The following policy might be of interest to PSI affiliates confronting the issue of Coal Sean Gas mining in their Communities - affiliates may wish to email (see base of page) similar or same policies for sharing. The ASU has a long history of working with Members in both Electricity and Gas for over 100 years
ASU COAL SEAM GAS MINING POSITION
" The ASU Branches and National Office have a strong position in opposing
development that harms or may harm local communities , ASU members are involved
both in their employment and voluntary community activism in safe guarding
communities .
The issue of coal seam gas mining in residential, farming and water catchment areas is very much an unknown quantity with respect to short term and long term affects both directly and indirectly. We note there are also issues associated with traditional underground long wall mining and its associated dangers to water tables, water catchment areas and issues faced by ASU members and their communities .
It should also be noted that the so called natural gas shortage in parts of Australia comes at a time when our Gas exports are the highest they have ever been , to overseas companies. This would show that the market based system is not working for all Australian citizens , with the export price and infrastructure favouring the export of mined Gas ,from large deposits, and thus the profits of some .
The ASU believes that the Federal Government, should like other country Governments, ear mark an independent determined amount of export Gas to be retained for Australian domestic and business purposes, along with electricity generation . The ASU notes there are exceptionally large gas fields in both mainland Australia, its close sea beds and neighbouring countries .
We believe the large Gas reserves , currently used for export , should be available to all Australians – and the development of large national Gas pipelines, should be used in place of coal seam gas mining .
For these reasons we oppose continued coal seam gas mining – unless new factors supported by non-mining and independent experts become available .
The issue of coal seam gas mining in residential, farming and water catchment areas is very much an unknown quantity with respect to short term and long term affects both directly and indirectly. We note there are also issues associated with traditional underground long wall mining and its associated dangers to water tables, water catchment areas and issues faced by ASU members and their communities .
It should also be noted that the so called natural gas shortage in parts of Australia comes at a time when our Gas exports are the highest they have ever been , to overseas companies. This would show that the market based system is not working for all Australian citizens , with the export price and infrastructure favouring the export of mined Gas ,from large deposits, and thus the profits of some .
The ASU believes that the Federal Government, should like other country Governments, ear mark an independent determined amount of export Gas to be retained for Australian domestic and business purposes, along with electricity generation . The ASU notes there are exceptionally large gas fields in both mainland Australia, its close sea beds and neighbouring countries .
We believe the large Gas reserves , currently used for export , should be available to all Australians – and the development of large national Gas pipelines, should be used in place of coal seam gas mining .
For these reasons we oppose continued coal seam gas mining – unless new factors supported by non-mining and independent experts become available .
We further support the belief
that local communities’ should be able to have a say and determine local
projects in their community "
