A NSW Upper House Liberal has described recent protesters at the Maules Creek coal mine as “fly in fly out or drive in drive out activists” who “are driving a wedge in the community”.
Liberal MLC Scot MacDonald recently contacted the Boggabri Business Promotions Associations to hear the community’s view first hand.
Guyra-based Mr MacDonald believes much of the mine’s opposition stems from a loud minority.
“I read the Sydney Morning Herald or the Greens’ media releases and they say the Boggabri community is up in arms,” he said.
“All of the people I met with expressed their frustation that protesters coming from out of town are misrepresenting their community.”
Boggabri Business Promotions Association president John Shaw
invited Mr MacDonald to a meeting of the group earlier this
month.
“There have been some claims made and I wanted to get the truth...that’s why I went to the Business Promotions to get their feelings and attitude,” Mr MacDonald said.
“Everybody in that room had some questions about the processes but they were all very supportive of the resources industry, and I don’t think that’s overstating it or misrepresenting them.”
The next day he was given a tour of Whitehaven’s Maules Creek mine.
It was the MLC’s second visit to the mine, having also toured there last September.
“It was good to catch up with the RAPs [Registered Aboriginal Parties, who have been working to retrieve cultural artefacts], again you hear in some media outlets the Gomeroi people are dead against this, well obviously there is a diversity of
opinion between Gomeroi people,” Mr MacDonald said.
“They wanted to be a part of the economic opportunities, work opportunities, and wanted to do it on their terms and to be done the proper way for their heritage and culture, that’s terrific.
“What worries me is the FIFO [fly in fly out] or DIDO [drive in drive out] activists driving a wedge in the community.
“The mine should be talking to the community without being revved up with people from Sydney, Melbourne or Mooloolaba.
“It’s almost become a sport for these Greenies and activists, well that’s jolly good but it’s coming at the cost of community harmony.”
The $767 million Whitehaven mine has been the subject of protracted protests against it over the past few months.
Last month Kate Warren, of Sydney, pleaded guilty in Narrabri Local Court to ignoring a move on direction and to obstructing the path of a driver at the mine. She was fined $600.
Eighteen other protesters, including some who were arrested at the Idemitsu coal mine at Boggabri and Santos’ coal seam gas operation in the Pilliga, entered not guilty pleas to a range of charges including hindering the working of mining equipment and entering enclosed lands. The matters will be listed for mention on April 29.