MINING and farming groups defended the NSW Coalition's development of its regional land use policy, saying it was entirely appropriate for third parties to be asked for their input.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The opposition industry spokesman, Duncan Gay, defended the Coalition against accusations the Minerals Council of NSW, a mining lobby group, had edited its regional land use policy.
''Under 16 years of Labor the pendulum has swung too far in the miners' favour - the NSW Liberals and Nationals are determined to put proper balance in place and take the politics out of the process,'' Mr Gay said.
''This has been a long and tough process but we have succeeded in bringing together stakeholders with vastly different views to meet not just once but on a regular basis, so as to ensure NSW has a strong workable policy to protect strategic land.''
The minerals council and the NSW Farmers Federation said it was appropriate and productive for the groups to work with the Opposition on formulating a policy on land use in NSW.
The chief executive of the minerals council, Nikki Williams, said her organisation had met the Coalition dozens of times in the past year. The consultation process had been completely legitimate.
''The NSW Minerals Council and the NSW Farmers Association have been working side-by-side, at the request of the Coalition, to provide advice on the opposition's strategic land use planning policy,'' she said.
"As the body representing the state's minerals industry it is wholly appropriate that the NSW Minerals Council is consulted alongside other stakeholders including the NSW Farmers Association.''
The farmers association president, Charles Armstrong, said he supported the Coalition's process. ''We have also been encouraging the government to do this sort of thing.''
But disquiet from other landholder groups worried about coal seam gas mining is starting to threaten National seats. Mr Gay met the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance yesterday but failed to reach a compromise.
The Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, said the Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, needed to explain why he allowed his policies to be written and approved by interest groups.
''Everyone consults with third parties, but who lets them dictate, write and approve their policies?'' Mr Whan said.
