The NSW Government this morning voted down a Bill to permanently protect important areas of NSW from CSG mining and place a moratorium on CSG exploration across the state.
In the public gallery, dozens of people from CSG-affected communities across the state, including Wee Waa, Lismore and Gloucester, watched on as votes were cast.
Lock the Gate NSW Coordinator Georgina Woods said, “Today the NSW Government, including the NSW National Party, hung their constituents out to dry on CSG.
"By nailing its colours to the mast of the CSG industry this morning, the NSW Government has committed itself to a dead end path that will only lead to more determined community action.
"We are grateful to the Christian Democrats, the Greens, the Labor Party, and the Animal Justice Party for building a unique political consensus and taking this Bill to the very brink of success.
"We know that real change is incredibly close, and we will take this result as a signal to redouble our efforts to defend our land and water resources from this dangerous industry.
"The NSW Gas Plan is dead in the water after its central premise that CSG was needed to meet a gas supply shortfall was comprehensively debunked by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
"The only genuine path forward is to respond to community concern and rein in the industry.
"The next phase of the community campaign to protect NSW from risky and unwanted CSG developments begins today" she said.