Regional Queenslanders disillusioned with the big two political parties have begun considering how they will vote in the lead up to the next election.
Farmers are sceptical of LNP leader Campbell Newman’s claim that “no pillar is more important to the Queensland economy than agriculture” as the coal seam gas debate continues.
Many farmers are also unsatisfied with the state Labor government’s co-existence policy for agriculture and mining.
The LNP position paper on CSG mining outlines plans to ensure the two industries successfully co-exist.
Similarly, the Labor government states it has stringent regulations in place to manage current and future CSG developments.
However many farmers who have worked the land for generations are unsatisfied with the co-existence policy.
Queensland Party leader Aidan McLindon said people have lost faith in both sides of politics.
“Regional Queensland has lost faith in the LNP, which was traditionally the voice of rural Queensland,” he said.
“Coal seam gas mining is the biggest environmental issue that has faced Queensland and Australia since white settlement.
“We are calling for a moratorium to see whether the industry should be allowed to continue.”
Mr McLindon said while the government was accelerating the industry, countries such as France and some in Africa are moving to shut it down.
“From a political point of view I think our only hope is to get a hung parliament to keep the LNP honest,” he said.
“The way it’s going the ALP won’t even be fit for opposition.”
Lock the Gate Alliance president and Greens co-founder Drew Hutton says coal and CSG mining is going to be the biggest issue at the next election.
“One of the major scandals in this country is that we ditched the precautionary principle and we are allowing it [coal seam gas mining] to go ahead without knowing the effects,” he said.
“At the present time the only parties that have adopted policies in tune with the Lock the Gate Alliance are the Greens and the Queensland Party.
“The Labor Party and the LNP have basically adopted the stance that all these conditions being imposed on the CSG industry will protect public industry but we think that is a pie in the sky.”
Mr Hutton said the LNP is the party with the most to lose.
“They have to persuade country voters that they are looking after them and persuade city voters they have good environmental policy,” he said.
“If they can’t do that then they can’t win the next election.”
Graham Clapham, a farmer at Norwin west of Toowoomba, said there was very little to differentiate the major parties on CSG.
“The other thing that is a worry to landholders is the fact that both major parties at a policy level seem to heavily favour the coal seam gas industry over existing land use,” he said.
Mr Clapham said while politicians were fond of talking about co-existence sometimes it just wasn’t possible.
“Enforced co-existence where the landholder has no other options is grossly unjust,” he said.
“So long as the industry maintains its current form it’s hard to see how agriculture can flourish with the coal seam gas industry placed on top of it.”
Chinchilla farmer Scott Lloyd said parties needed to put up some fresh faces with modern ideas.
“People are disenfranchised with the current government in that they are putting dollar signs before the environment,” he said.
“The legislation which is written now is giving all the power to resource companies and very little power to people with native titles and landholders in general.”
Mr Lloyd was unsure how many people would swing at the election.
“People will still go with the devil they know but perhaps the next election will be different,” he said.
Dalby landholder Ian Hayllor says he is not completely happy with the policy currently in place.
“Labor are listening to what we are saying and trying to address some of our concerns but there are still a number of issues, especially groundwater where we have some reservations,” he said.
“The LNP are saying all the right things but they are more in the mood to balance the books and reduce debt.
“When they get into power there will be problems with meeting landholder demands and balancing the budget.
“People are certainly looking at other options but traditionally Greens tend to side with Labor and are not the friend of business and farmers are very much businessmen.”
However, not everyone was so pessimistic.
Surat Basin Engagement Committee chair John Cotter said there was potential for a win-win solution to be reached.
The committee consists of gas company and water representatives, government directors general and landholders.
Its aim is to find solutions to key issues such as land access, water and social infrastructure.
“Our discussions are very frank and factual to get the best outcome for everyone,” Mr Cotter said.
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown said the committee was trying to give some ownership back to the landholders.
“We are looking at how we can actually get this to work between companies and the landholder,” he said.
“I am a farmer and I believe we can work towards a sustainable future with mining and agriculture if it is done right.”
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