The National Party has today led the charge in the Senate to protect the rich farming area of the Liverpool Plains against wholesale mining operations.

The Nationals combined with their Coalition colleagues and the Greens to demand an independent expert study be undertaken before exploration licences are granted for subsidence mining operations on floodplains.

The study would determine the impacts of the proposed mining operations on groundwater systems, surface water, groundwater flows and water quality.

During debate on the Water Amendment Bill 2008, the Leader of the Nationals in the Senate Barnaby Joyce and Senators Fiona Nash, John Williams and Ron Boswell highlighted the Liverpool Plains as an area at risk.

Senator Williams said it is probably the most magnificent farming land not only in Australia but in the world.

“I have been saying for some 12 or 18 months that to sacrifice a thousand years of farming for 30 years of mining does not make sense.”

Senator Joyce said “We are supporting the people of the Caroona region on this issue. The Nationals said they would get the numbers to get this outcome and we have kept our part of the deal.

“We have to make the decision whether we are going to treasure prime agricultural land, which is what we as a nation need if we are to maintain our food sovereignty.”

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