Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development) Bill 2012

The majority voted against a Greens amendment introduced by Senator Larissa Waters.

This amendment increases the scope of the Committee created by this bill to investigate the various impacts of coal and coal seam gas on water resources at their own initiative, rather than having to be asked to do so by the federal minister.(Senator Waters' discussion about the amendment is available here. )

Background to the bill

The bill establishes an Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development ('the Committee')(Read more about the Committee here. ) to provide federal, state and territory governments with scientific advice on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments which may have significant impacts on water resources.(See here for explanatory memoranda and proposed amendments.)

References