As part of our Call to Country we are keeping an eye on our Federal politicians and the major parties. Follow this site in the lead up to the election - we have a review of all major parties coal and gas policies, and information on where candidates stand as the election contest hots up. Use the information and policy questionnaire below to quiz your local candidates on where they stand on the big issues.

Our Call to Country: Quiz Your Candidates As To Where They Stand

Earlier this year we launched our national campaign 'Call to Country', which revealed that more than half of Australia is now covered by coal and unconventional gas licences or applications. Our Federal Government has the constitutional power to makes laws relating to corporations, trade and commerce, and environmental protection. They can act nationally to better protect Australians - the only thing missing is the political will to do so.

The community needs to know where Federal election candidates stand with regard to the protection of our land, water and health. The policy survey below has been developed to help community groups and individuals survey their Federal election candidates about what they will do, if elected to office, to protect us from inappropriate mining. It is a set of questions, which, if asked of every Federal election candidate, will give important information to people to use when they are deciding how to vote.

We recommend that you email or post the survey below to all candidates in your electorate, and give them a week to respond. Then, publicise the results in your local media and send the results back to us to publish on the Lock the Gate website (email info@lockthegate.org.au).

Federal Election Candidates: Coal and Unconventional Gas Policy Survey

These questions relate to policies regulating coal and unconventional gas mining (coal seam gas, shale gas and tight gas) in Australia. Please answer each of the questions and sub-questions below, separately.

If elected to office, will you pledge to promote the following policies within your party and in public, and to vote to implement them via new or amended Federal laws:

1. Retention of current Federal environment powers, ruling out devolving them to the states and opposing any fast-tracking of coal or gas developments?
2. No-go zones for coal and unconventional gas development on productive agricultural land, sensitive natural areas, cultural heritages sites, and important water resources?
3. The rejection of mining developments that will damage our national tourism assets - including proposals for ports in the Great Barrier Reef and coal and gas mining in the Kimberley, Arnhem Land, Blue Mountains and Green Cauldron?
4. Legal rights under Federal laws for farmers and other landholders to say no to coal and unconventional gas mining - ie requiring free and informed consent?
5. A moratorium on all forms of unconventional gas mining until a robust scientific research program has been completed?
6. Mandatory disclosure and hazard assessment of all chemicals used in fracking under the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme and a ban on any which are dangerous to human health or the environment?
7. New measures to protect the health of communities from dangerous coal and unconventional gas mining:
   
   • A buffer zone excluding coal and gas mining in the vicinity of human habitation
   • An independent research program into the health risks of coal and gas mining
   • A requirement for Health Impact Assessments prior to mining
   • A new national standard for fine particle dust pollution (PM_2.5) and mandatory covering of coal wagons
   • New national standards on air pollution from unconventional gas mining
   • Increased powers for the Federal Government to enforce national air pollution standards and reject mining developments on health grounds
8. Requiring that greenhouse gas emissions from mining and gas production, including fugitive emissions, are directly measured and fully paid for?
9. The removal of taxpayer subsidies from the big coal and gas corporations and an amended Mineral Resources Rent Tax so that corporations pay their fair share?
10. A Royal Commission to investigate the management of coal and gas resources by all Australian governments?