Lock the Gate Alliance strongly supports independent NSW MLC Justin Field’s new Bill to extinguish the zombie petroleum licences covering much of north west NSW.

Lock the Gate Alliance is calling on Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to put his money where his mouth is after he was reported saying farmers should be able to lock their gates to gas companies.

North west NSW farmers say their worst fears are being realised as gas companies announce plans to raise so-called “zombie-PELs” from the dead in response to the Independent Planning Commission’s decision to greenlight the Santos Narrabri gasfield.

Correspondence from Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s Department has indicated Whitehaven Coal’s full sordid history of environmental crimes may not be taken into account during the federal assessment of its Vickery coal mine because Whitehaven created a subsidiary company called Vickery Coal.

Darling Downs farmers and their supporters have criticised coal mining company New Hope for wanting to destroy prime agricultural land and drain precious groundwater as the battle over the New Acland Stage 3 expansion heads to the High Court today (October 6).