Farmers rally at NSW Parliament for Greens bill: cross bench MPs hold key to vote

With the Coalition backing the Bill, the vote of conservative cross bench MPs from the Shooters and Christian Democrat parties, will determine whether the bill is passed by the NSW Upper House. The government is opposing the bill.

The Safeguarding Agricultural Land and Water from Mining Bill will be debated today. It prohibits new mining developments and mining exploration on land defined as prime agricultural land and land that is critical for the supply of water to that land.

"It appears that MPs from the Shooters Party and the Christian Democrats hold the key to whether this bill will pass. Farmers are counting on them to vote the right way," Ms Rhiannon said.

“High quality farming land is a finite, limited and precious resource and this bill will ensure coal mining does not threaten our most productive food-producing land.

"The rich Gloucester and Liverpool Plains supply much of Sydney's food.

"For mining to ruin this land, and the rivers and aquifers that feed this land, will jeopardise NSW's food security.

"NSW's best food-producing land is a public asset that should be protected by governments for our future.

"Farmers are counting on all MPs to vote in favour of this bill to protect our highly productive farming land," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information – Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
Visit http://www.miningdirt.org.au/ for background on the Greens bill.