Yesterday's People's Assembly at Queensland's Parliament House brought together hundreds of farming families and environmentalists to Queensland Parliament - united in their opposition to coal and gas mining on prime agricultural lands. 

The peaceful protest combined the strength and the passion of the farming and environmental movements of Queensland to put pressure on the State Government to protect farming land and nature refuges from the encroachment of all forms of coal mining and the potential poisoning of waterways.

The rally began with a a procession of children on ride-on tractors, representing the future of farming in Queensland's Darling Downs, and ended dramatically when attention turned to the roof of the Parliament, as two members of Six Degrees unfurled a large banner with the words: "Don't undermine our farms".

Representatives from the farming and environmental movements were invited inside the Parliament to meet face-to-face with Queensland's Natural Resources and Climate Change Ministers, Stephen Robertson and Kate Jones, and the Director General of the Department of Environment and Resource Management, John Bradley. 

Our rally representatives the following open letter to the Government.  

Open Lettter to the Queensland Parliament

Dear Premier Anna Bligh and Leader of the Opposition John-Paul Langbroek,

Our Land, Our Water and Our Future are Under Threat

The expansion of the fossil fuel industry in Queensland is threatening agriculture, food security, groundwater and the environment. It is increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers and environmentalists are calling for a new approach to Queensland’s future. Queensland must remove its support for industries that pollute. We need a Government prepared to act for a clean and sustainable Queensland.

Clean energy and sustainable agriculture are the heart and soul of a sustainable Queensland.

As a first step to a more sustainable Queensland, we want:

• A prohibition on new coal mining and coal seam gas extraction on cropping lands, in proximity to towns, areas of high ecological value and adjacent to Protected Areas
• A ban on underground coal gasification
• A moratorium on coal seam gas development until social and environmental issues are resolved

Sincerely,

Queensland Conservation Council
Friends of the Earth Brisbane
Basin Sustainability Alliance
Western Downs Alliance
Save Our Darling Downs
Friends of Felton
Community Climate Network Queensland
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO Queensland)
Six Degrees