December 2009

Elves upended sacks of coal in the executive building at lunchtime today as others delivered 300 Christmas cards to the Premier, to the tune of a choir coal carolers.

The 300 Christmas cards were individually penned by Brisbane residents and were presented to the premier along with sacks of coal by Friends of the Earth activists dressed as elves.

The Queensland Government has proudly announced its commitment to introduce new measures to improve relationships between farmers and resource companies through its Land Access Strategy. But a commitment to easing access to farmland for mining development falls woefully short of the type of Land Protection Strategy that is desired by farmers across the state facing land acquisition from mining interests. This commitment does nothing to provide any meaningful security to land holders, to prime agricultural lands, or to high value conservation areas all at risk by the continuing expansion of coal. 

The Federal Government's Senate Select Committee on Agricultural and Related Industries has found, in no uncertain terms, that "prime agricultural land needs to be protected from mining developments" and that "protecting the most productive agricultural land is an important step in maintaining efficient and quality food production systems and ensuring the nation's food security."

This landmark inquiry has recommended that all jurisdictions consider "measures to protect their vital agricultural resources from mining and other activities in their respective jurisdictions."