Don’t frack Lake Eyre Basin floodplains

Last week it was revealed that the Queensland Government secretly approved petroleum leases across vast areas of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains.

Watch grazier Angus Emmott explain the massive threat this poses to this global treasure, to Indigenous cultural heritage and to the chemical-free beef industry on ABC Breakfast.

Will you urgently call the Premier’s office today on (07) 3719 7000? Please be polite. The phone will be answered by someone in her office. Ask them to take down your name and number and to pass on a message to the Premier.

Here are some points you can make:

You’re appalled by the Government’s decision to give Origin Energy fracking leases across vast areas of Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains south of Windorah.
You’d like to know why they made this decision, given their repeated election promises to consult on protecting the area.
You’d also like to know why affected Traditional Owners and graziers were not consulted.
You are concerned about the severe damage that thousands of gas wells, and associated roads and pipelines, would do to these fragile wetlands.
Ask for an immediate moratorium on any further approvals of any kind for fracking in the Lake Eyre Basin floodplains and long-term legal protection to ban oil and gas on the floodplains.

Please leave us a message below to let us know how it went.

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Showing 30 reactions

Gary Dunn commented 2021-12-25 14:09:48 +1100

I am appalled again by this QLD Government. This time by giving Origin fracking leases anywhere, let-alone the wet lands of lake Eyre. (They said to be polite?) Its time to stop bowing the party line with this female QLD dictator as she is determined to hand power back to the LNP, and I am just not sure whether that could even be whose.
John Nightingale commented 2021-12-22 13:57:14 +1100

Despite supposedly very heavy call volume due to Covid, I spoke immediately to the call centre operator and read the whole of your above list , and the consequences of this betrayal. My name and address and electorate completed my call
Martina Meyer commented 2021-12-22 13:09:26 +1100

Long wait but eventually got through to a staffer who will ` make a note of my call and pass that on to the Premier’.

She said they were aware that lock the gate had put out a campaign and “people were reading it out”.
Deborah Wenham commented 2021-12-22 10:18:28 +1100

these approvals are stupid and wrong especially now , no more fracking, our water is our life
Moira Williams commented 2021-12-22 09:08:27 +1100

Called on wednesday morning and they had a message about covid but no way to leave a voicemail
Gail Ruu commented 2021-12-21 15:09:02 +1100

I rang the Premier’s office spoke to a lady told her why I was phoning she said she would pass it on.

She gave me the number for the minister Scott Stewart I could only leave a message about the fracking of the Lake Eyre Basin.

I did I left my name and phone number.
Judy Hardy-Holden commented 2021-12-21 15:02:58 +1100

got onto an operator who promised to pass on my message to the P Office.
Diane Bos commented 2021-12-21 15:02:50 +1100

I called the premier’s Office and after a long message was able to be speak with administration staff. I outlined my concerns about this decision, and several of the reasons for my concern, and asked that this be passed onto the Premier. I noted that I was a resident of Queensland, and the Admin staff person noted that they would pass my deep disappointment on.
Wendy Flannery commented 2021-12-21 14:52:20 +1100

I just called the Premier’s office. I mentioned that I had tried to get an appointment with my local MP, Joe Kelly, by email and phone without success. I also mentioned that the South Australian government had just announced the creation of huge new national park reaching up to the borders of Queensland and the Northern Territory, protecting the whole Lake Eyre basin. (There’s a good map available online and I had a copy ready to give to Joe Kelly.) I mentioned that I’d be contacting the South Australia Premier asking him to convince the Qld Premier not to allow this destructive project proceed.
Nelly Debney commented 2021-12-21 14:04:02 +1100

I just did, but didn’t get through, after listening to a long message I decided not to wait, I’ll send an email. Hope they’re inundated with calls about this!!
Roddy Davie commented 2021-12-21 13:52:51 +1100

Please, please don’t do it. Leave Lake Eyre Basin alone from damages.
Sarah Buckley commented 2021-12-21 13:32:51 +1100

Spoke with staffer and left message as above
Issi Verita commented 2021-12-21 13:28:55 +1100

The staff member listened to my specific complaint as I went through the points suggested and made my request for a moratorium on fracking until everyone has been consulted and the democratic process has been utilized. They then did not want to record my name. I’m not sure my voice will be heard or the call counted.
Jonathan Francis commented 2021-12-21 13:16:25 +1100

I informed the Premiers office that I had lost confidence in the government after they had given Origin permission to Frack the Channel Country.
annie ledger commented 2021-12-21 11:38:45 +1100

I was listened to and told that my message would be passed on to the relevant person/people.

It is so disgraceful to think anyone could dream of spoiling such important places like these floodplains.

I will not stay an Origin customer from now on. I had no idea how destructive this company is.

