An analysis by Lock The Gate Alliance of eight political parties’ policies and actions concludes that Labor, Liberals and the Nationals have failed in their duty to protect Australians from the risks involved with rapid expansion of coal and gas mining, with leadership coming from the minor parties.
The report, titled 'The Country is Calling: How Are Our Federal Politicians Responding?', provides a comparison of party platforms and voting records against Lock The Gate Alliance’s national law reform agenda on coal and gas mining (results attached).
"It is a sad indictment on our politics and a troubling sign for the future that the parties most likely to form government after this election - the Liberals, Nationals and Labor - have the worst policies and track records on coal and gas mining," said Lock The Gate Alliance Campaign Co-ordinator, Carmel Flint.
"We were very pleased to see that the Australian Greens, Katter's Australia Party, the Socialist Alliance and the Stop CSG Party, and the Democratic Labor Party to a somewhat lesser extent, had many policies that addressed our key concerns.
"The Coalition parties have talked about protecting agricultural land and the rights of landholders, but have failed to back their talk up with any real action.
"In fact, positive statements made by Coalition MPs about protecting farmland and rights have usually been reversed soon afterwards and voting patterns in Parliament have not matched statements made outside.
"Of greatest concern is the poor scoring of the National Party on matters that are crucially important to country people. They do not seem prepared to place any limits on coal and unconventional gas mining in rural Australia.
"In the lead-up to the election, we are calling on the Coalition and ALP to address their policy failures on coal and gas mining and to announce some concrete solutions to protect our food, water and livelihoods from reckless mining expansions."
Lock The Gate Alliance will be sending questionnaires to candidates in key seats seeking specific commitments from them in relation to our 'Call to Country' reforms.
Information or comment: Carmel Flint on 0400 521 474
The Country is Calling: How Are Our Federal Politicians Responding?
|
Party |
Number of Policies in Each Rating Class |
|||
|
Poor |
Poor to moderate |
Moderate |
Positive |
|
|
Liberal Party |
8 |
2 |
|
|
|
Australian Labor Party |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
National Party |
8 |
2 |
|
|
|
Australian Greens |
|
|
3 |
7 |
|
Katter's Australia Party |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
|
Stop CSG Party |
1 |
|
5 |
4 |
|
Democratic Labor Party |
4 |
|
4 |
2 |
|
Socialist Alliance |
2 |
|
1 |
7 |