About 40 protesters gathered outside NSW state parliament on June 17 to oppose the NSW Minerals Council鈥檚 "Beyond the Rocks Conference" being held in partnership with the Baird state government.
They called for the council, representing multinational corporations such as Whitehaven Coal and Rio Tinto, to support a transition away from the destructive coal export industry.
Protesters carried banners and placards with message such as "Minerals Council Conference: 1. Lies about coal. 2. Lies about CSG. 3. Lunch."
The rally was called by Front Line Action on Coal.