Thanks for the opportunity to speak up for Lake Eyre Basin floodplains, but I have doubt about any messages being passed on to the premier

Goes to show that politicians cannot be trusted. Shameful.
Peter Burling commented 2021-12-21 11:02:16 +1100

Sent an email, generally find they delay answering phone.
Kellie Martin commented 2021-12-20 20:58:48 +1100
Ron Maskell commented 2021-12-20 16:55:10 +1100

Got repeated "our operators are busy " message and hung up. Will try tomorrow.
Lila Singh-Peterson commented 2021-12-20 16:47:19 +1100

Got through to a staffer who will ` make a note of my call and pass that on to the Premier’. I volunteered my details but due to privacy laws she could not take them (… ?? ). Best hope is that the number of calls are tallied and reported. Will also send an email.
Judith Arthy commented 2021-12-20 16:31:19 +1100

I’m so angry and frustrated after talking to an ‘assistant’ in the Premier’s office. She was polite but did not want my name or number, even though I informed her politely that I am 81 years old, and all my grandparents were born in rural Queensland . And that I was predominantly a Labor voter.

She avoided answering any questions – kept saying she would give my message to the Premier. ‘How can you do that if you don’t know my name?’ I replied. So she took my ‘first name’.

I have studied Geology long ago as a student at QUT; I tried to explain to her the geological facts concerning the Great Artesian Basin, how it cannot be replaced etc as a water resource for pastoralists, never mind the Traditional Owners who have depended on it for the past 60,000 years, but she was not remotely interested in my pleas. Moreover, she denied that any leases had been given ‘to her knowledge’.

We should keep bombarding them is my advice . They won’t be giving any answers, but you can tell they are being overwhelmed by this sort of phone onslaught.
Diane Edwards commented 2021-12-20 15:51:47 +1100

on reading the comments below, decided to send an email instead:

I have been saddened to learn that the Queensland Government has made the decision to grant a fracking lease to vast areas of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers and floodplains.

How does the Government justify further fossil fuel developments or explorations in light of the IPCC Report? and Australia’s stated aim of significant carbon reductions by 2050?

How does this meet the repeated election promises to ‘consult’ parties directly impacted by this decision?

Having visited this area as a natural wonder of wild water ways, I cannot express how disgusted that another area of our indigenous cultures is now up for destruction – we have no protection in place for cultural assets, much to our collective shame.

What is going to be the collective excuse for the ‘unforeseen’ damage caused by the granting, and actioning, of this licence by the required infrastructure?

Let these companies clean up their current mess and damage before they continue with their destructive habits.

This is not planning for the future, this is repeating the past.
Jeanette Mills commented 2021-12-20 15:37:12 +1100

Polite conversation. Receptionist said she would pass comments on. Feel it was probably a wasted effort and wish more could be done.
Timothy Logue commented 2021-12-20 14:57:03 +1100

What a joke , den of thieves, is this really the only Avenue one has to voice ones concerns over the raping of our resources and systematic destruction of our enviroment. To be totally fobbed off , forgive me for thinking I was at the centrelink office begging for help only to be told we cannot help you . This is a true reflection of governments disservice to the hard working Australians, all for them nothing for the people . Tell me one thing they have ever done that benefitted the people in the last 50 years. We have done nothing but vote in our jailers. RIP
Tony Brewster commented 2021-12-20 14:55:59 +1100

Did not want my name and details but will pass on my disapproval and that I cancelled my energy plan with Origin months ago due to their fracking activity. Tony
Sarah Cutting commented 2021-12-20 14:37:26 +1100

Done. Left message for premier. They don’t take names
Joan Daniel commented 2021-12-20 14:27:04 +1100

Sam answered. Did not want my name..mentioned ‘privacy’. I asked her to take it. Doubt she wrote it down.
Michael Rose commented 2021-12-20 14:11:49 +1100

I feel like I was fobbed off.
Jonathan Peter commented 2021-12-20 14:05:56 +1100

tool several calls as they were not taking them due to many callers. Left message highlighting the details provided and also complained about the Glenvcove open pit mine….the (fossil fuel) business world seems intent on ignoring the scientific evidence against their activities
Damian Hyde commented 2021-12-20 13:49:54 +1100

Rang and expressed my disappointment to the Premiers representative re the proposed Fracking of the Lake Eyre Basin. Sad days when we have to take these and other measures to save our environment from a looming catastrophe. Mining and resource extraction has its place when all checks and balances are fully investigated and applied with penalty if not complied with. It however becomes more pernicious when fragile environment, indigenous lands of significance and livelihoods of sustainable primary producers are put at risk.
Damian Hyde commented 2021-12-20 13:49:54 +1100

Rang and expressed my disappointment to the Premiers representative re the proposed Fracking of the Lake Eyre Basin. Sad days when we have to take these and other measures to save our environment from a looming catastrophe. Mining and resource extraction has its place when all checks and balances are fully investigated and applied with penalty if not complied with. It however becomes more pernicious when fragile environment, indigenous lands of significance and livelihoods of sustainable primary producers are put at risk.