THE Labor government's alliance with the Greens will soon be tested when Environment Minister Tony Burke makes a decision on $30 billion of planned gas projects in Queensland that are opposed by Greens leader Bob Brown.
Mr Burke visited the proposed sites of the projects by BG Group and Santos around Chinchilla, Gladstone and Curtis Island on Wednesday and met public representatives concerned about the impact of expanded coal-seam gas extraction on underground water and farming.
He said yesterday he intended to stick to the October 11 deadline of his predecessor Peter Garrett for a decision on environmental approvals, according to The Australian Financial Review.
"As soon as I'm in receipt of the advice from the department, I will be able to work through it to a decision. It's my intention to be able to do that soon," Mr Burke said. "I'm pleased I will do that with a better understanding of community views and having seen the sites for myself."
The projects involve the expansion of coal-seam gas extraction in the Surat Basin around Chinchilla and piping the gas to Gladstone and Curtis Island, where it will be converted to liquefied natural gas.
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