The CSG industry said that it fully complies with the Queensland and New South Wales governments’ stated prohibition on the use of additives containing BTEX in CSG extraction.

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association’s director CSG, Ross Dunn, said: “It is irrelevant whether the ban has full legislative effect, as the intent is clear, and the industry is fully compliant with that intent.

“The actions of the CSG industry are socially and environmentally responsible and it is counterproductive for Senator Waters to cast aspersions on the industry’s good performance as part of her campaign to frighten people into thinking CSG extraction is an untried and untested process.

“Every step and every aspect of taking CSG to LNG for export has been scrutinised throughout the public EIS process and thoroughly investigated by state and federal governments and their agencies.

“CSG is clean, safe natural gas used in households throughout Queensland and the regulated development of eastern Australia’s important new energy resource will bring jobs, investment, people, and services to regional communities, while also helping reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

“It is remarkably hypocritical of Senator Waters to accept the science of global warming, while ignoring the science underpinning the important role of natural gas in helping to minimise global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Furthermore, claims made by Senator Waters (in the same media release) that the Strategic Cropping Land policy does not apply to CSG operations are completely false.

“Coal seam gas (CSG) operations, proposed on strategic cropping land will be assessed under the strategic cropping land policy, as stated on the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s website ( www.derm.qld.gov.au ).