By NIKKI TODD
THE fight for the seat of Richmond heated up this week as the Nationals and Greens questioned sitting MP Justine Elliot’s stance on coal seam gas.
Ms Elliot has for months taken a strong stand against CSG exploration in Richmond, even describing the election in parliament as a “referendum on CSG mining on the North Coast’’.
But the Nationals and Greens said Ms Elliot’s stance was undermined after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week appeared to back expansion of CSG in NSW during his address to the National Press Club.
Nationals’ candidate Matthew Fraser said Ms Elliot’s stance had been blown out the water by Mr Rudd’s comments.
“If the reporting is correct, Kevin Rudd is basically going against Justine Elliot,’’ Mr Fraser said.
“Justine Elliot will have to toe the party line on this and if it is true in saying that (Rudd) wants to roll out CSG against NSW, then this completely blows Elliot’s one-issue campaign out the water.’’
Mr Fraser said a national energy review was needed to address Australia’s future energy needs, which might not require CSG mining.
Greens candidate Dawn Walker said Labor could not be trusted on CSG.
“We have had our Labor candidate, Justine Elliot MP telling the Richmond electorate that she is a strong Rudd supporter and now we hear that Rudd is planning to increase CSG production across the country,’’ Ms Walker said.
“This shows that both the old parties can’t be trusted when it comes to CSG.
“This announcement comes as a slap in the face for all the hard-working communities who have banded together to lock the gate and protect their land, water and livelihoods from the dangers of coal seam gas.”
But Ms Elliot strongly refuted the claims, saying at no time had Mr Rudd mentioned CSG.
“These claims are totally false and misleading,’’ Ms Elliot said.
“During Kevin Rudd’s Press Club speech he did not at any time mention coal seam gas mining.
“My position is very clear. I stand with the community and oppose CSG mining on the North Coast. The biggest threat to the North Coast is the National Party’s pro-CSG, drilling, fracking and expansion agenda.’’
