The Lock The Gate Alliance has welcomed new laws introduced by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to allow the Government to cancel or refuse mining and petroleum licences on public interest grounds, including mine projects that are found to be corrupt.

The Premier introduced the Mining and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Public Interest) Bill to NSW Parliament today and it has already been passed by both houses. The amendments allow the Government to cancel or refuse mining and petroleum licences on public interest grounds. The Premier said the amendments were designed to allow the Government to cancel the Doyles Creek and Mt Penny coal exploration licences, which have been found to be corrupt by the ICAC.

Lock the Gate Alliance has called for proposed changes to coal seam gas laws foreshadowed in NSW Parliament last night to be released immediately on public exhibition.

In Parliament last night, Minister Duncan Gay revealed that changes have been proposed to the contentious Petroleum (Onshore) Amendment Bill 2013 as a result of secretive negotiations with selected stakeholders by the NSW Land and Water Commissioner, Jock Laurie. The changes will be introduced as Government amendments to the Bill.

The North West of NSW celebrates as Burren Junction, Cryon and Merah North declare themselves Gasfield Free Communities.

The Junction City Hotel was the venue for last Friday evening’s Community Celebration proudly attended by a large number of local landowners and residents. People from further afield in both Shires also attended as they believe this invasive industry must be halted until it can be independently proven to be safe.

Two new independent expert ecologists have confirmed that Whitehaven Coal provided false and misleading information to State and Federal Governments in order to get approval for its controversial Maules Ck coal mine, near Narrabri. The Maules Creek Community Council is calling for Environment Minister Greg Hunt to revoke the approval.

The Lock the Gate Alliance says the controversial new Planning Bill being rushed through parliament by the Government this week breaches promises made before the election and will make corruption more likely, not less.  The Alliance has called for a radical overhaul of the Bill.