a. there is community concern about the Transport Minister's decision to allow international passenger flights to land at Adelaide Airport at 5.10am, from April 2014; and
b. the Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000 bans aircraft take-offs and landings between 11pm and 6am, except with the Minister's permission, to protect the lifestyle of residents who live under the flight path; and
The Australian Greens have moved to protect South Australian farmers from shale gas fracking, as community concern grows over unconventional mining on farming land.
Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Senator Penny Wright today sponsored a Senate motion in favour of giving landholders legal rights to refuse shale and fracking on their properties.
"This is a dangerous industry that puts our precious water and farming land at risk," Senator Wright said.
Senator WRIGHT (South Australia) (10:07): I too rise to speak on the Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2013, and to highlight the fact that this bill is being rushed through the parliament without the necessary due diligence.
We give notice that on the next day of sitting we shall move that -
The Senate notes:
1. The concern of communities in South Australia and Western Australia about their land and water being threatened by shale and other unconventional gas mining.
2. That landholders lack the legal right to refuse shale and other unconventional gas mining on their land.
3. The scientific uncertainty surrounding the environmental and health implications of hydraulic fracturing ('fracking') for shale and other unconventional gas mining.
As an Australian Greens Senator for South Australia, I have introduced this simple bill to protect residents beneath the flight path of Adelaide Airport from night-time aircraft noise. It will amend an existing federal law to protect residential amenity from the noise impacts caused by late night and early morning take-offs and arrivals at Adelaide Airport.
Kangaroo Island's community and tourism industry will be jeopardised if federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt fails to block seismic testing off the coast, says Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Penny Wright.
Senator Wright, who has been working with the Kangaroo Island community since the exploration was first mooted two years ago, said Bight Petroleum's report on community concerns was completely inadequate and showed disregard for South Australians.
The Weatherill Government must refuse to adopt Prime Minister Abbott's plan to gut national environment protection at COAG tomorrow, says Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Senator Penny Wright.
Federal Labor representatives voted with the Greens yesterday to call on the Weatherill Government to reject the move.
"Tony Abbott wants to take away a 30-year-old federal veto power to protect our most precious wildlife and wilderness," South Australian Greens Senator, Penny Wright, said.