QFF WELCOMES CHANGES TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY BILL

THE Queensland Farmers’ Federation welcomes amendments to mining legislation contained in the Geothermal Energy Bill 2010 passed through the Queensland Parliament this week.
QFF CEO Dan Galligan said the new laws would improve the ability for farmers to negotiate with exploration companies as they sought resources such as coal seam gas.
“QFF and AgForce have been lobbying for two years to improve the legislation surrounding resources exploration on agricultural land,” Mr Galligan said.
“This legisLation takes positive steps to improving the relationship between the agricultural sector and the expanding resources sector in Queensland.
“Given that the resources industry is projecting to build about 40,000 coal seam gas wells in the Surat Basin alone, these changes are absolutely critical for the agricultural and mining industry to coexist through a challenging period.”
Mr Galligan said this legislation would support at the minimum an opportunity for a better relationship between farmers and resource companies.
“The power remains with the resource company to gain access to farmers’ land with no right to veto from the landholder. However, these laws should ensure that exploration companies are doing the right thing once they get inside the farm gate.
“The law will require the companies to behave fairly, respect the land and the farmers living and working there, and to provide compensation up front.
“QFF is of the view that this is a positive start from the government to addressing a host of problems in this area. This is a fundamental improvement that must be swiftly implemented to have absolute affect.”