Below is a transcript of an interview with LNP Leader Campbell Newman on 15 January 2012 in Brisbane

JOURNALIST: There’s a large protest going on down at Beaudesert at the moment, protests against the coal seam gas exploration that’s going on there. They are saying that they need more water tests done before the exploration goes on. Where do you stand on that issue?

NEWMAN: Well I am surprised frankly that anybody would be confused about our position because if you go back and have a look at the record, I think it was last October, I went down to the Scenic Rim South of Beaudesert into, I think it was the Kerry Valley. I stood there in a farmer’s paddock and I said no to the exploitation of coal seam gas and open cut coal mining in the Scenic Rim. The LNP’s position is very very clear. It is not a suitable area and I have personally told senior executives of Arrow Energy that as well, subsequently and just prior to Christmas. We don’t believe that that is an appropriate future for the Scenic Rim. We have made a commitment that if we become the government we will be undertaking strategic land use planning immediately, along with the Darling Downs and the Golden Triangle to make sure that these areas are protected. The Scenic Rim is a place that should be more about tourism, agriculture and ultimately residential development in the future and activities like coal seam gas and open cut coal mining are incompatible with the future of Scenic Rim as we see it.

JOURNALIST: So would you revoke existing exploration permits then?

NEWMAN: That’s something that is perhaps difficult but as I just said I have already spoken to the executives at Arrow Energy and we have said very clearly that we don’t believe they should be doing this and we have indicated that if we were the government of Queensland that we would not be looking to approve any sort of development in the future. So essentially, in a nutshell I have said to them “well, if you want to go and drill fine, if you want to spend your money, but an LNP government won’t be allowing it to progress.” So essentially we would see it as wasted money. Why waste their shareholder money in an area that an LNP Government wouldn’t allow the thing to then develop on.

Tagged: Campbell Newman, CSG, Kerry, Liberal National Party, LNP, Scenic Rim

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