Lock the Gate Alliance has welcomed the appointment of former Environment Minister Rob Stokes as Minister for Planning, Nationals’ MLC Niall Blair as Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Land and Member for Cronulla, Mark Speakman, as Minister for the Environment.
Lock the Gate Coordinator George Woods said, "We welcome the appointment of a new team to planning, environment and natural resources portfolios and warmly congratulate the Ministers on their new roles.
"Clearly mining and coal seam gas was a hugely influential issue that shifted votes in the recent election. Concern about the issue is so widespread, that it changed voting patterns in seats as diverse as Campbelltown in Western Sydney, Ballina in the Northern Rivers and Barwon in north-west NSW.
"We believe that the extraordinary concern shown by the people of NSW at the ballot box in relation to coal and gas mining now provides a mandate for the NSW Government to put the brakes on CSG and to engage on substantial mining law reform.
"There has been a clear message sent that communities are seeking a fairer balance to ensure that public health, land and water resources are protected from unsafe mining proposals.
"We hope before too long to be able to introduce the new Ministers to representatives of communities that are grappling with the impacts of mining, and will be inviting them to see the issues first hand.
“We are also looking forward to working with Mining and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts on a range of reform fronts, and will be asking him to revisit his Gas Plan in light of a number of new developments and information."