Community groups kicked off a National Week of Action against reckless coal and gas mining on the weekend, with events in Melbourne, Fremantle and Lismore.
Events commenced on Saturday with a rally and forum in Perth attended by 350 people including landholders from the Mid West region who are concerned about the impacts of proposed shale gas fracking.
More than 400 people attended the launch of two new Lock The Gate documentary films - 'Fractured Country' and 'Undermining Australia' - in Lismore on Saturday evening. The films tell the stories of Australians whose lives have been changed forever by coal and gas mining.
On Sunday, close to 1,000 people turned out in Melbourne for a Farmers Against Fracking Rally at City Square, with a large contingent of landholders from the Gippsland region which is under threat from both coal and unconventional gas mining.
Photos of all events are available here.
"This weekend has seen city and country people across Australia unite against reckless coal and gas mining and call for real action from our Federal politicians" said Carmel Flint, Campaign Co-ordinator with Lock The Gate Alliance.
"Communities across the nation are calling for their water supplies, food-producing lands and sensitive natural areas to be protected, but our Federal politicians are failing us.
"As the election approaches, we are calling on both the Coalition and ALP to change direction and commit to major national reforms on coal and gas mining" she said.
More events are planned later in the week with rallies in Sydney on 21st and Brisbane on the 25th August and a major presence at agricultural show AgQuip this week in Gunnedah.